INLAND FISHERIES. 135 



of the town of Chatham to seize and detain the same, not exceeding 

 twenty-four hours, in order that the same, if need be, maj-be attached 

 or arrested by due process of law, in that time to answer the said lines 

 and forfeitures, with costs of suit. 



Sect. 3. Be it further enacted, That all fines and forfeitures 

 which may be incurred thereby, shall enure one-half to him or them 

 who may sue for the same, and the other half to the said town of 

 Chatham ; and the same shall be recovered, with legal costs of suit, 

 in an action of debt, before any justice of peace for the county of 

 Barnstable, not interested therein. — [February 27, 1813. 



Ax Act in addition to an Act entitled " An Act to incorporate the Proprietors of Fresli 

 Pond Meadows, for the purpose of Draining them." 



1812, 138. Sect. 1. Be it enacted, That the proprietors of Fresh 

 Fond Meadows may erect, at the bridge on the county road between 

 Cambridge and West Cambridge, and, from time to time, keep a gate 

 or machine for the purpose of facilitating the draining the Fresh Pond 

 Meadows, so called, in the towns of Cambridge and "West Cambridge : 

 provided, that the said gate or machine may be kept open by the select- 

 men of either of the towns of Cambridge or West Cambridge, from the 

 first day of March to the fifteenth day of June, in each and every year, 

 for the free passage of fish. 



Sect. 2. Be it further enacted. That if it shall be found that the 

 time aforesaid is not sufficient for the free passage of shad and ale- 

 wives, that on the application of the selectmen of either of said towns, 

 the court of sessions, for the county of Middlesex, may direct that 

 the said gate or machine shall be kept open for such further time as 

 may be deemed necessary for the preservation of said fish. 



Sect. 3. Be it further enacted. That if any person shall wilfully 

 destroy, injure or impede the operation of the said gate or machine, 

 the person so oflfending shall forfeit and pay, for each offence, a sum 

 not exceeding one hundred dollars nor less than twenty dollars, to be 

 recovered before any court proper to try the same, one half to the 

 use of the informer, and the other half to the use of the proprietors 

 of the Fresh Pond Meadows aforesaid. — [February 27, 1813. 



[1813, 64.] 



Ax Act to regulate the Fishery in the Town of West Cambridge, and to empower said 

 town to dispose of the Privilege of taking the Fish called Shad and Alewives within 

 the limits thereof. 



1812, 129. Sect. 1. Be it enacted. That the said town of West 



Cambridge shall, at their annual meeting in March or April, choose 



a committee, not exceeding seven nor less than three freeholders of 



said town, who shall be sworn to the faithful discharge of the duty 



enjoined upon them by this act, and also the act to prevent the 



