156 THE FOUESTS OF FRANC& 



five hundred livres fine, both against the private persons, 

 and against the Judge and our Attorney who have 

 neglected to do this, and who are responsible in their own 

 name for the damages and compensation for loss. 



' 43. Those who have caused to be built mills, sluices, 

 water-gates, fisheries, and other edifices within the limits 

 of navigable and flotage rivers, without having obtained 

 our permission, or that of our predecessors, shall be re- 

 quired to demolish them ; this, if not done by them, shall 

 be done at their expense and cost. 



' 44. We forbid all persons to draw off water from 

 navigable and floatable rivers, or to alter their course by 

 water leadings, trenches, or canals, under pain against 

 those contravening this of being punished as usurpers, and 

 having the former state of things restored at their expense. 



' 45. We rule and fix the chommage, or charge for loss of 

 time, of each mill which may be found established on the 

 navigable and floatable rivers, with due titles and concessions, 

 at forty sous for the period of twenty-four hours, which shall 

 be paid to the proprietors of the mills or their farmers and 

 millers, by those who shall cause the stoppage of work for 

 their navigation and flotage, and this we do with very ex- 

 press prohibition to all persons to exact more, or to retard in 

 any way the navigation or flotage under pain of a thousand 

 livres fine, beside the damages and compensation for loss 

 and repayment of outlay and expenses, which shall be 

 determined by our officers of Maitrises without their having 

 it in their power to modify it. 



' 46. If there shall arise any difference in regard to the 

 rights of chommage pertaining to the mills and salaries of 

 bridge-masters, and guards of bridges, and sluices of navi- 

 gable and floating rivers, these shall be determined by the 

 Grand-Master, or, in his absence, by the Officers of the 

 Maitrise, the merchants engaged in the traffic, and the 

 proprietors and millers being previously heard if need be ; 

 and that which shall be by them decided shall be at once 

 executed provisionally, notwithstanding and without pre- 

 judice to appeal. 



