decide disputes growing out of estrays of cattle and
vessels adrift; they shall decide ownership and adjudge
costs; justices of the peace, in any of the contiguous
counties, may issue permits to fish as prescribed to fish
in the Patuxent river; justices may decide the single
question affecting real estate, of the length of the lease
in cases of a tenant holding over term; upon informa-
tion, on oath, of any persons violating the oyster law, a
justice may summon a posse comitatus, if necessary, and
take possession of the offender and his vessel, and shall
have general power to hear and determine all matters
arising therefrom; it is the duty of a justice to try, hear
and determine all controversies within his jurisdiction.
(Article 52, sections 1-72.) Justices shall have the juris-
diction exercised by Circuit Courts in all cases of assault
without felonious intent, and assault and battery, and
larceny of property of a value not over $5.00, and all
misdemeanors where the penalty is not confinement in
the penitentiary; justices of the peace give no bond,
except in Baltimore city, and where they are made police
justices; and are appointed by the Governor, by and with
the advice and consent of the Senate, and shall hold their
office two years; no special time set for appointment;
their compensation is by fees, except when they act as
police justices, under special Acts of Assembly, when
they are salaried. (Constitution, Article IV, section 42,
Acts of 1890, chapter 618.) It shall be the duty of the Gov-
ernor, after the appointment of the Justices of the Peace,
provided for in section 607, to select from the justices of
the peace so appointed, a justice of the peace to sit at
each station house in the city of Baltimore, and, in addi-
tion, one justice of the peace to act at such times and
places as is hereinafter provided for , each justice, so
selected, shall keep his office at the station house for
which he was appointed, and shall attend at such station
house from 9 o'clock A. M., until 12 o'clock M., in every
day of the week, except Sunday ; and on every Sunday
in each year, shall attend at the station house for which
he was appointed, from 9 o'clock A. M., to II o'clock A.
M.. and at each of said respective sittings hereinbefore
provided for, shall perform all the duties which he is
required by law to perform ; the attendance at any station
house of the additional justice of the peace shall be regu-
lated and controlled by the Board of Police Commis-
sioners for the city of Baltimore, or by the State's At-