ART. 18.] FISH AND TERRAPINS. 1695

son so charged by oath as offending, and issue a warrant at once
to some one of the constables or sheriff of such county, for the
arrest of the party charged in said oath with such violation, to
be brought before such justice for trial; and said constable or
sheriff shall seize the boat, tackle, nets and other equipments
owned by or in the possession of such person so charged with
such violation, when such violation occurred, or at the time of
such arrest, and safely keep such property so taken during the
time pending the trial for such offence so charged; and if upon
such trial the justice of the peace shall enter judgment for
the State, such person against whom such judgment shall be
rendered, shall be fined not less than twenty nor more than
fifty dollars for each and every offence, in the discretion of
the said justice of the peace; one-half of which fine shall
be paid to the informer, the other half to the school fund
of the county where such judgment is rendered; and if such
fine is not paid within five days from the date of such judg-
ment, the said justice of the peace shall, on the sixth day
thereafter, enter judgment of condemnation against the boat,
tackle, nets or other equipments of such offender, which had
been seized by the officer aforesaid; which said boats, tackle,
nets or other equipments shall, after ten days' notice, be by
the said officer sold to the highest bidder for cash, and from
the proceeds of such sale he shall deduct the fees allowed to
constables upon executions, and the costs incident to such trial
and judgment, together with such expenses as such officer may
have incurred in the taking and keeping of such property,
and shall then divide the residue between the informer and
the schools of the county, equally; said officer not to be liable
for any damages for loss of said property while in his custody,
which may occur without fault on his part.

1088, ch. 151.

173. Any commanding officer of any one of the oyster police
sloops or steamers, either upon view or information derived from
any other person, of a violation of any of the provisions of sec-
tions 168 to 172, shall be authorized and empowered, and it is
made his duty to arrest and take into custody such person so as
aforesaid offending, and the boatmen or other persons found in
said boats, and carry such offenders before some justice of the