INLAND FISHERIES. 27 



aud if any person or persons, after the passing of this act, shall pre- 

 sume to draw any seine or net at any place or time, which is not 

 allowed as above mentioned and described, he or they so offending, 

 shall forfeit and pay the sum of three pounds for each offence, to be 

 recovered by action of debt in any court proper to try the same ; the 

 one moiet}' thereof to him or them who shall sue for the same, and 

 the other moiet}' to the use of the town of Westport ; and every such 

 seine or net. with its appendages so drawn, shall be forfeited to the 

 use of said town. 



Sect. 2. Be it further enacted, That the town of Westport shall 

 be, and hereby are empowered and directed at their meeting for the 

 choice of town officers in March or April, annually, to choose three or 

 more suitable persons in the said town, to see that this act be dul}' 

 observed ; and each person so chosen, shall be sworn faithfully to dis- 

 charge the duties required of him, agreeably to this act. — [June 18, 

 1788. 



An Act for preventing the Destruction of Alewives in tlie town of VVellfleet, and regulating 



the Fishery of them in tlie said Town. 



Sp. Laws, vol. 1, p. 200. Sect. 1. Be it enacted, That it shall 

 and ma}' be lawful for the freeholders and other inhabitants of the 

 town of Wellfleet, qualified by law to vote in town affairs, at their 

 annual meeting by law appointed for the choice of town officers, to 

 choose a committee of three or more persons, being freeholders of said 

 toAvn, to inspect the said fishery of ale wives, who shall be duly sworn 

 to the faithful discharge of their dut}- ; and the said committee shall 

 have full authority- and power to meet, agree and determine upon rules 

 and regulations respecting the taking the said fish, at what time, place 

 or places the same sliall be taken within the limits of the said town ; 

 and of the rules and regulations, agreed and determined upon b}' the 

 said committee, or tlie major part of them, they shall cause fair copies 

 to be posted up in three different parts of the said town, within four- 

 teen days at the least, after their having been chosen as aforesaid, 

 and shall also fix marks or bounds in the place or places allowed for 

 fishing. 



Sect. 2. Be it further enacted, That if an}' pers-on or persons shall 

 take an}' of the said fish in the rivers, streams or ponds, within the 

 said town, at any other time or place than shall be allowed by the said 

 committee as aforesaid, each person so offending, for each and every 

 such offence, shall on conviction thereof, pay a fine not exceeding 

 twenty shillings, nor less than five shillings, if the quantity of fish so 

 taken is less than one barrel ; but if the quantity so taken shall be 

 one barrel or more, such person or persons so offending, shall forfeit 



