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Water-Bailiff

Dictionary of Terms and Phrases Used in American or English Jurisprudence · Benjamin Vaughan Abbott · 1879

Dictionary of Terms and Phrases Used in American or English Jurisprudence

The title of an oflicer, in port towns in England, appointed for the searching of ships. Also, of an officer belonging to the city of London, who had the supervising and search of the fish brought thither. Cowel. The water-bailiff is the most ancient of the officers who were appointed by the corporation to see to the observance of the statutes and by-laws applicable to the river Thames. He had to survey the whole of the civic jurisdiction of the river, to observe encroachments and nuisances, &c. Pull. Laws S/- Cust. Land.