ROBERT M. McLANE, ESQUIRE, GOVERNOR.

547

Chapter 407.

AN ACT for the prevention of fraud in canned

goods, and for the protection of consumers thereof.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly

of the State of Maryland, That any person, firm or

corporation, now engaged or who may hereafter engage

Stamp cap of

in the business of canned fruits, vegetables and other

can.

products, and who shall can or preserve in cans by her-

metically sealing any description of fruits or vegetables

that have been previously evaporated or dried by the

application of heat, and known under the general name

of dried fruits and vegetables, shall stamp, or caused to

be stamped in the cap covering the mouth of the can

into which the said dried fruits or vegetables are to

be put up or canned, the following words " Soaked

goods," as also the bona fide name of the person, firm

Soaked goods.

or corporation canning the said dried fruits or vegeta-

bles, and the said words to be stamped in the cap of

the can shall be of letters not less than three-six-

teenths of one inch in height, and one-sixteenth of an

inch in breadth.

SEC. 2. Any person, firm or corporation, who shall

neglect to comply with the provisions of section one

of this act, and every person or persons who shall ren-

der illegible, conceal or hide in any manner the words

to be stamped in the cap of the can, as mentioned in

section one of this act, shall be deemed guilty of a

Penalty

misdemeanor, and shall for every such offense forfeit

and pay a fine of not less than five hundred dollars,

to be recovered by indictment in any court of this

state having competent jurisdiction for the trial of

misdemeanors; and one-half of said fine shall be paid

to the informer, and the other half into the treasury

of the state.

SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That this act
shall take effect on the first day of July, eighteen

When effective.

hundred and eighty-four.

Approved April 8, 1884.