JURISDICTION OF WATERS AND FORESTS. 63 



' 4. It is equally Our will that they shall take cognis- 

 ance of all questions in regard to islands, islets, mud banks, 

 new deposits, encroachments, fish pools, dams, wharfs, 

 rectifications of river courses belonging to us, and of struc- 

 tures or ditches which may be on their banks. 



' 5. They shall take cognisance also of all actions arising 

 out of contracts, bargains, promises, bonds, co-partneries, 

 as well between merchants as others, in making merchan- 

 dise of wood, firewood, stave-wood, charcoal, and ashes ; 

 provided always that the contracts, bargains, promises, 

 bonds, and co-partneries have been made before the goods 

 had been removed from the woods, rivers, and ponds ; and 

 not otherwise. 



' 6. If there arise a difference in regard to the fees or 

 the payment of wages or salary of workmen, woodmen, and 

 other artisans working in our woods and forests, fishermen, 

 boatmen, or passengers by ferries established on our rivers, 

 We will that such be prosecuted and decided in the Judi- 

 cial Courts of Waters and Forests. 



' 7. The same courts shall take cognisance of all suits, 

 disputes, and cases raised in regard to matters relating to 

 the chase and to fishing, the taking of beasts in the forests, 

 thefts of fishes in the water ; making inquest into quarrels, 

 excesses, murders, or assassinations committed in connec- 

 tion with such matters, and they shall try, and give 

 judgment in the case, be it between gentlemen, officials, 

 merchants, burgesses, workmen, warreners, fishers, or any 

 others of whatsoever rank they may be, without any dis- 

 tinction whatsoever ; there being assigned to them all that 

 is requisite thereto, court, jurisdiction, and cognisance, 

 with express interdiction to all other judges, under 

 pain of nullification, and arbitrary fine against parties 

 appealing to them; but this is without prejudice to the 

 jurisdiction of Captains of the chase, whom we maintain 

 in their rights, as shall be affirmed in the chapter relat- 

 ing to the chase. 



' 8. With regard to other crimes which do not concern the 

 chase and matters thus specified, such as robberies, murders, 



