owners. All masters, engineers, mates, and pilots of such vessels shall answer all reasonable inquiries and give all the information in their power in regard to any such vessel so visited, and her machinery, and the manner of managing both. When ever a supervising inspector ascertains to his satisfaction that any master, mate, engineer, pilot, or owner of any steam - vessel, fails to perform his duties according to law, he reports the fact in writing to the board of local inspectors in the district where the vessel was inspected or belongs, and, if need be, causes the negligent or offending party to be prosecuted. If the supervising inspector has good reason to believe that the board which inspected the vessel failed to do its duty, he reports the facts in writing to the Secretary of the Treasury, who immediately causes an investigation to be made.

An inspector of hulls and an inspector of boilers are appointed in each of a number of collection districts, and, in addition, the Secretary of the Treasury appoints in such districts where their services are actually required assistant inspectors, and also a clerk to any board. Whenever any vacancy occurs in any local board of inspectors, or whenever local inspectors are to be appointed for a new district, the supervising inspectors notify the collector or other chief officers of the customs for the district, and the judge of the district court, for the district in which such appointment is to be made, who, together with the supervising inspector, meet together as a board of designators and fill the vacancy or new inspectorship. No appointment of an inspector of hulls or of boilers is made without the concurrence of the supervising inspector. The inspector of hulls and the inspector of boilers thus designated, when approved by the Secretary of the Treasury, constitute, from the

date of designation, a board of local inspectors. The supervising inspectors see that the several boards of local inspectors within their respective districts execute their duties faithfully, promptly, and, as far as possible, uniformly in all places, and they, as far as practicable, harmonise differences of opinion in different local boards.

The local inspectors, at least once in every year, upon application in writing by the master or owner, carefully inspect the hull of each steamvessel within their respective districts, and satisfy themselves that every vessel so submitted to their inspection is of a structure suitable for the service in which she is to be employed, has adequate, accommodation for passengers and crew, and is in a condition to warrant the belief that she may be used in navigation as a steamer with safety to life, and that all the requirements of law in regard to fires, boats, pumps, hose, life-preservers, floats, anchors, cables, and other things, are faithfully complied with; and, if they deem it expedient, they may direct the vessel to be put in motion, and may adopt any other suitable means to test her sufficiency and that of her equipment. They also inspect the boilers of all steam - vessels before the same are used, and once at least in every year thereafter. They subject all boilers to hydrostatic pressure test, and satisfy themselves that the boilers and machinery and appurtenances may be employed in the service proposed in the written application without peril to life. When the inspection is completed, and the inspectors approve the vessel and her equipment throughout, they make and subscribe a certificate to the collector or other chief officer of the customs of the district, and verify it by oaths. If they refuse to grant a certificate of approval, they make

a statement in writing, giving the reason for their disapproval, and sign it. The original certificates of inspectors are retained on file by the collector or other chief officer of the customs, and three certified copies are given to the master or owner of the vessel. Two of these copies are framed in glass and placed in conspicuous places in the vessel, and the other is retained by the master or owner as evidence of the authority thereby conferred.

The hull and boilers of every ferryboat, canal - boat, yacht, or other small craft of like character, propelled by steam, are inspected; and such other provisions of law for the better security of life as may be applicable to such vessels are, by the regulations of the board of supervising inspectors, also required to be complied with before a certificate of inspection is granted. No such vessel shall be navigated without a licensed engineer and a licensed pilot.

The hull and boiler of every tugboat, towing-boat, and freight-boat are inspected; and the inspectors see that their boilers, machinery, and appurtenances are not dangerous in form or workmanship, and are conform to law. The officers navigating such vessels are licensed in conformity with law, and are subject to the same provisions of law officers navigating passengersteamers.

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The boards of local inspectors license and classify the masters, chief - mates, engineers, and pilots of all steam-vessels; and it is unlawful to employ any person, or for any person to serve as a master, chief-mate, engineer, or pilot on any steamer who is not licensed by the inspectors. Whenever any person applies to be licensed as master of a steam-vessel, the inspectors make diligent inquiry as to his character, and carefully examine the applicant,

as well as the proofs which he presents in support of his claim; and if they are satisfied that his capacity, experience, habits of life, and character are such as warrant the belief that he can be safely intrusted with the duties and responsibilities of the station for which he makes application, they grant him a licence authorising him to discharge such duties on any such vessel for the term of one year. This licence may be suspended or revoked for cause. The chief-mate, engineer, and pilot of steam vessels must satisfy the inspectors as to their respective capacities, &c., before getting licensed; and they and masters, before entering upon their respective duties, have respectively to make oath before one of the inspectors, to be recorded with the certificate, that they respectively will faithfully and honestly, according to their best skill and judgment, without concealment or reservation, perform all the duties required of them respectively by law. Their licences are framed under glass, and placed in some conspicuous place in their respective vessels.

No state or municipal government shall impose upon pilots of steamvessels any obligation to procure a state or other licence in addition to that issued by the United States, or any other regulations which will impede such pilots in the performance of the duties required by the United States laws; nor shall any pilot charges be levied by any such authority upon any steamer piloted as provided by the United States laws; and in no case shall the fees charged for the pilotage of any steam-vessel exceed the customary or legally established rates in the state where the same is performed. But the regulations established by the laws of any state requiring vessels entering or leaving a port in any such state, other than coastwise steam-vessels, to take

a pilot duly licensed or authorised by the laws of such state, or of a state situate upon the waters of such state, are not annulled or affected by the said United States regulations.

Any alien who has duly declared his intention to become a citizen of the United States, and has been a permanent resident of the United States for at least six months immediately prior to the granting of such licence, may be licensed, as if already naturalised, to serve as an engineer or pilot upon any steam-vessel, subject to inspection as described.

No steamer carrying passengers shall depart from any port unless she has in her service a full complement of licensed officers and a full crew, and the requirements of law as to the number of passengers carried, and all other respects, must be complied with. The master keeps a correct list of all the passengers received and delivered from day to day, noting the places where received and landed, which record is open to the inspection of the inspectors and officers of the customs at all times; and the aggregate number of passengers is furnished to inspectors as often as called for. But on routes not exceeding 100 miles the number of passengers, if kept, is sufficient. Dangerous articles (which are particularised) of freight or of stores are not to be carried on passenger - steamers, and there are minute provisions as to watchmen, boats, life-boats, life-preservers, fire-buckets, stairways, gangways, &c., &c. Every steam vessel of the United States, in addition to having her name printed on her stern, has the same conspicuously placed in distinct plain letters of not less than six inches in length on each outer side of the pilot-house, if she has such, and, in case she has side wheels, also on the outer side of each wheel-house.

All foreign private steam - vessels carrying passengers from any port of

the United States to any other place or country are subject to most of the provisions of law as to inspection and the transportation of passengers and merchandise, and are liable to visitation and inspection by the proper officer in any of the ports of the United States. The Secretary of the Treasury appoints officers, designated as special inspectors of foreign steamvessels, who perform their duties and make reports to the supervising inspector general of steam - vessels under such regulations as the Secretary prescribes.

Every vessel of the United States going to any foreign country is, at the request of the master, furnished by the collector for the district where such vessel may be with a passport, the form for which is prescribed by the Secretary of State. But the master of such vessel has to bind himself with sufficient sureties to the Treasurer of the United States in the penalty of $2000, conditioned that the passport shall not be applied to the use or protection of any other vessel than the one described in it; and that in case of the loss or sale of any vessel having such passport, the same shall, within three months, be delivered up to the collector from whom it was received, if the loss or sale take place within the United States, or within six months if the same happen at any place nearer than the Cape of Good Hope, and within eighteen months if at a more distant place.

The master of any vessel of the United States departing therefrom, bound to any foreign country other than to some port in America, without such passport, is liable to a penalty of $200 for each such offence. Every unregistered vessel owned by a citizen of the United States, and sailing with a sea-letter, going to any foreign country, before she departs from the United States is, at the request of the master, furnished by

the collector of the district where she may be with a passport, for which the master is subjected to the rules and conditions prescribed for vessels of the United States. On arrival at a foreign port, the master deposits his register, sea - letter, and Mediterranean passport with the consul, viceconsul, commercial agent, or vicecommercial agent, if any there be at such port; and it is the duty of the consul, &c., on the master or commander producing to him a clearance from the proper officer of the port

where his vessel may be, to deliver to the master all of his papers, if such master or commander has complied with the provisions of law relating to the discharge of seamen in a foreign country, and to the payment of the fees of consular officers. Every master of any vessel who refuses or neglects to deposit the papers as required is liable to a penalty of $500, to be recovered by such consul, &c., in his own name for the benefit of the United States in any court of competent jurisdiction.

Vessels of 20 tons and upward enrolled in pursuance of law and having a licence in force, or vessels of less than 20 tons, which, although not enrolled, have a licence in force as required by law, and no others, are deemed vessels of the United States entitled to the privileges of vessels employed in the coasting trade or fisheries.

To be enrolled, the vessel must possess the same qualifications, and the same requirements in all respects must be complied with as are required before registering a vessel; and the same powers and duties are conferred and imposed upon all officers respectively, and the same proceedings are had in enrolment of vessels, as are prescribed for similar cases in registering; and vessels enrolled with the masters or owners thereof are subject to the same requirements as are prescribed for registered vessels. Enrolments and licences for vessels may be issued in the name of the president or secretary (who takes the oath) of any incorporated company which owns the vessel, without designating the names of the persons composing such company; and upon the death, removal, or resignation of such president or secretary, a new enrolment

and licence is taken out therefor. Any steamboat employed or intended to be employed only in a river or bay of the United States, owned wholly or in part by an alien resident within the United States, may be enrolled and licensed as if the same belonged to a citizen of the United States, subject to all the provisions of law, except that no oath is required that the boat belongs to a citizen of the United States. Such resident alien, owner of any steamboat, upon application for enrolment or licence, gives bond to the collector of the district for the use of the United States in the penalty of $1000, with sufficient surety conditioned that the boat shall not be employed in other waters than the rivers and bays of the United States.

Any vessel of the United States navigating the waters on the northern, north-eastern, and north-western frontiers otherwise than by sea, is enrolled and licensed in such form as other vessels; and such enrolment and licence authorise any such vessel to be employed either in the coasting or foreign trade on such frontiers, and no certificate of registry is required for vessels so employed. In every other respect such vessel is

liable to the regulations and penalties relating to registered and licensed vessels. Canal-boats, or boats employed on the internal waters or canals of any state, and all such boats excepting only such as are provided with sails or propelling machinery of their own adapted to lake or coastwise navigation, and excepting such as are employed in trade with Canada, are exempt from enrolment and licence.

In order to the licensing of any vessel for carrying on the coasting trade or fisheries, the husband or managing owner, together with the master thereof, with one or more sureties to the satisfaction of the collector granting the same, becomes bound to pay to the United States, if such vessel be of the burden of 5 tons and less than 20 tons, the sum of $100; and if 20 tons and not exceeding 30 tons, $200; and if above 30 tons and not exceeding 60 tons, $500; and if above 60 tons, $1000in case it appears, within two years from the date of the bond, that such vessel has been employed in any trade whereby the revenue of the United States has been defrauded during the time the licence granted to such vessel remained in force. The master of such vessel shall also swear that he is a citizen of the United States, and that such licence shall not be used for any other vessel or any other employment than that for which it is specially granted, or in any trade or business whereby the revenue of the United States may be defrauded; and if such vessel be less than 20 tons burden, the husband or managing owner shall swear that she is wholly the property of citizens of the United States; whereupon it is the duty of the collector of the district comprehending the port whereto such vessel belongs to grant a licence.

There are provisions for the enrolment and licensing of registered ves

sels upon the registry being given up, and vice versa; also for changing the district of enrolment, &c. No licence is considered in force any longer than the vessel is owned, and of the description set forth in the licence, or for carrying on any other business or employment than that for which she is specially licensed. The licence has to be given up to the collector who granted it within three days after the expiration of the time for which it was granted, if the vessel be within the district, or if absent at that time, within three days after her first arrival within the district; or if she be sold out of the district, within three days after the arrival of the master within any district, to the collector of such district, taking his certificate therefor. The master is liable to a penalty of $50 for neglecting or refusing to deliver up the licence; but in case of loss or destruction, the master can, by taking a prescribed oath, avert this penalty. Renewals of licences can be got.

In every case when the collector grants any enrolment, licence, certificate, permit, or other document, the naval officer residing at the port, if there be one, signs the same, and every surveyor who certifies a manifest, or grants any permit, or who receives any certified manifest or any permit, as is provided for, makes return thereof monthly, or sooner, if it can conveniently be made, to the collector of the district where such surveyor resides. The collector of each district progressively numbers the licences by him granted, beginning anew at the commencement of each year, and makes a record thereof in a book kept for that purpose, and once in three months transmits to the Register of the Treasury copies of the licences granted by him, and also of such licences as have been given up or returned by him. Whenever any vessel is licensed or enrolled