Whereas the Water-Fowl of divers Kinds, which were wont in former Years in great Numbers to frequent the Maritime Towns of this Province, were of great Service and Benefit to the Inhabitants, both for Meat and Feathers; but are now in great Measure affrifhted, and driven away by many Persons, who have made use of Boats, Canoes, Floats, or other Vessels, therein to go off to shoot them at Distance from the Shore upon the Flats and feedings grounds; which practices, if continued, are likely to have ill Effect to cause the Fowl to wholly defect and difuse the said Towns: for the Prevention whereof […] That if any person or persons shall, at any time after two months from the publication of this act, make use of any boat, canoe, float, raft or other vessel, wherewith to approach to, and shoot at any waterfowl, in any part of this province, he or they so offending, shall each of them forfeit and pay, for every such offence, the sum of forty shillings to the informer. And every such offender shall be, and hereby is prohibited and restrained from using a gun to shoot at waterfowl for the space of three years next after his offence, upon the like penalty of forty shillings for each time he shall presume so to offend, to be disposed of in manner as the forfeiture aforementioned.