TITLE VII.

OF THE REGULATION OF TRADE IN CERTAIN CASES.

TITLE VII. CHAPTER 30.

Chapter 30. Of the Inspection of Provisions and other Merchandize, and Regulations respecting the Sale thereof.

Chapter 31. Of Weights and Measures.

Chapter 32. Of Bills of Exchange and Promissory Notes.

Chapter 33. Of Limited Partnerships.

Chapter 34. Of Money of Account, and the Interest of Money, and on Judgments, Verdicts, &c.

CHAPTER 30.

OF THE INSPECTION OF PROVISIONS AND OTHER MERCHANdize, and rEG-
ULATIONS RESPECTING THE SALE THEreof.

Inspectors may

SECTION 1. There may be elected in each of the organized counties in this state, as the public convenience and necessity may require, in- be elected. spectors of the following articles, namely: beef and pork, butter and hog's lard, fish, flour and meal, leather, and pot and pearl ashes; and such inspectors shall hold their offices, respectively, for the term of four years, unless sooner removed by the board of supervisors for misconduct in office.

SEC. 2. Each inspector shall, before entering on the duties of his Oath and bond. office, take and subscribe the oath of office prescribed by the twelfth article of the constitution of this state, and cause the same to be filed in the office of the clerk of the county for which he shall be appointed, (elected,) and shall also give bond, with sufficient sureties, as hereinafter provided.

SEC. 3. Each inspector shall appoint one or more deputy inspectors, Deputies. removable at his pleasure, in each township within his county where he shall deem it necessary, for whose official conduct he shall be responsible; and they shall give bonds with sufficient sureties to him in a penal sum not exceeding five hundred dollars each, and shall take and subscribe the constitutional oath of office, and cause the same to be filed in the office of the clerk of the county within which they shall be appointed.

Beef and Pork.

tors of beef and

SEC. 4. Each inspector of beef and pork shall, before entering upon the duties of his office, give bond with sufficient sureties to the Bond of inspec treasurer of this state, in the penal sum of one thousand dollars; pork. which bond shall be approved by the county clerk, and lodged with

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Annual returns.

the treasurer of the county for which such inspector is appointed (elected).

SEC. 5. Each inspector of beef and pork shall, annually, in the month of December, make a return to the secretary of state, of the whole number of barrels and half barrels of beef and pork so inspected by him and his deputies during the year preceding the first day of December in the year when such return is made, designating therein the different sorts, and the places at which the same was inspected. SEC. 6. All barrels in which beef or pork shall be packed, shall be rels and weight made of good seasoned white oak or white ash staves and heading, free from any defect, and each barrel shall contain two hundred pounds of beef or pork.

Quality of bar

of contents.

Barrels, how made.

Half barrels.

Quality &c., of beef.

Denominations of beef.

Mess beef.

Prime beef.

Cargo beef.

How salted.

How branded.

SEC. 7. Such barrels shall measure seventeen and a half inches between the chimes, and be twenty-nine inches long, and be hooped with at least twelve good hickory, white oak, or other suitable hoops; and if the barrel be made of white ash staves, it shall be hooped with at least fourteen such hoops; the staves and heads shall be made of a proper thickness, and the hoops shall be well set and driven together.

SEC. 8. The half barrels in which any beef or pork shall be packed, shall contain not less than fifteen, nor more than sixteen gallons, and made in proportion to, and of the like materials as a whole barrel, and shall contain one-half of the quantity of beef and pork of the whole barrel.

SEC. 9. No beef shall be branded by an inspector as hereinafter mentioned, unless it be of fat cattle, not under three years old; and all such beef shall be cut into pieces as nearly square as may be, and of not more than twelve, nor less than four pounds in weight.

SEC. 10. All beef shall be sorted and divided for packing or repacking, in barrels or half barrels, into three sorts, to be denominated mess," "prime," and "cargo," beef.

SEC. 11. Mess beef shall consist of the choice pieces of such cattle as are large and well fatted, without hocks, shanks, clods or necks, and may or may not contain two choice rounds out of the same cattle, not exceeding ten pounds each; and each barrel or half barrel containing beef of this description, shall be branded on one of the

heads with the words "mess beef."

SEC. 12. Prime beef shall consist of choice pieces of good fat cattle, of which there shall not be in a barrel more than one-half of a neck, nor more than two shanks, with the hocks cut off of the hind legs at the smallest place above the joints; and each barrel and half barrel containing beef of this description, shall be branded on one of the heads with the words "prime beef."

SEC. 13. Cargo beef shall be of fat cattle, with a proportion of good pieces, and not more than one-half of a neck, and three shanks, with the hocks cut off in the same manner as in prime, in a barrel, and shall be otherwise merchantable; and each barrel and half barrel of beef of this description, shall be branded on one of the heads with the words "cargo beef."

SEC. 14. Every barrel of beef shall be well salted with good clean salt, equal to seventy pounds of Turk's Island salt, exclusive of a strong new pickle; and to each barrel shall be added four ounces of saltpetre; and every half-barrel shall be salted in the same proportion, and two ounces of saltpetre shall be added thereto.

SEC. 15. On one head of every barrel and half barrel of merchanta

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ble beef and pork inspected and packed, shall be distinctly branded TITLE VII the weight it contains, with the first letter of the christian name, and the surname at full length, of the inspector or deputy who shall have inspected the same, the word "MICHIGAN," and the name of the county, and the year in which the same was inspected and branded. SEC. 16. No beef or pork shall be branded by an inspector, except When not to be such as shall be sweet and wholesome, and except the same be packed in casks of the dimensions hereinafter prescribed.

branded.

SEC. 17. There shall be four qualities of pork; the first quality shall Denominations be denominated "mess pork," and shall consist of the sides of good of pork. fat hogs, exclusive of all other pieces; and each barrel or half barrel of pork of this description, shall be branded on one of its heads with the words "mess pork."

Mess pork.

SEC. 18. The second quality of pork shall be denominated "prime Prime pork. pork," of which there shall not be in a barrel more than three shoulders, the legs being cut off at the knee joint, nor more than twentyfour pounds of heads, which shall have the ears and snouts cut off; such snouts to be cut off at the opening of the jaws, and the brains and all impure matter to be taken out of the heads; and the rest of the pork necessary to constitute a brand of prime pork, shall be made up of side pieces, neck and tail pieces, and on one head of every such barrel or half barrel shall be branded the words "prime pork."

SEC. 19. The third quality of pork shall be denominated "one hog One hog pork. pork," of which there shall not be in a barrel more than two hams, two shoulders, one neck, one rump, and one head, with the ears and snout cut off, and the brains and all impure matter taken out; and the rest of the pork to make up the barrel, shall consist of good side pieces, and each barrel of pork of this description, shall be branded with the words "one hog pork," on one head thereof.

SEC. 20. The fourth quality of pork shall be denominated "cargo Cargo pork. pork," of which there shall not be in a barrel more than thirty pounds of head, nor more than four shoulders, and it shall otherwise be merchantable pork, and one head of every such barrel or half barrel of such pork shall be branded with the words "cargo pork."

SEC. 21. Every barrel of pork shall be well salted with good clean How salted. salt, equal to seventy pounds of good Turk's Island salt, exclusive of a strong new pickle, and every half barrel shall be salted in the same proportion.

SEC. 22. The inspectors and their deputies shall be paid the follow- Fees for inspocing, and no other fees, for inspecting and branding all casks of beef ting. and pork, and giving a certificate thereof, to wit: For every barrel, fifteen cents, and for every half barrel, ten cents; which charges shall be paid by the person employing the inspector, together with the sum of twenty-five cents for each barrel, and fifteen cents for each half barrel, for packing and coopering the same, if done by him.

SEC. 23. If any inspector or deputy inspector shall unreasonably Penalty for neg neglect or refuse to inspect or brand, on application made to him for lect or fraud. that purpose, or shall be guilty of any neglect or fraud in inspecting, packing or branding any casks of beef or pork, contrary to the provisions of this chapter, or shall mark with his brands any casks containing beef or pork, which has not been actually inspected, he shall forfeit the sum of ten dollars for each offence.

SEC. 24. If any person other than an inspector or deputy inspector, Unlawful brandshall brand any cask of beef or pork as having been inspected, he shall ing, penalty for.

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Penalty for inter" mixing.

Offering imported beef or pork

not inspected.

Inspectors of butter, &c., to give bond.

Annual returns.

Mode of making inspection.

Keg or firkin, how branded.

Ib.

Casks, how made.

How prepared.

forfeit a sum not exceeding twenty dollars for each cask so unlawfully branded.

SEC. 25. If any person shall, with intent to defraud, intermix, take out or change any beef or pork from any cask inspected or branded as aforesaid; or shall put into such cask any other beef or pork for sale or exportation, contrary to the provisions of this chapter, he shall forfeit for each offence a sum not exceeding twenty dollars.

SEC. 26. If any person shall sell, or offer for sale, any barrel or half barrel of beef or pork imported into this state, without first having the same inspected and branded agreeably to the provisions of this chapter, he shall, for each barrel or half barrel so sold or offered for sale, forfeit a sum not exceeding ten dollars.

Butter and Hog's Lard.

SEC. 27. Each inspector of butter and hog's lard shall, before entering upon the duties of his office, give bond with sufficient sureties, to the treasurer of this state, in the penal sum of five hundred dollars; which bond shall be approved by the county clerk and lodged with the treasurer of the county for which such inspector is appointed (elected).

SEC. 28. Each of the inspecters of butter and lard shall, annually, in the month of December, make a return to the secretary of state, of the whole number of casks, the different qualities, and the weight of each quality of butter and lard inspected by him and his deputies during the year next preceding the first day of said December.

SEC. 29. The inspectors or their deputies shall examine casks, kegs and firkins containing butter or hog's lard, on application made by any person, and shall, with a proper instrument, perforate the contents of such casks, kegs or firkins, from one head to the other, and thereby draw out so much as shall determine the quality of the whole; and they shall see that it has been preserved with a due proportion of good fine salt, that it is sweet and pure, and otherwise merchantable.

SEC. 30. Each cask, keg or firkin of butter or hog's lard, which appears to be good and merchantable, shall be branded, in plain and legible characters, with the word "butter," or "hog's lard," as the same may be, and "first," or second," or third," according to its quality; and all other butter or hog's lard, shall be branded with the word "refuse."

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SEC. 31. Each cask, keg or firkin of butter or hog's lard, shall also be branded with the weight of the contents thereof, and with the word "MICHIGAN," the name of the township where it shall be inspected, the initial letter of the inspector or deputy's christian name, and the whole of his surname, and the month and year in which the same may be inspected; and where the name of the month consists of more than one syllable, it may be abbreviated.

SEC. 32. All casks, kegs or firkins, in which butter or hog's lard shall be packed for exportation, shall be made of sound and well seasoned white oak or white ash staves and heading, full bound with oak, ash or walnut hoops.

SEC. 33. Each cask, keg or firkin, before any butter or hog's lard shall be packed therein, shall be filled with a strong brine, which shall remain therein three days, and as soon as the brine is emptied from the cask, keg or firkin, it shall be weighed by the owner of such butter or hog's lard, who shall, with a marking iron, mark on one of the

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heads thereof the full weight of the cask, keg or firkin, and shall TITLE VII brand thereon the initial letter of his christian name, and the whole of his surname.

ting.

SEC. 34. The inspector or any deputy, for his services in inspecting, Fees for inspecbranding, weighing and delivering to the owner an invoice or weighnote under his hand, of the weight of each cask, keg, or firkin, shall receive five cents for each cask, keg, or firkin, to be paid by the person employing him.

Penalty for neg.

SEC. 35. If any inspector or deputy inspector, shall, on application made for the inspection of any butter or hog's lard, as aforesaid, un- lect or delay. reasonably neglect, refuse or delay to proceed to such inspection and branding for the space of three hours after application made to him, he shall for each offence forfeit the sum of five dollars.

Penalty for coun

&c.

SEC. 36. If any person shall counterfeit any brand used by any inspector or deputy inspector, or if any person shall make use of any terfeiting brand, such counterfeit brand, or of the brand of any inspector or deputy, to impress or brand any cask, keg or firkin of butter or hog's lard, he shall forfeit for each offence the sum of ten dollars; and if any owner of butter or hog's lard shall falsely mark any cask, keg or firkin thereof, or cause the same to be falsely marked, he shall forfeit the sum of three dollars for each offence.

SEC. 37. If any person shall, with intent to defraud, intermix, take Penalty for inter. out or change any butter or hog's lard, from any cask, keg or firkin in- mixing. spected and branded as aforesaid, or shall put into such cask, keg or firkin, any other butter or lard, for sale or exportation, without first cutting out the said brands and marks, the person so offending shall, for each such cask, keg or firkin, forfeit the sum of ten dollars.

Fish.

SEC. 38. Each inspector of fish, before entering upon the duties of his office, shall give bond, with sufficient sureties, to the treasurer of this state, in the penal sum of one thousand dollars; which bond shall be approved by the county clerk, and lodged with the treasurer of the county for which such inspector is appointed, (elected).

SEC. 39. Each inspector of fish shall, annually, in the month of December, make a return to the secretary of state, of the quantity of fish inspected by him and his deputies during the year next preceding the first day of said December; and in each return he shall specify the different kinds and qualities, and the quantity of each quality so inspected.

SEC. 40. The inspector and his deputies shall, on application made to them for that purpose, proceed to examine any pickled fish submitted for inspection, and shall see that the same have been well struck with salt or pickle in the first instance, and preserved sweet, free from rust, taint or damage; and such fish as shall be found in good order, and of a good quality, shall be packed, either in barrels containing two hundred pounds, or in half barrels containing one hundred pounds.

Inspectors of fish to give bond.

Annual returns.

Inspection.

Sec. 41. Such fish shall be packed with good clean salt suitable for How packed. the purpose, and after packing said fish with sufficient salt to preserve them, and heading said casks, they shall be filled up with a clean, strong pickle; and the fish denominated white fish, of good quality, properly cleaned, and in good order, may be packed as aforesaid, without having been previously salted or pickled.