As soon as a notary has made presentment and demand of a bill of ex- change, or at some seasonable hour of the same day, he makes a minute on the bill, or on a ticket attached thereto, or in his book of registry, consisting of his initials, tlie month, day, and year, the refusal of acceptance or payment, the reason, if auy, assigned for such refusal, and his charges of protest This is the preliminary step towards the protest, and is called “noting.” 2 Daniel, Neg. Inst. ! 939.