154 LAWS RELATING TO 



sum not exceeding twenty dollars nor less than five dollars, to be 

 recovered by indictment, complaint, or action of debt, in any court 

 proper to tr}^ the same ; one half to the use of the said town of Mid- 

 dleborough, the other half to him who shall prosecute or sue for the 

 same. 



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

 found fishing with any seine or net, or other machine and instrument, 

 or any seine or other instrument which shall be used by any [)erson 

 or persons contrary' to the true intent and meaning of this act, it 

 shall be lawful for any person to seize and take such seine, net or 

 other instrument, to his own use ; and, if prosecuted therefor, to 

 plead the general issue and give this act in evidence, as though the 

 same had been specially pleaded. 



Sect. 4. Be it further enacted, That said town of Middleborough 

 shall, at the annual meeting in the month of March or April in each 

 3'ear, choose four or more persons, being freeholders in said town, 

 whose dut}' it shall be to see that this act be duly observed, and to 

 prosecute for all breaches thereof; and each person so chosen, shall 

 be sworn to the faithful discharge of his duty. And if any person so 

 chosen shall refuse to serve, he shall forfeit and pay to the use of 

 said town of Middleborough, the sum of five dollars, to be sued for 

 and recovered by the town clerk of said town ; and said town shall 

 immediately proceed to a new choice. 



Sect. 5. Be it further enacted, That all laws heretofore made for 

 the regulation of the fisher\' in the said town of Middleborough be and 

 the same hereby are repealed : provided, nevertheless, that an act 

 passed on the sixth day of March, in the year of our Lord one thou- 

 sand eight hundred and two, for the preservation and regulating of 

 the taking of the fish called alewives, in the brook running from the 

 West Quiticus Pond, to the East Quiticus Pond, shall be and remain 

 in full force ; anything in this act to the contrar}- notwithstanding. 



Sect. 6. Be it further enacted, Th&i any justice of the peace for 

 the county of Plymouth shall be deemed and considered competent 

 to try an}' action, complaint, or suit, prosecuted under this act, not- 

 withstanding said justice may be an inhabitant of the said town of 

 Middleborough. — [February 14, 1816. 



[1819, 137.] 



[Sp. Laws, vol. 1, p. 422.] 

 An Act to regulate the Fishery in Taunton Great River. 



1816, 119. Sect. 1. Be it enacted. That from and after the twen- 

 tieth da}^ of March next, it shall not be lawful for an}' person or per- 

 sons (except as hereinafter provided) to catch alewiACs or any other 

 fish with seines or nets in Taunton Great River : provided, that it shall 



