, 1855-12-14

AffhOfED, march D. 1000
CHAT. CCXIII-An Act to Regulate the Carriage of
Passengers in Steamships and other Vessels.
Be Enacted By the Senate and House Of Represent
dtiUes Of the United States Of america in Congress
assembled That no master Of any vessel, owned in
whole or In part by q citizen Of the United States, or
by citizen Of any foreign country shall take on board
such vessel at any foreign port or place, other than
foreign contiguous territory Of the United States,
greater number Of passengers than in proportion OF
one to every two tons Of such vessel not including
children under the age Of year in the computation,
and computing two children and under eight
years Of age one passenger. That the spaces APP
proprated for the Of such passengers, and which
shall not be occupied by stores other goods not the
personal baggage Of such passenger shall be in the
following proportions, viz: On the main and poop
decks or Platforms and In the deck houses, If there
be any, one passenger for each sixteen clear superb
eal feet Of deck II the height distance between the
decks Or platform shall not be less than six feet; and
on the lower deck, (not being an Orop deek IL any,
passenger for eighteen such clear superficial feet,
II the height or distance between the decks or plat
forms shall rot be less than six feet but so as that no
passenger shall be carried any other deck plat
form, upon any deck where the height or distance
between decks b less than six feet with intent TO bring
mch passenger TO the United States and shall leave
such port or place and bring the same any number
thereof within the Jurisdiction Of the United States
or II any such master OF any vessel shall take board
his vessel at any port or place within the Jurisdiction
Of the United States any greater number Of Pasen-
Aforesaid 10 the tonnage Aforesaid, with intent TO
carry the same to any foreign port place other than
foreign contiguous territory, aforesaid every such
master shall be deemed guilty Of msdemeanOr, and,
upon conviction thereof before any circuit district
court Of the United States, shall for each passenger
taken board beyond the limit Aforesaid, the space
aforesaid be hned In the sum Of fifty dollars and may
also be imprisoned at the discretion Of the Judge be-
fore whom the penalty shall be recovered not exceed
ing six months; but should It be necessary, for the
safety or convenience Of the vessel that any portion
- A. 4. L. l.
placed on, stored In, any Of the decks cabins,
other places appropriated 70 the use Of passengers the
same may be placed In lockers enclosures prepared
for the purpose on an exterior surface impervous TO
the wave capable OF being cieansed in like manner
the decks or platforms Of the vessel. In case how
ever shall the places thus provided be deemed to be
part Of the space allowable for the Of passengers
bat the same shall be deducted thererom and In all
cases where prepared used. the upper surface Of
said lockers enclosed spaces shall be deemed and
taken 70 be the deck platform from which measure
ment shall be made for all the purposes Of this act
II Is also provided that one hospital in the spaces ap
proprated to Passengers and separate thereffom by
an appropriate partition and furnished as lis purposes
require, may be prepared, and when used, may be in
cuded In the space allowable for passenger but the
same shall not occupy more than hundred superb
cial feet OF deck or platform; PT0rided, That on
board two-deck ships, where the height between the
decks isseven and one half feet or more, fourteen
clear superficial feet Of deck shall be the proportion
required for each passenger
Sec. 2. And Be Il further enacted That no such
vessel shall have more than two tiers Of be4hs and
the interval between the lowest part thereof and the
deck platform beneath shall not be less than nine
inches and the berths shall be well constructed paal
lei with the sides Of the vessel and separated from
each other by partitions as berths ordinarily are sepa-
rated and shall be at least six feet In length, and at
least two feet in width and each berth shall be
pied by no more than passenger but double behs
OF twice the above width may be constructed, each
berth TO be occupied by no more, and by no other,
than two women. or by one woman and two children
under the age Of eight years. by husband and wife
or by man and two Of his own children under the
age Of eight years, or by two men, members Of the
his section in any Of its provisions, then the master
OF the vessel and the thereof shall severally
forfeit and pay the sum Of Eve dollars for each passen-
ger board OF said vessel such voyage 10 be re-
covered by the United States in any port where such
vessel may arrive OF depart.
Sec .. And BE- il further enacted, That all vessels,
whether Of the United States or any foreign country,
having Sufficient capacity space. according 70 law,
for my or more passengers, (oher than cabin pasen
gers9 shall, when employed In transporting such pas
sengers between the United States and Europe have,
on the upper deck for the Of such passengers,
house over the passageway leading to the apartments
allotted 10 such passengers below deck firmly secured
70 the deck or eenbngs Of the hatch with two DOORS
the Ss o. yheh shall be at least one foot above the
house may at all times be len open for ventilaton;-
and eh vessels 30 employed, and having the capacity
to,earry one hundred and fifty such passengers or
more shall have two such houses; and the stairs or
ladder leading down 10 the Aforesaid apartment shall
be furnished with handrail Of wood or strong rope
but BOBBY matches may be substituted for such houses
Sec.A. ARd be Il further snaetsd, That every such
vessel employed and having the legal capacity for
more than one hundred such passengers shall have at
least two ventaters TO purify the apartment OF apart
ments occupied by such passengers, one OF which shall
be placed In the after part Of the apartment apart
ments, and the other shall be placed in the forward
portion Of the apartment or apartments and one Of
them shall have an exhaustng cap to carry Of the foul
sr ana The other receiving cap to carry down the
IKean AIR. which aoid VentilntOra ahau have
proPortoned 70 Ithe size Of the apartment or apart
ments 70 be purified. namey:-if the apartment or
apar'ments VIII lawfully authorize the reception Of
ventators shall each be eauai 10 tube of twelve IN
ehes diameter in the clear and in proportion for larger