# United States Statutes at Large/Volume 1/3rd Congress/1st Session/Chapter 33

Chap. ⅩⅩⅩⅢ.—An Act prohibiting for a limited time the Exportation of Arms and Ammunition, and encouraging the Importation of the same.
Exportation of arms and ammunition prohibited for one year. 1795, ch. 53. 1797, ch. 2. Forfeiture on landing any of the said articles with intent to export them, &c.Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That it shall not be lawful to export from the United States any cannon, muskets, pistols, bayonets, swords, cutlasses, musket balls, lead, bombs, grenados, gunpowder, sulphur or saltpetre, but the exportation of all the aforesaid articles are hereby prohibited for and during the term of one year.
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That any of the aforesaid articles, excepting such of them as may constitute a part of the equipment of any vessel, which during the continuance of this prohibition shall be found on board of any vessel in any river, port, bay or harbor within the territory of the United States, with an intent to be exported from the United States to any foreign country, shall be forfeited, and in case the value thereof shall amount to four hundred dollars, the vessel on board of which the same shall be seized, together with her tackle, apparel and furniture shall also be forfeited. Provided nevertheless, That nothing in this act shall be construed to prohibit the removal or transportation of any of the articles aforesaid from one port to another port within the ​United States in any vessel having a license as a coasting vessel, the master, agent or owner of which shall have given bond with one or more sufficient sureties to the collector of the district from which such vessel is about to depart, in a sum double the value of such vessel and of such of the said articles as may be laden on board her, that the said articles shall be re-landed and delivered in some port of the United States.
Vessel exporting said articles liable to forfeiture, &c.Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That if any of the articles aforesaid shall, contrary to the prohibitions of this act, be exported to any foreign country, the vessel in which the same shall have been exported together with her tackle, apparel and furniture, shall be liable to forfeiture, and the captain or master of such vessel shall forfeit and pay a sum not exceeding one thousand dollars.
Duty of custom-house officers herein.Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the custom-house officers, and of all persons employed in the collection of the revenue, to attend to the execution of this law, and all forfeitures and penalties incurred under it, shall be sued for, prosecuted, adjudged and distributed in like manner as is provided in the act, entitled 1790, ch. 35.“An act to provide more effectually for the collection of the duties imposed by law on goods, wares and merchandise imported into the United States, and on the tonnage of ships and vessels.”
Importation of brass cannon, muskets, &c. for two years free of duty.Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That all brass cannon, muskets and firelocks with bayonets suited to the same, pistols, swords, cutlasses, musket ball, lead, and gunpowder which shall be imported into the United States from any foreign country within the term of one year, and all sulphur and saltpetre which shall be so imported within the term of two years from and after the passing of this act, shall be free of duty, any thing in any former law to the contrary notwithstanding.
Approved, May 22, 1794.