If any commercial fertilizer in the possession of the consumer is found by the Commissioner to be short in weight, the registrant of said commercial fertilizer shall within 30 days after official notice from the Commissioner pay to the consumer a penalty equal to four times the value of the actual shortage. The Commissioner may in his discretion allow reasonable tolerance for short weight due to loss through handling and transporting. (1947, c. 1086, s. 16; 1977, c. 303, s. 20.)