Section 1. The Council may provide and maintain one or more pounds in the City, and may appoint poundmasters, prescribe their powers and duties, and fix their compensation, and may authorize the impounding of all beasts and fowls found in the streets, or otherwise at large, contrary to any ordinance of the City, and if there shall be no pound or poundmaster, they may provide for the impounding of such beasts and fowls by some person duly appointed for the purpose in some suitable place under his immediate care and inspection, and may confer on him the powers and duties of poundmaster.