Shannon Navigation Act, 1839

If Disputes should arise about the Amount of Tolls, the Collectors may weigh the Goods.

L. And be it enacted, That if any Dispute or Difference shall arise between the Collectors of the Rates and Tolls made payable by this Act, and the Owner, Master, or Person having charge of any Ship, Boat, Barge, or other Vessel, or the Owner of any Goods, Wares, and Merchandize or other Things chargeable with or liable to the Payment of any of the said Rates or Tolls, concerning the Weight and Quantity of the same, it shall and may be lawful for such Collector to stop and detain any such Ship, Boat, Barge, or other Vessel, and to weigh, measure, or gauge, or cause to be weighed, measured, or gauged, all such Goods, Wares, and Merchandize or other Things as shall be in any Vessel or Vessels, where and when any Dispute shall arise; and in case such Goods, Wares, and Merchandize or other Things shall, upon such weighing, measuring, or gauging, appear to be as much Weight, Measure, or Quantity as or of greater Quantity than such Collector did insist and affirm the same to be before the weighing, measuring, or gauging thereof, so as to make the same chargeable with or liable to the Payment of as much Money as or more Money than was demanded by the Collector before the weighing, measuring, or gauging of such Goods, Wares, and Merchandize or other Things, then and in such Case the Master or Owner of such Ship, Boat, Barge, or other Vessel, or the Owners of such Goods, Wares, and Merchandize so weighed, measured, or gauged, shall pay the Costs and Charges of such weighing, measuring, or gauging thereof; all which said Costs and Charges upon Refusal of Payment thereof on Demand, shall and may be recovered as the Rates and Tolls made payable in and by this Act are appointed to be recovered; but in case such Goods, Wares, and Merchandize or other Things shall, upon such weighing, measuring, or gauging, appear to be of no greater Weight or Quantity than the Master or Owner declared the same to be before the weighing, measuring, or gauging thereof, then and in such Case such Collector shall pay the Costs and Charges of such weighing, measuring, or gauging, and shall also pay the Master or Person having the Charge of such Ship, Boat, Barge, or other Vessel, or to the Owner or Owners of such Goods, Wares, and Merchandize, One Shilling for every Hour that such Ship, Boat, Barge, or other Vessel shall be detained by occasion of such weighing, measuring, or gauging, and so in proportion for any greater or less Time than an Hour; and in default of immediate Payment thereof the same shall be levied by Distress and Sale of the Goods and Chattels of such Collector, or of any Lessee of such Rates or Tolls by whom such Collector may have been employed, by Warrant or Warrants under the Hand and Seal of any Justice of the Peace for the County, Liberty, or Place where such Collector shall reside, rendering the Overplus to the Owner or Owners thereof, after such Distress and Sale made, if any be.