ART. 14.] BILLS OF LADING AND STORAGE RECEIPTS. 117

of lading, warehouse or storage receipt, or other negotiable instru-
ment, shall be precluded from so recovering by reason of his ina-
bility, from any cause, to produce such instrument in evidence at
the trial, or surrender the same to the defendant; provided always,
that the absence of such instrument shall be sufficiently accounted
for, under the ordinary rules of evidence, to allow the introduction

of secondary proof of the contents thereof at the trial; and that
no judgment thereupon shall be entered for the plaintiff in such
suit, until a good and sufficient bond shall have been first filed
therein by the plaintiff, or on his behalf, in such penalty and with
such surety or sureties as the court shall approve, conditioned to
hold and keep the defendant harmless, upon satisfaction of the
judgment by him, to the same effect and intent as if said missing,
instrument were then arid there produced and surrendered to him;
and the costs in all such cases shall be adjudged by the court, in
its discretion, as may be equitable.
Ches. & Ohio Canal Co. v. Blair, 45 Md. 112.

1888, ch. 484.
12. Every bill of exchange, draft or promissory note drawn

after April 5, 1888, and purporting to be payable at sight or
at presentation, shall, for all purposes whatever, be deemed to
be a bill of exchange, draft or promissory note payable on

demand without grace.

ARTICLE XIV.

SILLS OF LADING, STORAGE AND ELEVATOR RECEIPTS.

1. Bills of hiding to be negotiable instruments. 2. Conclusive evidence of their con- tents. 3. Storage receipts also to be nego- tiable.

4. When held to be completely issued. 5. Not to be issued until goods are actually delivered. 6. Duplicates ; delivery of goods; penalties. 7. Civil remedies upon.

1876, ch. 262, sec. 1.

1. All bills of lading and all receipts, vouchers or acknowl-
edgments whatsoever in writing, in the nature or stead of bills of