1820.

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

CHAP. 159.

shall he prescribed by the said commissioners, all such negro and
other slaves as shall be found wandering or strolling about the
streets in the night-time, or frequenting the houses of other per-
sons in the said town, without the consent of their masters, mis-
tresses or overseers.

Weigher of hay
and corder of fire
wood to be ap-
pointed.

20. And be it further enacted, That the said commissioners on
the third Monday in September next, and on the same day in
every year thereafter, shall nominate and appoint a skilful and
discreet persons to be the weigher of all hay, and the corder of
all fire wood that shall be brought and sold within the said town,
and if the said person, so appointed, die, resign, or refuse to act,
or be rendered incapable of acting; by reason of misbehaviour or
removal from office, the said commissioners shall assemble as
soon thereafter as conveniently may be, and appoint some other
qualified person to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the year.

to take an oath.

21. And be it enacted, That every person so to be appointed,
before he shall proceed to execute his office, shall take an oath
before the said commissioners, that he will, when required, well
and truly, according to the best of bis skill and judgment, weigh
hay and cord fire-wood, without favour, prejudice or partiality,
either to the buyer or seller, and that he will not, directly or in-
directly, ask, exact or receive, any other or greater fee or reward
for doing such duty than is or shall be allowed by law, and the
said oaths shall be entered among the minutes of the proceedings
of the said commissioners.

Wood to be cor-
ded.

22. And be it enacted, That after the first Monday of October
next all fire -wood that be bought and sold or offered for sale
in the said town, shall be corded and measured by the person to
be appointed as aforesaid, if either the purchaser or seller shall
require the same to be done, and each cord of wood shall be eight
feet in length, four feet in height, and four feet in width, and be
well stowed and closely packed, and for the trouble in cording,
packing, and measuring the same, there shall be paid to the cord-
er the sum of twelve and a half cents for each cord, the one half
to be paid by the buyer and the other half by the seller.

Hay to be un-

packed and
weighed.

23. And be it enacted, That from and after the day last herein
mentioned, all hay of what kind soever which shall be brought
and sold or offered for sale in the said town, shall be unpacked
and weighed by the person appointed as aforesaid, (if either the
purchaser or shall require the same to be, done,) with pro-
per weights and scales, or with engines to be provided for that
purpose, by equal and proportionable assessment, to be levied on
the, inhabitants and owners of property in said town, whenever
the said commissioners and a majority of the persons qualified to
vote as aforesaid, shall require the same to be provided, and for
the trouble of unpacking and weighing such hay, there shall be
paid to the weigher thereof the sum of fifty cents for every ton
of net hay, and in the same proportion for a greater or smaller
quantity, the one half to be paid by the buyer and the other half
by the seller.

Penalty for bar-
tering, &c.

24. And be it enacted. That no weigher of hay or corder of
wood, either by himself, or by any other person in trust for him,
shall buy, deal, or barter for any hay or fire-wood on the way, or
brought to the Bald town for sale,, except so much as shall be ne-