§9-12-27. Standard measures for oysters and shrimp; possession, use for purchase or sale, etc., of nonstandard measures for oysters or shrimp; inspections.

(a) A standard measure for oysters is established which shall consist of a tub or other round vessel of the following dimensions: It shall measure 17 inches in diameter, inside at the bottom, and 21 1/2 inches in diameter, inside at the top, and 14 1/2 inches, inside, from the bottom to top perpendicularly. Two of these measures filled to the top shall make one barrel, and all oysters bought and sold in this state in the shell shall be measured in a measure of these dimensions or a measure holding a fraction or multiple thereof.

(b) A standard measure for shrimp is established which shall consist of a container holding not less than 210 pounds of raw shrimp with heads or 125 pounds of raw shrimp without heads.

(c) It shall be unlawful for any person to have in his possession any measure for oysters in the shell or shrimp which shall differ from the measure provided for in this section or demand or require a greater or less measure in buying or selling, and no vessel, container or measure shall be used in buying or selling oysters or shrimp until it has been measured and stamped by an inspector of the Division of Marine Resources. The said inspector shall visit from time to time each place where oysters or shrimp are bought and sold for the purpose of determining whether the terms of the provisions of this section are complied with.

(Code 1896, §2160; Code 1907, §1585; Code 1923, §2729; Code 1940, T. 8, §116; Acts 1953, No. 711, p. 966, §1.)