MARKETS.

A SUPPLEMENT to an ACT, entitled, an Act for the regulation of the
Markets in Baltimore Town.— MAY, 1788, ch. 17.

1047

WHEREAS, it is represented to this general assembly, that
divers persons, in and about Baltimore town, made a practice of
purchasing up and engrossing the provisions coming to the said
markets, and selling the same again, thereby enhancing the
price to the great injury of the inhabitants.

Preamble.

SEC. 2. Be it enacted, by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That whosoever shall buy, or cause to be bought, any kind of
vegetables, dead meat, poultry, butter, cheese, tallow, eggs or
fish, in any of the markets in Baltimore town, or within ten
miles thereof, with an intent to sell the same again in such
markets or town, or within two miles thereof, shall, for the first
offence, forfeit the article, or the value thereof, so purchased, for
the second offence forfeit as aforesaid and be fined thirty shil-
lings current money, and for every other offence forfeit five
pounds current money, to be recovered in a summary way be-
fore a magistrate ; Provided, that the purchasing pork, beef and
fish, by the barrel, or other package, butter in firkins, or other
package not less than fifty pounds, bacon or cheese by the
quantity, by any merchant or shop-keeper, and selling the same
again in his store or shop, shall not be deemed, taken or con-
strued, to come within the intent and meaning of this act.

Penalty on
persons
buying, &c.

SEC. 3. And, whereas persons offending against this act may
make their purchases in so secret a manner that it may be diffi-
cult to detect them; Be it further enacted, That when and as
often as it shall happen that any person is exposing any of the
above enumerated articles for sale, otherwise than iti their stores
or shops as aforesaid, and there is good cause to suspect they
have been purchased contrary to the true intent and meaning of
this act, it shall be lawful for any person to apply to a magis-
trate for a warrant to apprehend the. person so suspected, and
the said magistrate shall have power to inquire into the offence,
and if the person suspected be convicted thereof, on the oath
of one or more credible witnesses, or if the person so charged
cannot make it appear, to the satisfaction of such magistrate,
that he or she raised or made the articles by him or her offered
for sale, or is disposing of them on account of the person who
raised or made them, or that he or she bought the said article
or* articles ten miles or upwards from the town of Baltimore, he
or she shall be deemed offenders against this act, and the fines
and forfeitures shall be recovered in a summary way before the
said magistrate.

Certain
persons
deemed
offenders,
&c.

SEC. 4. A/id be if further enacted, That all butter sold by
the pound in the said markets shall weigh sixteen ounces
avoirdupois weight; and any person bringing butter to the said
markets, and offering the same for sale, and the said butter

Batter to
weigh six-
teen ounces
fee.