1820.

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

CHAP. 199.

Passed Feb. 16, 1821.

Penalty on vessels
&c. anchoring in
fisheries, &c.

CHAP. CXC1X.

An Act more effectually to prevent the Anchoring of Vested in the Fisheries
in the Susquehanna River, and at the Head of the Chesapeake Day, and for
other purposes.

1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland, That if
any vessel, float of timber or plank, or of any other materials,
and of any description or kind soever, or boat of any description,
unless compelled so to do by stress of weather, or other unavoid-
able accidents, shall be anchored or stayed in any fishery in the
Susquehanna, or at the head of the Chesapeake bay, at any time
between the first day of April, and the twentieth day of May in
any year, and remain thus anchored for the spare of half an hour,
when the weather will admit of the departure of such vessel,
float or boat, after being ordered to depart therefrom by the own-
er or occupiers of such fishery, the skipper, owner or owners,
commanding such vessel, float or boat, shall forfeit and pay to the
owner or occupier of such fishery the sum of twenty dollars for
every such offence, one half to the owner, and the other for the
use of the county, and a further sum of ten dollars for every hour
such vessel, float or boat, shall remain anchored or stayed as afore-
said after such notice, one half to the owner, and the other for
the use of the county.

For sailing thro'
seins, &c.

2. And be it enacted, That if any such vessel, float or boat
shall be wittingly, wantonly and maliciously, sailed through any
seine extended in any of the said fisheries, the skipper, or other
person commanding such vessel, float or boat, shall pay such da-
mage as shall be ascertained by two respectable and disinterested
men mutually chosen by the parties, or if they cannot agree, by
any justice of the peace on application of either of the parties.

Not lawful to an-
chor float, &c to
interfere with
shore fisheries.

3. And be it enacted, That it shall not be lawful for any person
or persons to anchor or locate any such float, or other device, in
any place in said waters, so as to interfere with the shore fishe-
ries, either by their being thus anchored or located, or by hauling
from such float, or other device, over the ground covered with
water usually hauled over by said shore fisheries; and each and
every such person so anchoring or locating such float, or other
device as aforesaid, shall for each and every offence forfeit the
sum of twenty five dollars, and the further sum of twenty-five
dollars for every hour such float, or other device, shall remain
thus anchored or located, alter notice shall be given by the owner
or occupier of said shore fishery, requiring him or them to re-
move the same.

Fines, how to be
recovered.

4. And be it enacted. That all fines or forfeitures, and damages
incurred under this act. shall he recovered as other small debts,
before a justice of the peace for the county in which the fishery
may be, and should the skipper, or other persons commanding
such vessel, float or boat, refuse to give up his or their name or
names, and he or they should not be known, the justice of the
peace may issue his warrant against the commander or owner of
such vessel, float or boat, by that name, and give, judgment ac-
cordingly, and such judgment shall be as effectual as if the war-
rant and judgment contained the proper name of said commander
or owner.

Act repealed.

5. And be it enacted, That the act to prevent the anchoring of
vessels in the fisheries in Susquehanna, river, and the head of the