If any person or persons shall erect or make any fence beyond the common low-water mark into the said river, without license first had and obtained from the said wardens, he, she, or they being legally convicted of the same, shall for every such offense forfeit and pay a fine not exceeding twenty dollars, to be recovered with costs as debts of the same amount are or may be by law recoverable; one-half of which fine shall be paid to the overseers or guardians of the poor of the city, district, or township as aforesaid, and the other half to the person or persons who shall sue for and recover the same.
53 P.S. § 16842