NAVIGATION.

NAVIGATION.

AN ACT to prohibit the obstruction of the Navigation in Worcester and
Somerset Counties.— 1818, ch. 153.

2189

SEC. 1. Be it enacted, by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That from and after the first day of May next, it shall not be
lawful to unload and throw out the ballast of any boat, or ves-
sel, in the navigable rivers and creeks in Worcester or Somer-
set counties, or to make or keep any wears or hedges in said
rivers and creeks, so as thereby the navigation thereof may be
obstructed or injured.

Not lawful
to unload
ballast, or
erect wears
to obstruct
navigation.

SEC. 2. And be it enacted, That every person who shall
after the said first day of May next, be found guilty of throwing
out the ballast of any boat or vessel, in any of the navigable
rivers or creeks in Worcester and Somerset counties, in such
manner as may obstruct or tend to injure the navigation thereof,
or prevent boats and vessels from lying along side of the
wharves, or who shall be found keeping or making any wears
or hedges in the channels of said rivers or creeks, so as to ob-
struct the navigation, or who shall in any manner be found
throwing stones, shells, gravel, or other things, into said rivers
and creeks, so that the navigation may be obstructed or injured,
contrary to the true intent and meaning of this act, every per-
son so offending shall forfeit and pay a sum, at the discretion
of a justice of the peace, not exceeding fifty dollars for every
such offence, one-half to be given to the informer, and the
other half to be paid to the levy courts of the county where the
offence was committed, to be by them applied to the use of the
county.

Penalty for
so doing.

SEC. 3. And be it enacted, That all fines and forfeitures in-
curred under this act, shall be recovered in the name of the
state before a justice of the peace, in the same manner that
small debts are recoverable, unless such fine shall exceed fifty
dollars.

Fines, how
to be reco-
vered.

SEC. 4. And be it enacted, That it shall be the duty of
every justice of the peace in said counties, whenever he shall
have knowledge, or shall be credibly informed, of any violation
of this act, to issue a warrant in the name of the slate against
the offender or person charged, directed to some constable, and
on the return of such warrant, and the appearance of the per-
son charged, any justice of the peace in said counties may hear
and determine the matter as he may deem just and right, and
may enter judgment for any fine, with costs, and issue execu-
tion for the same.

Justice to
issue war-
rant for,
and deter-
mine viola-
tions of this
act

SEC. 5. And be it enacted, That any justice of the peace
may receive any fine and costs which he hath laid in pursuance
of this act, and he shall account for the same to the levy court
of the county within six months thereafter, under the penalty i

Justice to
receive
fines, s nd
account to
levy court
for the same