Officers who may make rules for regulation of public ferries.

Except in the case provided in sub-section (2) of section 14 B, and elsewhere— (a) in the case of public ferries on roads under the control of the Executive Engineer of a Division of the Public Works Department, such Executive Engineer, and (b) in all other cases, the Collector of the district, may, subject to such general directions as the State Government from time to time may issue, make rules to determine the number of passengers, carts, carriages and animals, and the quantity of goods, that may be carried in any public ferry-boat at one trip, and for the safe, speedy and convenient carriage and landing of passengers and property, and for keeping the ferry-boats in good order and otherwise for the due discharge of their duty by toll-contractors or farmers, tollkeepers, ferrymen and other persons employed at a public ferry; and any toll-contractor or farmer, toll-keeper, ferryman or other person infringing or disobeying any such rule shall be liable to make good any loss or damage caused thereby, which loss or damage may be summarily ascertained by any Magistrate within whose jurisdiction the offence was committed, and the amount thereof may be recovered as any penalty under this Act may be recovered.