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ment or any other criminal prosecution, for a libel, the party so
prosecuted shall be entitled to givs the truth of the matter
charged in the said indictment, or other prosecution, in evi-
dence, under the general issue, by way of justification, any
law, usage or custom to the contrary notwithstanding.
CHAPTER 63.
AN ACT to establish Pilots, and regulate their Fees.
Supplements are 1818, ch. 188; 1823, ch. 176; 1829, ch. 74; 1832, ch.
115; 1838, ch 186. A correct understanding of these various acts can
only be acquired by a careful and very minute examination.
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Persons
prosecuted
for a libel
may give
the truth in
evidence.
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WHEREAS, it is necessary for the safety and preservation of
vessels bound from this state to sea, or coming into Chesapeake
bay and bound up any river of this state, or some port thereof,
that able and experienced pilots should be established to con-
duct and pilot such vessels, for reasonable fees, to their several
moorings, and that ignorant and unskilful persons should be
prevented from undertaking such pilotage;
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Preamble.
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SEC. 2. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That James Clarke, John Hollins, Thomas Moore, Thomas
Tenant and Gilbert Middleton, or any three or more of them,
be and hereby are appointed a board, to examine any person
who shall desire to be admitted a pilot, he first producing a
certificate from the court of the county where he resides of his
honesty and good behaviour, and paying to the said board the
sum of four dollars, and to the register of the board seventy-five
cents, and if, upon public examination, the person shall appear
to the board of sufficient ability, skill and experience, they shall
grant him one of three kind of warrants of appointment and
license, according to the qualification of such person, thereby
authorizing such person for one year from the date of such war-
rant, either to pilot vessels of any draught of water, or vessels
not exceeding twelve feet draught, or vessels not exceeding nine
feet draught; and every person receiving a warrant of appoint-
ment and license agreeably to this act, shall thereafter be re-
puted a lawful pilot; but no person shall be entitled to receive
a warrant as aforesaid as a first rate pilot, unless he hath em-
ployed himself at least three years in the business of piloting
vessels of any draught, or unless he hath served at least four
years as an apprentice to the business of piloting; and every
pilot shall renew his warrant of license every year, in the
month of April or May, and that no renewals shall be granted
at any other time, or new license applied for, unless the pilot
had been carried to sea, or confined by sickness, so as to pre-
vent his application within that period ; and every first rate
pilot shall pay two dollars, and every second rate pilot one dol-
lar and fifty cents, and every third rate pilot one dollar, to the
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Board of
examiners
appointed.
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