Year: 1876

protect the interests of StockGrowers in the Terri


tory of Montana.


BE it enacted 1yMe Legislative assembly ofMe


I'errito1y0f Montana


SECTION /. The County Commissioners of
tie several counties of this Territory may, lat
their first regular meeting after the passage
of this act, divide their respective counties


into districts of not less than three nor more
than twenty districts. Said commissioners
shall have due regard to the natural boun-
daries, and take into consideration the con-
yenience of the resident stock owners thereof


SEC. 2. The resident stock owners may
meet on the last Saturday in May of each
year at some convenient place in the several
districts and proceed to elect three resident
stock owners, who shall constitute Stock
board. The person receiving the highest
number of all votes cast, shall preside at the
meeting of SAID board. The said board shall,
on the same day, elect suitable person to
act as clerk to the said stock-board.


SEC. 8 1t shall be the duty of the several
stock boards. in all the organized stock dis
tricts throughout the Territory, to proceed in
10 roundup all the stock in their district,
dairy COWS, work-oxen and cattle under the
direct care of herder excepted: Prouided,
that when two districts join, they shall not
roundup at one and the same time. The
stock aboard shall designate the most suitable
and convenient points in the district where
stock shall be rounded up, and shall take
charge of all stray cattle, horses, or mules
found in their respective districts, and safely
keep the same in suitable enclosure provid-
ed with feed and water sufficient for all the
estrays therein.


Provi0ed further, that when any stock
board shall have notice of the ownership of
any brand or brands of cattle that are or may
be in their district, such stock shall not be
taken in custody as estrays.


Sec t. All the animals may be declared
estrays by the stock-boards of the several
counties, except those that have duly record
ed brand in the general recorders office in
the Territory, and those whose owners are
known to said stock-board; also except suck
ing colts, and calves following their mother.
Sec. 5. 1t shall be the duty of the stock
! board Immediately after they have finished
! rounding up in their district to assist the clerk
in such district to write out an accurate des-
cription of all marks and brands on all the
estrays in their custody, and shall also des-
cribe as accurately as possible all estray horses
and mules not branded; Provided, The stock
board may declare as estrays all cattle in the
roundup in their district either branded or
otherwise, that are unclaimed at said round
up, and whose owners are not known.
SEC g. 1t shall be the duty of the clerk
| to attend in person at all the round-ups in his
district, and shall assist the board in making
out an accurate description of all cattle,
horses and mules which have been declared
estrays by the stock-board, and shall record
the marks and brands found on them, in a
suitable book kept for that purpose, and the
same to be at all times subject to the inspec-
ton of the public. 1t shall be the duty OF the
said clerk to examine carefully all the record
ed brands and marks, and should he find any
recorded brand or marks to correspond with
the brand or marks on any animal or animals
recorded by him in the district record book
of marks or brands, it shall be the duty of
the said clerk, without delay, to give notice
by letter to the owner of such recorded brand
! or marks The said notice shall give the
! number and description of such stock, and
| for such notice the clerk shall receive the sum
! of one dollar from the person receiving such
notice or owning such stock. 1t shall fur
| ther he the duty of said clerk to give notice
to clerks of adjoining districts, by letter, des-
| cribing marks, brands, ETC., on all cattle,
| horses, and mules. And when horses or
mules are not branded, then to give as accu-
rate description as possible OF each animal
that has been declared and held as estrays by
the stock board of his district. Said clerk
shall not be entitled to pay for the same, but
may charge and receive one dollar for each
certified copy of all brands and marks and
| descriptions.
! Sec Z. All stock that have been declared
estrays and recorded as such, shall be kept IN
a suitable enclosure as provided for in section
three of this act; and for and in consideration
of the safe keeping and good care of all such
estray stock, the stock board, or suitable
! person appointed by them, as their agent,
shall receive the sum of two dollars per head;


Prorided, That calves and sucking colts are
not counted and not subject to a charge as
other stock The said sum of two dollars
shall be paid by parties who establish legal
| right to any of said estrays. The said sum,
together with the amount due the clerk OF the
district, as provided for in section six, OF this
| act, shall be paid before the delivery of said
Stock; and in case that the said charges are
not paid within thirty days from the date of
establishing ownership to said stock, the
same shall be sold to the highest bidder for
cash, and tie residue, if any, shall be paid to
| the order of the legal owner of said stock.
| The President of the stock-board shall post,
| or cause to be posted, at least ten days pre-
vious to date of sale, in not less than three
public places in his district, written or printed
bills of this form, to-wit:


| Notice is hereby given that the stock-board
of --- district will sell on day
of -- at to the highest
bidder, for cash, the following described
stock, (here describe the stock to be sold.)
Sale to commence at 12 o'clock NJ. of said
| day.