USAGE. Long and uniform practice, In its most ixtensive meahing, this term includee custom and' prescription,• though' it differs from them; in. a narfower sense,' it is applied to' the habits, modes, and course of dealing which ,:are et:served in trade generally, as to. all mercantile transactions, or t'o soine particular branches of trade.
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., 2. Usage of trade does not reqnire to ,be itinnemortal to becon]e established:. if it, be knovin, certain, uniform, rea,sentthle,,and not contrary to' law, it is sufficient. But ,eri dekine that a thing his been done infew nistances does not establish a usage. 3 Wa,tts,, Penn. 178 ; 3 Wash. C. C. 150 ;:l.Gall; 0;.C.1 443 ; 5 Binn. Penn.. 287 ;. 9 Pick.. Mass: 426 ; 4• Barnew. & Ald. 210•;• 7 Pet.• l';. 2 WaSh: 3. The' asages of' traile'afford.gronnd iipan which a prOper constinetioti may be given to contracts.. By their. aid tbe ..indeterminate intention of parties and the natnre and ex tent. of their contracts arising from mere implietitions• dr prestimptionS,. and' Acts of an
eiptiVoca character, May' be: 'aseeiteined ; and the' meaning of *6r.:d4 and dotihtfal expres sions may, become linown. 2 .Metc. Mass.. 65 ; 13 Pick. Mass. 182; 2 Sumn. C. C. 569 ; 2 Gill & J. Md. 136 ; Story, Ag..4 77 ; 2 Kent, Comm. 662,.3d• etl.•; 5 Wheat. 326 ; 2 Carr. &•P. 525 ;••3 Berne* & Ald. 728 ; Park. l'ns. :30;;• Marelifill, Ins. 186; n: 20 ;' 1' Cairtes,_ N, Y. 45 ;.,H11P. 356, 486 ; 1 Edw. Ch..N. Y. 1'46 ; 1 Nott,& M'C. So. C. 519 ; 15 Mass. .433 ; 1. Hill; So. C. 270.; Wright,' Ohio, 573 ; jPet, C..C. 230 ; 5. Ohio, 436 ; 1 •Pet. 25, .89 ;` 2 id.• 148 •6• id. 715 ; 15 Ala. 123 • 1 Hall, 61.2'.;. 9' Mas4. 155 ;• WW1-leaf'. 582; 11' !id. 430.. .
'Courte nOt reaclifY adopt these usages,, liecause they are not unfrequently founded in•mistake,. 2..Sumn. C.•C. 377.
. See 3 Chitty,• Pr. 55•;• story, Confl. Laws, 4 270.; 1 Dail.. 178 ; yatigh:. 169, 383 ; BOU i!Vier,, Inst. Index. ' • 1: •