False Weights And Measures

Weights and measures which do not conform to those established by law. In the laws of King Edgar, nearly a century before the Conquest, we find an injunction that one measure kept at Winchester should be observed throughout the realm. In England the prerogative of fixing the standard anciently vested in the crown; in Normandy in the duke. "The regulation of weights and measures cannot, however, with propriety be referred to the king’s prerogative; for from Magna Carta to the present time there are about twenty acts of parliament to fix and establish the standard and uniformity of weights and measures." 1 Bla. Com. 274, n. In a case before the Court of King’s Bench it was held that although it was the custom of the town to sell eighteen ounces in a pound of butter, yet the Jury of the court-leet in the teen ounces each, the statutable weight; 8 T. R. 271; and it has been determined that no practice or usage could countervail the statutes 22 Car. II. c. 8 and 22 & 23 Car. II. c. 12, which enact that it any person shall either buy or sell salt or grain by any other measure than the Winchester bushel, he shall forfeit forty shillings and also the value of the grain or salt so sold or bought; one-half to the poor, the other to the Informer; 4 T. R. 750; 6 id. 353. In this country the power to fix the standard of weights and measures is in congress; Const. U. S. art. 1, c. 8. See Weights; Measures.