56 LAWS RELATING TO 



except the town of Taunton, which town is hereby allowed and per- 

 mitted to draw or sweep with three seines or drag-nets, in said river, 

 on the daj^s and within the time mentioned as aforesaid ; and neither 

 of the towns aforesaid, nor the inhabitants thereof, are permitted at 

 any time whatever to set their seines or drag-nets across said river, 

 or any part thereof, or make use of any seine or drag-net which is or 

 shall at the time be more than twenty rods in length : provided^ also, 

 that each of said towns shall, at a legal town meeting, ascertain and 

 establish annualh', b^' vote, the places where the said seines or drag- 

 nets may be drawn within the bounds of their respective towns, as 

 aforesaid, exclusive!}' ; and at the same meeting, or at an adjourn- 

 ment thereof, dispose ,of and grant for that year, and so on from year 

 to year, the sole privilege of catching alewives or other fish, with 

 seines or drag-nets, on the parts of the days of the week above men- 

 tioned and specified, at the places ascertained and established as 

 aforesaid, to such person or persons as shall offer or give most for 

 the same, and give sufficient security for the pa^nnent of the same so 

 offered and agreed on, at such time and in such manner as the inhab- 

 itants of the respective towns shall assign and order ; said person or 

 persons so agreeing and giving securit}' as aforesaid to have right to 

 fish, and no other person whatever. 



Sect, 2. Be it further enacted, That if any person or persons 

 shall presume to draw an}' seine or drag-net, on any day or time 

 except the parts of days before mentioned, or at any place other than 

 the one ascertained and established by the town, as aforesaid, or 

 shall on any day or at any place set a seine or drag-net in or across 

 said river, or any part thereof, he shall forfeit and pay fifteen pounds 

 for each and every such offence, with costs of suit ; one half thereof 

 to the use of the poor of the town where the offence shall be com- 

 mitted, and the other half thereof to him or them who shall sue for 

 the same, to be recovered by action of debt in any court proper to 

 try the same. 



Sect. 3. Be it further enacted, That if any person or persons 

 shall be found sweeping with any seine or drag-net, or if any seine or 

 drag-net shall be made use of by any person or persons whatever, 

 contrary to the true intent and meaning of this act, or any part 

 thereof, it shall and may be lawful for any person or persons to seize 

 and take such seine or drag-net to his or their own use and benefit ; 

 and if prosecuted therefor, to plead the genei'al issue and give this 

 act in evidence, as though the same was especially pleaded. 



Sect. 4. Be it further enacted, That the several towns on Taunton 

 Great River aforesaid shall, at their annual meeting in the month of 

 March or April in each year, choose three or more persons, being 

 freeholders in their respective towns, to see that this act be duly 



