Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1850-10-03
Laws Of the United States.
BIZ AUTHORITY
PUBLIC ACTS
Passed during the first session of the
Thirty.frst Congress.

(PuBLic-No. I4.)
AN ACT to provide for recording The
conveyances Of vessels, and for other
purposes.
he ii enacted by tie Senate and
House Of Representatives. Of The United
States Of America in Congress as
ssmbied, That no bill ofsale, mortgage
hyPothecation or conveyance Of any
vessel or part Of any vessel OF the Uni
ted dSta'es, shall be valid against any
person other than the grantor or mort
gagor, his heirs and devisees, and per-
sons having actual notice thereof, un.
less such bill Of sale, mortgage, hy-
Pothecation, or conveyance, b. record
ed in the office Of the Z, Hector of Gus
' toms where such vessel is registered or
enrolled Prorided, That the lien by
bottomry on any vessel, created dur.
ing her voyage, by loan of money or
materials necessary to repair or enable
such vessel oprosecu,e voyage shall,
not luse its priority or be in any way
affected by the provisio IS of this act.
SEC. 2. And be ii further enacted,
That the collectors Of the customs
shall record all such bills Of sale, mort
cages, hypothecations, or C. nveyances,
and also all certificates for discharg.
ing and cancellins any such convey
ances, in book or books, and a so
on the bill Of sac, mortgage, hypothe-
cation, or conveyance, the time when
she same was received, and shall GER
tify ON the bill of sale, mortgage, hy-
potisecation or conveyance, or certifi.
cate Of discharge or cancellation, the
number Of the book aud page where
recorded and shall receive, for SO re-
cording such instrument Of convey
ance or certificate Of discharge, fifty
cents.
SEC. 3. And be it further enacted,
That the collectors of the customs
shall keep an index OF such records,
inserting alphabetically the names Of
the vendor or mortgagor, and of the
vendee or mortgage, and shall permit
said index and books Of records to be
inspected, during cffice hours, under
such reasonable regulations as they
may establish, and shtll, when requlr-
ed, furnish to any person certificate
setting forth the names Of the owners
Of any vessel registered or enrolled,
the parts or proportions owned by
each, (f inserted in the reglst or
enrolment. and also, the material facts
of any existing bill of sale. mortgage,
hypothecatiOn, or other incumbrance
upon such vessel recorded since the
issuing ofthe last register or enrolment,
viz the date, amount Of such inculn-
brance, and from aud TO whom, or in
whose favor made the coll, ctors shall
seceive for each such certificate one
dollar.
SEC. 4. And be il furfhr enacted,
That the collectors Of. the customs
shall furnish certified copies Of such
records on the receipt of fifty cents
tor each bill Of sale, mortgage, or 9th
er conveyance
Sec. 10. And be it furthr enacted,
TThcl The owner, or agent of the owner
of any vessel of the United STATES, APP
plying to collector Of the customs for
aregister or enrolment ola vessel, shall, :,
in addition to the oath now prescribed
by law, set forth in the oath of owner
ship the part or proportion Of such
vessel belonging to each owner, and
the same shall be inserted in the regis
ter or enrolment; and that all bills of
sale Of vessels owned by each person
selling. and the part conveyed to each
person purchasing.
Sec. 6. And be IL further enae,ed,
That the twelfth clause Of section of
the act emitted "An act in addition to
the several acts regulating the ship
ment and discharge Of seanen and the
duties Of consuls," approved July TWEEN
tieth, eighteen hundred and forty, b.
SO amended. as that all complaints lie
writing, TO the consuls or commercial
agents as ercin provided, that a YES.
sci Is unseaworthy, shall be signed by
the first, or the second and third cffi-
GERS, and majority Of the crew, be-
fore the consul or commercial agent
shall be authorized TO notice such
complaint, or proceed to appoint in
spectors as therein provided.
SEC. 7. And be /: further enacted,
Tlat any pei son, not being an owner,
who shall on the high seas wilfuJly,
with intent to burn or destroy, set fire
TO any ship or other vessel, or other
wise attempt the destruction Of such
ship, or other vessel, being the prop
ery of Of any citizen or citizens Of
the United States, or procure the same
70 be done, with intent aforesaid, and
being thereof lawfully convicted. shall
suffer Imprisonment to hard labor, for
term not exceeding ten years nor
less IN three years. according 10 the
sggravs,icn Of The offence.
Sec. 8. And be IL further enacted,
Thst this act shall be in force from
and after the first da, ofOctober next
ensuing.
Approved, July 90, 1850.
HOWELL COBB,
Speaker cfthe House Of Representatives