The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-07-01
FOUND MORTGAGE OF $500 ON BOAT
 THEY PURCHASED
Deals in Motor Boats and Kindred Graft Should Be
 Made With Vigilance.

The Regina, a converted power sIoop, built in 1876, has been sold by Arthur S. MeIoy, the well known architect to George Brown and Ar thur wickes of this city.
 As boat transactions are a mystery to many motorboat enthusiasts and as the season has opened early and well with hundreds of newly painted craft floating at yacht club moor ings and in the harbors adjacent to Bridgeport the news will be of prime significance. This moral may be drawn: Never buy a. boat until you have consulted the governm For nearly all boat transactions are under government control and all boat navigation is regulated by the de- partment of commerce and naviga- ton.
 Brown and Wickes bought the boat at sheriff's sale. With an approM- mate value of $1,2O0 they paid but s1s6, as she lay in storage. at the Bridgeport motor works yard \and the sheriff cried for bids. Everyone con graduated them heartily upon the s'buy.''
 Several days later the two pur- chasers hied themselves to the Fed era1 building at Cannon and Broad streets and after climbing the preci- pitate winding staircase to the second floor found the office of the deputy collector.
 we want the DOaI EEeS1na LFduS- ferred to us,'' said one of the own
 '.Al1 right, where is your bill of sale ?'' asked the deputy.
 'FWe bought it at a sheriff's sale and here is the receipt said the | purchaser. .tYou mean it was sold by a depeuty United States marshal, do you not?' said the deputy.
 '<No, we bought it at a sheriff's sa1e,' said the purchaser. l We'll, gentlemen, am sorry that I 1 cannot transfer this boat The gov ernment understands that MT. Mel Joy still is the owner
 1 Subsequent inquiry divUlged the 1 fact that all boats of five tons or more, must be "documented" by the governm Others do not. come within the rule. In the case of the Regina, 28 gross tons, this fortnahty had been compiled with. All docu- mented vessels are subject to govern ment transfer and attachment, com rnonIy ca1Ied ''hbel.''
 The boat previously had been cov-
 cred by a mortgage of $500, which had not been HqUidated during Mel Ioyss ownership. In consequence, though the well known architect had permitted the boat to be sold under the hammer, the mortgage and own i ership remained until such time as 1 he desired to effect a, bill of sale. The new owners, purchaS- ing at what they believed to be a. bona fide sale, were in reality not the actual owners of the vessel un- til the existing obligations had been settlede- It is understood that with additional fittings placed in the yes seI the price paid eventually will az gregate nearly $1,e0O.
 The Regina, is 45 feet, five inches in length, 16-5 feet in breadth and draws 5.s feet of water. She was built at Newport, N. J., in 1876 and has since been changed from sIoop rigging to gasoline motive power, the engine being IA horse. She has five large staterooms, dining room and 1ounging cabin The new owners will utilize her for passenger carrying un- der the coIors of the Mohawk Yacht club.
 Motor-boat purchasers in dfckering for boats should always ascertain whether boat is nbel1ed or docu- mented. This years requirements of the government are such that all owners of small motorboats not docu- mented must file ownership papers at the Town Clerks office prior to October 1, subject to penalty. Blanks for this purpose may be obtained of the Collector of Customs or at the Town Clerks office. The filing fee is 50 cents.
 It is also to be noticed that every motor-boat is required to have cer- tain equipment for life saving and fire protection on board, even though it be a rowboat equipped with gas oline engine The fine for infrac- ton of the rules is not to exceed S10o It should also be noted that no rowboat, which includes canoe type. is to be naVigated on any waters with out a lighted lantern ready for inn mediate display in case of approach ing danger. Inspectors are warned by the government to eneforce this