§142-43 Right to a brand determined by department. The department of agriculture shall determine conflicting claims by the applicants for a brand of similar or approximate design and in so doing shall be guided by the length of time each has used the brand, record of original registration, the number of animals then branded by each, and the priority of application. [L 1892, c 55, §1; RL 1925, §683; am L 1927, c 57, §1; RL 1935, §261; RL 1945, §1070; am L 1953, c 235, §1(b); am L 1955, c 73, §1(c); RL 1955, §20-42; am L Sp 1959 2d, c 1, §22; am L 1961, c 132, §2; HRS §142-43]