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Power of Inspectors to see that Regulations are complied with.
Inspector to levy Fines by Distress, and for want of Distress to commit Offenders.
Masters of Vessels, &c. assisting Offenders to escape.
Penalty 20l.
Person absconding not to recover Wages, &c.
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LVIII. And be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful for any Officer or Officers to be appointed from time to time under the Provisions of this Act, as Inspector or Inspectors of the said Fisheries, to enter on board every Vessel fitted out for fishing, and lying in any Harbour, Creek or Haven of Ireland, within Headland and Headland, for the purpose of purchasing Fish to cure, to examine and see that all the several Laws and Regulations made or to be made for the better Preservation and Improvement of the said Fisheries, be duly observed by all and every Person or Persons concerned therein; and upon any Complaint made or Information given upon Oath to such Person or Persons respectively, which Oath they and each of them is and are hereby empowered to administer, against any Person or Persons relative to and for the Punishment of any Offence which shall be committed against the Provisions of this Act, to issue a Warrant or Warrants against the Person or Persons so complained of or informed against, and to cause such Person or Persons so complained of or informed against to be apprehended and brought before such Inspector or Inspectors by the Captain or Master of the Vessel, if belonging to a Ship, or by the Skipper of the Boat to which such Person or Persons may belong; and if it shall appear to such Inspector or Inspectors, or by the Testimony upon Oath of such Informer, or other Witness or Witnesses, that the Person or Persons so informed against or complained of shall have been guilty of the Offence or Offences with which such Person or Persons shall have been so charged, then and in every such Case such Inspector or Inspectors shall by Warrant under his or their Hand and Seal, cause all and every the Fine or Fines to which said Offender or Offenders is or are or shall be liable, to be levied by Distress and Sale of the Goods of such Offender, and for want of such Distress or Payment, to commit the Person so offending to the next County Gaol for any Period not exceeding Three Months; if the Person or Persons so complained against shall abscond, then the Master or Owner of such Vessel, or the Skipper of such Boat, shall appear before the said Inspector within Twenty four Hours after the Service of Notice to appear before him; and if such Master, Owner or Skipper shall not sufficiently exculpate himself, by Affidavit, from being accessary to the absconding of such Person or Persons, in that Case, upon Representation to the Inspector to the Commissioners of the Fisheries, such Master, Owner or Skipper shall forfeit Twenty Pounds, and the Person so absconding shall be for ever debarred from recovering any Wages or Share of Fish to which he would have been otherwise entitled, by reason of his being a Hand or one of the Crew on board such Vessel, as also all Bounties to which he would otherwise have been entitled.
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