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Chap. XVI .
[Supple-
mented by
1774, ch.18]
p. 20
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An Act to prevent the injuring Harbours within this Province; and
for repealing the Act therein mentioned.
Whereas, notwithstanding the Laws heretofore made for the
Preservation of Harbours and Landing-Places, within this Province,
Masters of Ships and Vessels, and others, having the Charge or Com-
mand of Ships and Vessels, have caused or suffered great Quanti-
ties of Ballast, from on board their Ships and Vessels, to be thrown
into the Rivers and Harbours within this Province; whereby many
safe and very good Harbours are already spoiled, or rendered dan-
gerous; which Practice, if not timely prevented, will be very hurtful
to the Trade and Navigation of Great-Britain, and entirely destruc-
tive to the Trade and Navigation of this Province. And whereas the
said pernicious Practices have been continued and carried on, because,
by the Laws heretofore made, Masters of Ships and Vessels, or other
Persons who have had the Charge and Command of Sbips and Ves-
sels, and who therefore might and ought to have prevented the said
mischievous Custom, have not been subject to any Penalty for ne-
glecting their Duty therein: Wherefore it is prayed that it may be
Enacted :
And be it Enacted, by the Right Honourable the Lord Proprietary,
by and with the Advice and Consent of his Lordship's Governour,
and the Upper and Lower Houses of Assembly, and the Authority of
the same. That from and after the Publication of this Act, if any
Ballast shall be taken, unladen, or cast out of any Ship, or other
Vessel, on any pretence whatsoever, within the Limits hereafter
mentioned, but in the Day Time, That is to say, between the Rising
and Setting of the Sun; or if any Ballast shall be unladen, or taken
out of any Ship or Vessel in the Bay of Chesapeak, above Cedar-
Point, below the Mouth of Patuxent River, or in any River, Creek,
or Harbour, within this Province, and cast into the Bay above Cedar-
Point aforesaid; or into any River, Creek, or Harbour, below High-
Water Mark, that the Master, or other Person, having the Charge
or Command of such ship or Vessel, shall forfeit and pay the Sum of
Fifty Pounds Current Money; One Half thereof to the Lord Proprie-
tary, for the Support of Government, the other Half to him or them
that will sue for the same: To be recovered in any Court of Record
within this Province, by action of Debt, Bill, Plaint, or Information ;
wherein no Essoyn, Protection, or Wager of Law to be allowed.
And be it Enacted, by the Authority aforesaid, That no Person
whatsoever, shall presume to build any Ware, or Hedge, cross any
River. Creek, or Branch, below any publick Landing- Place, so as to
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