Assembly Proceedings, May 10-June 9, 1692. 487

An Act against burners of Fences.

Whereas divers the Inhabitants of this Province have suffered
much damage by the notorious evill practices of ill disposed
and malicious persons burning their Fences, And whereas an
Act of Assembly Entituled an Act against burners of Fences
form^rly made, and from time to time continued hath been
found of great use and benefit to the Inhabitants aforesaid for
the abuses aforesaid Be it Enacted by the King and Queens
most Excellent Majesties by and with the advice and consent
of this Generall Assembly and the Authority of the same, that
if any person or persons within this Province shall wilfully and

Lib. L. L.
No. 1.

Malitiously burne and destroy any Corne field pasture ground
Orchard or other Fence whereby any the Inhabitants of this
Province are harmed and endamaged the Person or Persons
so offending being thereof Convicted by the Testimony of two
Sufficient Witnesses shall suffer such penaltyes or undergoe
such Punishment as the Laws of England Provide against such
Malitious Persons and Practices of that nature or make resti-
tution to the Person wronged, by Paying treble the damages
susteyned thereby as the Justices before whom such cases
shall come shall determine
June 2^d 1692 June the 2^d 1692
Assented to by the Councill board. The house of Assembly
Signed p Ord^r John Llewellin Clk. have Assented.
Signed p Ord^r
Hen: Denton Clk.

An Act for the Preservation of the
severall Harbours w^thin this Province

p. 109

Whereas divers persons as well the Inhabitants of this

Province as Forreigners hither to Trading in Ships of great
burthen as also in other smaller Vessells have notwithstanding
Laws formerly Enacted against the unloading of ballast in the
Creeks or Harbours where they usually ride within this Prov-
ince in contempt of the said Laws or by pleading ignorance
of them notwithstanding the Secretarys of this Province were
by the said Act oblieged for the time ensuing the Publication
thereof, to deliver unto every respective Master a Copy of the
said Law for such fee or Reward as by the said Law was
limitted and allowed anually unloaded and Cast forth their
ballast in such Creeks and Harbours where they usually ride
to take in their loading to the great damage of the cheifest &
most Eminent Harbours within this Province by reason of soe
great number of ships as yearly in them do reside for preven-

p. 110