498

LAWS OF MARYLAND.— 1799-1800.

shall summon any appraiser or appraisers, on his laying a writ
or writs of fieri facias issued by or under the authority of any
justice of the peace in this state on the property, real or per-
sonal, of any debtor, or on any supersedeas on such judgment.

CHAPTER 91.

AN ACT relating to Coroners and Sheriffs.

Coroner
may give
bond, &c.

Be it enacted, by the General Assembly of Maryland, That
any coroner already appointed, or hereafter to be appointed, may
give bond at any time of the year, within sixty days after his
appointment, in the manner and for the term prescribed by law.

Sheriff may
give bond,
&c.

SEC. 2. And be it enacted, That upon the death, resignation,
refusal or disqualification, of any sheriff, the person appointed
to succeed him shall give bond in the manner prescribed by
law, within sixty days from the date of his commission.

NOVEMBER, 1800.— CHAPTER 21.

AN ACT for the Preservation of the breed of Fish in Great Choptank river.

Preamble.

WHEREAS it is represented to this general assembly, by the
petition of sundry inhabitants of Caroline county, that for seve-
ral years past, a number of people have been in the habit of
whipping and beating the waters of Great Choptank river, for
the purpose of driving the fish, whereby the spawn of said fish
is destroyed; in order to prevent the like improper practices in
future ; therefore,

Penalty on
persons
whipping
the water.

SEC. 2. Be it enacted , by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That if any free person shall whip or beat the water in Great
Choptank river with poles or sticks, or other things, for the pur-
pose of driving the fish in that part of said river between the
Stock Landing and Blade's Overgoing, during the month of
March, April and May, in each year, such person, so offending,
shall forfeit and pay for each offence the sum of sixty dollars, to
be recovered by action of debt, or bill of indictment, either in
the county where the offence is committed, or where the person
so offending shall reside, one-half to the informer, or person
suing for the same, the other half to the use of the county in
which such conviction shall take place.

Slaves so
offending to
be punished

SEC. 3. And be it enacted, That if any slave shall whip and
beat the water in said river as aforesaid, such slave shall be
punished for every such offence, on conviction thereof before
any justice of the peace by the oath of one or more witness or
witnesses, by whipping on his bare back, in the discretion of
the said justice, not exceeding for each offence the number of

Provisos.

ten lashes ; provided always, that the master or mistress of said
slave, or any other person, may redeem said slave, so convicted,
from said punishment, by the payment of ten dollars, one-half