Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-03-23

enrolling or licencing ships or vessels to be en-
p'oyed IN the CO sting trade and fisheries and for
regulating the same" A certificate of enroll
'nent, which is issued for a ~coasting or fishing
vesseiof the United States, IS strictly analogous
10 the Certificate OF registry for q merchant ves-
sea- Inc documents contain similar statements
respecting. the vessels and the titles of the
owners and are authenticated in the same man.
ner. ~
feSsels or less than twenty tons are Hccnced,
without beng enrolled, according 10 the act of
the eighteenth Of February, seventeen hundred
ana ninety-ihree. And the duly of tonnage on
a licenced vessel is payable once in a wear A Il.
cence is issued from the Office of the cnstoms g..
the vessel to be employed in the coastinp traJe
OF uhe whale fishery or cod fishery. 1t NAV be IN
iorce Tor one year and is given under the hand
ana seal OF the collector, who is required To
make a record OF such licences and transmit CO.
pies 10 me register of the treasury. That the
P,N"eSes apperiain ne 10 ships or vessels of the
oniued states IN the coasting trade or fisheries
may be fully enjoyed, the same law REQUIRES em.
rolled vessels to have licenses.
as lie act OF the thirty.irst of December CO
fehteen hundred and ninety-two. has prov;ded
mat me privileges appertaining to registered
shipS OF vessels OF he United States shall M,
continue 70 ne enjoyed longer than they continue
to be commanded by citizens of tbe Irn;,oS
ota,es, 1t has in effect required every such ves-
SCI 10 nave one Citizen on board as maste,. mr.
eIanoer And the same requisite is includ-
Gu IN the act of the eighteenth of FEBRUARY ca.
'enteen hundred and ninety three. Cor enroII;nr
OF mems n5 ships or vessels. These acts CON,
'ah me principal regulations for commercial
SuiPPng. There are no laws in operation which
require any more OF the Citizens to be e,nn,aved
lor navigating the vessels in foreign trade ar in
'ne coasurg trade or fisheries. There is no .ct
u congress which requires the subordinate Off
oerS OF any part OF the crew on board any vessel
"naeeVer to be cit zens of the United States
On examination 1t appears, that systematic re.
100 concerning The ownership of vessels
were established by the registering act orDecen-
per 1872, and the enrolling and licensing act of
reoruary lI93. But the United States nave re-
NAMED to this day without a navigation act for
each branch of their commerce.
AS 1t concerns the maritime interests of the
United States, therefore, it is of Importance 70
establish a policy requiring the commercial YES.
seiS or the United States TO be navigated primo.
Paly ny mariners OF the country. With this
view, 1T Is considered, proper to allow the privi-
leges OF American character to meme but vesseIs
haVIgated by American mariners as the law my
require to provide for asceriaininp who sb,iI
be regarded as such mariners and to make Il
requisite for vessels of the United States 10 have
documents on board as evidence of being 40 ma
vigated. -"
mat the policy may be carried into effect
"'H'Ou' Inconvenience, various particulars in n
system OF navigation must correspond to exist;no,
laws respecting the collection of duties. the
ownership of vessels or the government of per.
IONS IN the merchant service or fisheries. SIEVE
raj regulations similar to those already in force
are proposed to be Incorporated.
me documents for vessels sailing on foreign
voyages may suPersede the useof any Other Ger
thca'es OF citizenship for persons EMPLOYED IN
navigating them. And it s proposed to reneal
me section OF the act of May, 1895, which has
authorised the collectors to deliver certificates to
to have prevailed in relation 10 such certIic9tes
may DE avoided BY requiring proper documents
TO accompany the vessels.
Statement of the whole number of ssa,,s, mn,
n"A4y Registered as american, under the ACT of
The 70 Ii of DAY 1796 beng an " abstract of
seahleh registered IL the several custom-houses
OF uie United States, according to returns made
to the Department Of Slate" as contained in a
report made TO tho Senate dated the 1eth of Feb
1913.