to, or with the governor, lieutenant-governor, or commander-in-chief of any place where any ship or vessel may be registered under the authority of this act, so far as such act, matter, or thing can be applicable to the registering of any ship or vessel at such place. - 3.

Ships exercising Privileges before Registry to be forfeited.-In case any ship or vessel not being duly registered, and not having obtained such certificate of registry as aforesaid, shall exercise any of the privileges of a British ship, the same shall be subject to forfeiture, and also all the guns, furniture, ammunition, tackle, and apparel to the same ship or vessel belonging, and shal! and may be seized by any officer or officers of his Majesty's customs: provided always, that nothing in this act shall extend or be construed to extend to affect the privileges of any ship or vessel which shall, prior to the commencement of this act, have been registered by virtue of an act passed in the 6th year of the reign of his late Majesty George IV., intituled "An Act for the registering of British Vessels."- 4.

What Ships are entitled to be registered.-No'ship or vessel shall be registered, or having been registered shall be deemed to be duly registered, by virtue of this act, except such as are wholly of the built of the said United Kingdom, or of the Isle of Man, or of the islands of Guernsey or Jersey, or of some of the colonies, plantations, islands, or territories in Asia, Africa, or America, or of Malta, Gibraltar, or Heligoland, which belong to his Majesty, his heirs or successors, at the time of the building of such ships or vessels, or such ships or vessels as shall have been condemned in any court of admiralty as prize of war, or such ships or vessels as shall have been condemned in any competent court as forfeited for the breach of the laws made for the prevention of the slave trade, and which shall wholly belong and continue wholly to belong to his Majesty's subjects duly entitled to be owners of ships or vessels registered by virtue of this act.- 5.

Mediterranean Pass may be issued at Malta or Gibraltar for certain Ships only -No Mediterranean pass shall be issued for the use of any ship, as being a ship belonging to Malta or Gibraltar, except such as be duly registered at those places respectively, or such as, not being entitled to be so registered, shall have wholly belonged, before the 10th day of October, 1827, and shall have continued wholly to belong, to persons actually residing at those places respectively, as inhabitants thereof, and entitled to be owners of British ships there registered, or who, not being so entitled, shall have so resided upwards of 15 years prior to the said 10th day of October, 1827.-6.

Foreign Repairs not to exceed 208. per Ton.-No ship or vessel shall continue to enjoy the privileges of a British ship after the same shall have been repaired in a foreign country, if such repairs shall exceed the sum of 20s. for every ton of the burden of the said ship or vessel, unless such repairs shall have been necessary by reason of extraordinary damage sustained by such ship or vessel during her absence from his Majesty's dominions, to enable her to perform the voyage in which she shall have been engaged, and to return to some port or place in the said dominions; and whenever any ship or vessel which has been so repaired in a foreign country shall arrive at any port in his Majesty's dominions as a British registered ship or vessel, the master or other person having the command or charge of the same shall, upon the first entry thereof, report to the collector and comptroller of his Majesty's customs at such port that such ship or vessel has been so repaired, under penalty of 20s, for every ton of the burden of such ship or vessel, according to the admeasurement thereof; and if it shall be proved to the satisfaction of the commissioners of his Majesty's customs that such ship or vessel was seaworthy at the time when she last departed from any port or place in his Majesty's dominions, and that no greater quantity of such repairs have been done to the said vessel than was necessary as aforesaid, it shall be lawful for the said commissioners, upon a full consideration of all the circumstances, to direct the collector and comptroller of the port where such ship or vessel shall have arrived, or where she shall then be, to certify on the certificate of the registry of such ship or vessel that it has been proved to the satisfaction of the commissioners of his Majesty's customs that the privileges of the said ship or vessel have not been forfeited, notwithstanding the repairs which have been done to the same in a foreign country.-7.

Ships declared unseaworthy to be deemed Ships lost or broken up.-If any ship or vessel registered under the authority of this or any other act shall be deemed or declared to be stranded or unseaworthy, and incapable of being recovered or repaired to the advantage of the owners thereof, and shall for such reasons be sold by order or decree of any competent court for the benefit of the owners of such ship or vessel, or other persons interested therein, the same shall be taken and deemed to be a ship or vessel lost or broken up to all intents and purposes within the meaning of this act, and shall never again be entitled to the privileges of a British built ship for any purposes of trade or navigation. -8.

British Ships captured not to be again entitled to Registry, &c.-No British ship or vessel which has been or shall hereafter be captured by and become prize to an enemy or sold to foreigners shall again be entitled to the privileges of a British ship: provided that nothing contained in this act shall extend to prevent the registering of any ship or vessel whatever which shall afterwards be condemned in any court of admiralty as prize of war, or in any competent court, for breach of laws made for the prevention of the slave trade.-9.

Ships shall be registered at the port to which they belong.-No such registry shall hereafter be made, or certificate thereof granted, by any person or persons herein-before authorised to make such registry and grant such certificate, in any other port or place than the port or place to which such ship or vessel shall properly belong, except so far as relates to such ships or vessels as shall be condemned as prizes in any of the islands of Guernsey, Jersey, or Man, which ships or vessels shall be registered in manner herein-after directed; but that all and every registry and certificate made and granted in any port or place to which any such ship or vessel does not properly belong shall be utterly null and void to all intents and purposes, unless the officers aforesaid shall be specially authorised and empowered to make such registry and grant such certificate in any other port by an order in writing under the hands of the commissioners of his Majesty's customs, which order the said commissioners are hereby authorised and empowered to issue, if they shall see fit; and at every port where registry shall be made in pursuance of this act, a book shall be kept by the collector and comptroller, in which all the particulars contained in the form of the certificate of the registry herein-before directed to be used shall be duly entered; and every registry shall be numbered in progression, beginning such progressive numeration at the commencement of each and every year; and such collector and comptroller shall forthwith, or within 1 month at the farthest, transmit to the commissioners of his Majesty's customs a true and exact copy, together with the number, of every certificate which shall be by them so granted.- 10.

Port to which Vessels shall be deemed to belong.-Every ship or vessel shall be deemed to belong to some port at or near to which some or one of the owners, who shall make and subscribe the declaration required by this act before registry be made, shall reside; and whenever such owner or owners shall have transferred all his or their share or shares in such ship or vessel, the same shall be registered de novo before such ship or vessel shall sail or depart from the port to which she shall then belong, or from any other port which shall be in the same part of the United Kingdom, or the same colony, plantation, island, or territory as the said port shall be in provided always, that if the owner or owners of such ship or vessel cannot in sufficient time comply with the requisites of this act, so that registry may be made before it shall be necessary for such ship or vessel to sail or depart upon another voyage, it shall be lawful for the collector and comptroller of the port where such ship or vessel

7

may then be to certify upon the back of the existing certificate of registry of such ship or vessel, that the same is to remain in force for the voyage upon which the said ship or vessel is then about to sail or depart: provided also, that if any ship or vessel shall be built in any of the colonies, plantations, islands, or territories in Asia, Africa, or America, to his Majesty belonging, for owners residing in the United Kingdom, and the master of such ship or vessel, or the agent for the owner or owners thereof, shall have produced to the collector and comptroller of the port at or near to which such ship or vessel was built, the certificate of the builder required by this act, and shall have made and subscribed a declaration before such collector and comptroller of the names and descriptions of the principal owners of such ship or vessel, and that she is the identical ship or vessel mentioned in such certificate of the builder, and that no foreigner, to the best of his knowledge and belief, has any interest therein; the collector and comptroller of such port shall cause such ship or vessel to be surveyed and measured in like manner as is directed for the purpose of registering any ship or vessel, and shall give the master of such ship or vessel a certificate under their hands and seals, purporting to be under the authority of this act, and stating when and where and by whom such ship or vessel was built, the description, tonnage, and other particulars required on registry of any ship or vessel, and such certificate shall have all the force and virtue of a certificate of registry under this act, during the term of 2 years, unless such ship shall sooner arrive at some place in the United Kingdom; and such collector and comptroller shall transmit a copy of such certificate to the commissioners of his Majesty's customs.- 11. Persons residing in foreign Countries may not be Owners.-No person who has taken the oath of allegiance to any foreign state, except under the terms of some capitulation, unless he shall afterwards become a denizen or naturalised subject of the United Kingdom by his Majesty's letters patent or by act of parliament, nor any person usually residing in any country not under the dominion of his Majesty, his heirs and successors, unless he be a member of some British factory, or agent for or partner in any house or copartnership actually carrying on trade in Great Britain or Ireland, shall be entitled to be the owner, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, of any ship or vessel required and authorised to be registered by virtue of this act: save and except that it shall be lawful for any person who was a member of the company of merchants trading to the Levant seas at the time of its dissolution, and who was a resident at any of the factories of the said company, to continue to hold any share or shares in any British registered ship of which at the time of such residence he was an owner or part owner, although such person shall continue to reside at any of the places where such factories had existed prior to the dissolution of the said company.-12.

Declaration to be made by subscribing Owners previous to Registry.-No registry shall henceforth be made or certificate granted until the following declaration be made and subscribed, before the person or persons herein-before authorised to make such registry, and grant such certificate respectively, by the owner of such ship or vessel if such ship or vessel is owned by or belongs to 1 person only, or in case there shall be 2 joint owners, then by both of such joint owners if both shall be resident within 20 miles of the port or place where such registry is required, or by 1 of such owners if 1 or both of them shall be resident at a greater distance from such port or place; or if the number of such owners or proprietors shall exceed 2, then by the greater part of the number of such owners or proprietors if the greater number of them shall be resident within 20 miles of such port or place as aforesaid, not in any case exceeding 3 of such owners or proprietors, unless a greater number shall be desirous to join in making and subscribing the said declaration, or by 1 of such owners if all, or all except 1, shall be resident at a greater distance :

fide a subject [or subjects] of Great Britain; and that I the said A. B. have not [nor have any of the other owners, to the best of my knowledge and belief] taken the oath of allegiance to any foreign state whatever [except under the terms of some capitulation, describing the particulars thereof], or that since my taking (or his or their taking] the oath of allegiance to [naming the foreign states respectively to which he or any of the said owners shall have taken the same] I have [or he or they hath or have] become a denizen [or denizens, or naturalised subject or subjects, as the case may be] of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland by his Majesty's letters patent or by an act of parliament [naming the times when such let. ters of denization have been granted respectively, or the year or years in which such act or acts for naturalisation have passed respectively]; and that no foreigner, directly or indirectly, hath any share or part interest in the said ship or vessel."

"IA. B. of [place of residence and occupation] do truly declare, that the ship or vessel [name] of [port or place], whereof [master's name] is at present master, being [kind of built, burden, &c. as described in the certificate of the surveying officer, was [when and where built, or, if prize or forfeited, capture and condemnation as such], and that I the said A. B. [and the other owners' names and occupations, if any, and where they respectively reside, viz. town, piace, or parish, and county, or if member of and resident in any factory in foreign parts, or in any foreign town or city, being an agent for or partner in any house or copartnership actually carrying on trade in Great Britain or Ireland, the name of such factory, foreign town, or city, and the names of such house and copartnership] am [or are] sole owner [or owners] of the said vessel, and that no other person or persons whatever hath or have any right, title, interest, share or property therein or thereto; and that I the said A. B. [and the said other owners, if any], am [or are] truly and Lona Provided always, that if it shall become necessary to register any ship or vessel belonging to any corporate body in the United Kingdom, the following declaration, in lieu of the declaration herein-before directed, shall be taken and subscribed by the secretary, or other proper officer of such corporate body; (that is to say,)

was [when and where built, or, if prize or forfeited, capture and condemnation as such], and that the same doth wholly and truly be long to [name of company or corporation]."-Sect. 13.

"I A. B. secretary or officer of [name of company or corpora tion] do truly declare, that the ship or vessel [name] of [port] whereof [master's name] is at present master, being [kind of built, burden, &c. as described in the certificate of the surveying officer], Addition to Declaration in case the required Number of Owners do not attend.-In case the required number of joint owners or proprietors of any ship or vessel shall not personally attend to make and subscribe the declaration herein-before directed to be made and subscribed, then and in such case such owner or owners, proprietor or proprietors, as shall personally attend and make and subscribe the declaration aforesaid, shall further declare that the part owner or part owners of such ship or vessel then absent is or are not resident within 20 miles of such port or place, and hath or have not, to the best of his or their knowledge or belief, wilfully absented himself or themselves in order to avoid the making the declaration herein-before directed to be made and subscribed, or is or are prevented by illness from attending to make and subscribe the said declaration.-14.

Vessels to be surveyed previous to Registry.-Previous to the registering or granting of any certificate of registry as aforesaid, some one or more person or persons appointed by the commissioners of customs (taking to his or their assistance, if he or they shall judge it necessary, one or more person or persons skilled in the building and admeasurement of ships) shall go on board of every such ship or vessel as is to be registered, and shall strictly and accurately examine and admeasure every such ship or vessel as to all and every particular contained in the form of the certificate herein-before directed, in the presence of the master, or of any other person who shall be appointed for that purpose on the part of the owner or owners, or in his or their absence by the said master; and shall deliver a true and just account in writing of all such particulars of the built, description, and admeasurement of every such ship or vessel as are specified in the form of the certificate above recited to the collector and comptroller authorised as aforesaid to make such registry and grant such certificate of registry; and the said master or other person attending on the part of the owner or owners is hereby required to sign his name also to the certificate of such surveying or examining officer, in testimony of the truth thereof, provided such master or other person shall consent and agree to the several particulars set

forth and described therein.-15.

Mode of Admeasurement to ascertain Tonnage.-For the purpose of ascertaining the tonnage of ships or vessels, the rule for admeasurement shall be as follows; (that is to say,) the length shall be taken

on a straight line along the rabbit of the keel, from the back of the main stern-post to a perpendicular line from the fore part of the main stem under the bowsprit, from which subtracting 3-5ths of the breadth, the remainder shall be esteemed the just length of the keel to find the tonnage; and the breadth shall be taken from the outside of the outside plank in the broadest part of the ship, whether that shall be above or below the main wales, exclusive of all manner of doubling planks that may be wrought upon the sides of the ship; then multiplying the length of the keel by the breadth so taken, and that product by the breadth, and dividing the whole by 91, the quotient shall be deemed the true contents of the tonnage.-16.

Mode of ascertaining Tonnage when Vessels are afloat.-In cases where it may be necessary to ascertain the tonnage of any ship or vessel when afloat, according to the foregoing rule, the following method shall be observed; (that is to say,) drop a plumb line over the stern of the ship, and measure the distance between such line and the after part of the stern-post at the load water-mark, then measure from the top of the plumb line, in a parallel direction with the water, to a perpendicular point immediately over the load water-mark at the fore part of the main stem, subtracting from such measurement the above distance, the remainder will be the ship's extreme, from which is to be deducted 3 inches for every foot of the load draught of water for the rake abaft, also 3-5ths of the ship's breadth for the rake forward, the remainder shall be esteemed the just length of the keel to find the tonnage; and the breadth shall be taken from outside to outside of the plank in the broadest part of the ship, whether that shall be above or below the main wales, exclusive of all manner of sheathing or doubling that may be wrought on the side of the ship; then multiplying the length of the keel for tonnage by the breadth so taken, and that product by the breadth, and dividing by 91, the quotient shall be deemed the true contents of the tonnage.- 17.

Engine-room in Steam Vessels to be deducted.- In each of the several rules herein-before prescribed, when used for the purpose of ascertaining the tonnage of any ship or vessel propelled by steam, the length of the engine room shall be deducted from the whole length of such ship or vessel, and the remainder shall, for such purpose, be deemed the whole length of the same.-18.

Tonnage when so ascertained to be ever after deemed the Tonnage.-Whenever the tonnage of any ship or vessel shall have been ascertained according to the rule herein prescribed (except in the case of ships or vessels which have been admeasured afloat), such account of tonnage shall ever after be deemed the tonnage of such ship or vessel, and shall be repeated in every subsequent registry of such ship or vessel, unless it shall happen that any alteration has been made in the form and burden of such ship or vessel, or it shall be discovered that the tonnage of such ship or vessel had been erroneously taken and computed.-19.

Bond to be given at the time of Registry.-At the time of the obtaining of the certificate of registry as aforesaid, sufficient security by bond shall be given to his majesty, his heirs and successors, by the master and such of the owners as shall personally attend, as is herein-before required, such security to be approved of and taken by the person or persons herein-before authorised to make such registry and grant such certificate of registry at the port or place in which such certificate shall be granted, in the penalties following; (that is to say,) if such ship or vessel shall be a decked vessel, or be above the burden of 15 tons, and not exceeding 50 tons, then in the penalty of 1001.; if exceeding the burden of 50 tons and not exceeding 100 tons, then in the penalty of 3001.; if exceeding the burden of 100 tons and not exceeding 200 tons, then in the penalty of 5001.; if exceeding the burden of 200 tons and not exceeding 300 tons, then in the penalty of 8001.; and if exceeding the burden of 300 tons, then in the penalty of 1,000l.; and the condition of every such bond shall be, that such certificate shall not be sold, lent, or otherwise disposed of to any person or persons whatever, and that the same shall be solely made use of for the service of the ship or vessel for which it is granted; and that in case such ship or vessel shall be lost, or taken by the enemy, burnt, or broken up, or otherwise prevented from returning to the port to which she belongs, or shall on any account have lost and forfeited the privileges of a British ship, or shall have been seized and legally condemned for illicit trading, or shall have been taken in execution for debt, and sold by due process of law, or shall have been sold to the Crown, or shall under any circumstances have been registered de novo, the certificate, if preserved, shall be delivered up, within 1 month after the arrival of the master in any port or place in his Majesty's dominions, to the collector and comptroller of some port in Great Britain or of the Isle of Man, or of the British plantations, or to the governor, lieutenant-governor, or commander-in-chief for the time being of the islands of Guernsey or Jersey; and that if any foreigner, or any person or persons for the use and benefit of any foreigner, shall purchase or otherwise become entitled to the whole or to any part or share of or any interest in such ship or vessel, and the same shall be within the limits of any port of Great Britain, or of the islands of Guernsey, Jersey, or Man, or of the British colonies, plantations, islands, or territories aforesaid, then and in such case the certificate of registry shall, within 7 days after such purchase or transfer of property in such ship or vessel, be delivered up to the person or persons herein-before authorised to make registry and grant certificate of registry at such port or place respectively as aforesaid; and if such ship or vessel shall be in any foreign port when such purchase or transfer of property shall take place, then that the certificate shall be delivered up to the British consul or other chief British officer resident at or nearest to such foreign port; or if such ship or vessel shall be at sea, when such purchase or transfer of property shall take place, then that the certificate shall be delivered up to the British consul or other chief British officer at the foreign port or place in or at which the master or other person having or taking the charge or command of such ship or vessel shall first arrive after such purchase or transfer of property at sea, immediately after his arrival at such foreign port; but if such master or other person who had the command thereof at the time of such purchase or transfer of property at sea shall not arrive at a foreign port, but shall arrive at some port of Great Britain, or of the islands of Guernsey, Jersey, or Man, or of his Majesty's said colonies, plantations, islands, or territories, then that the certificate shall be delivered up, in manner aforesaid, within 14 days after the arrival of such ship or vessel, or of the person who had the command thereof, in any port of Great Britain, or of the islands of Guernsey, Jersey, or Man, or of any of his Majesty's said colonies, plantations, islands, or territories: provided always, that if it shall happen that at the time of registry of any ship or vessel the same shall be at any other port than the port to which she belongs, so that the master of such ship or vessel cannot attend at the port of registry to join with the owner or owners in such bond as aforesaid, it shall be lawful for him to give a separate bond, to the like effect, at the port where such ship or vessel may then be, and the collector and comptroller of such other port shall transmit such bond to the collector and comptroller of the port where such ship or vessel is to be registered, and such bond, and the bond also given by the owner or owners, shall together be of the same effect against the master and owner or owners, or either of them, as if they had bound themselves jointly and severally in one bond.- 20.

When Master is changed, new Master to give similar Bond. When and so often as the master or other person having or taking the charge or command of any ship or vessel registered in manner herein directed shall be changed, the master or owner of such ship or vessel shall deliver to the person or persons herein authorised to make such registry and grant such certificates of registry at the port where such change shall take place the certificate of registry belonging to such ship or vessel, who shall thereupon indorse and subscribe a memorandum of such change, and shall forthwith give notice of the same to the proper officer of the port or place where such ship or vessel was last registered pur

suant to this act, who shall likewise make a memorandum of the same in the book of registers, which is hereby directed and required to be kept, and shall forthwith give notice thereof to the commissioners of his Majesty's customs: provided always, that before the name of such new master shall be indorsed on the certificate of registry he shall be required to give and shall give a bond in the like penalties and under the same conditions as are contained in the bond herein-before required to be given at the time of registry of any ship or vessel.-21.

Bonds liable to same Duties or Stamps as Bonds for Customs.-All bonds required by this act shall be liable to the same duties of stamps as bonds given for or in respect of the duties of customs are or shall be liable to under any act for the time being in force for granting duties of stamps.-22.

Certificate of Registry to be given up by all Persons, as directed by the Bond.--If any person whatever shall at any time have possession of and wilfully detain any certificate of registry granted under this or any other act, which ought to be delivered up to be cancelled according to any of the conditions of the bond herein-before required to be given upon the registry of any ship or vessel, such person is hereby required and enjoined to deliver up such certificate of registry in manner directed by the conditions of such bond in the respective cases and under the respective penalties therein provided. - 23.

Name of Vessel which has been registered never afterwards to be changed.-It shall not be lawful for any owner or owners of any ship or vessel to give any name to such ship or vessel other than that by which she was first registered in pursuance of this or any other act; and the owner or owners of all and every ship or vessel which shall be so registered shall, before such ship or vessel, after such registry, shall begin to take in any cargo, paint or cause to be painted, in white or yellow letters, of a length of not less than 4 inches, upon a black ground, on some conspicuous part of the stern, the name by which such ship or vessel shall have been registered pursuant to this act, and the port to which she belongs, in a distinct and legible manner, and shall so keep and preserve the same; and if such owner or owners or master or other person having or taking the charge or command of such ship or vessel shall permit such ship or vessel to begin to take in any cargo before the name of such ship or vessel has been so painted as aforesaid, or shall wilfully alter, erase, obliterate, or in anywise hide or conceal, or cause or procure or permit the same to be done (unless in the case of square-rigged vessels in time of war), or shall in any written or printed paper, or other document, describe such ship or vessel by any other name than that by which she was first registered pursuant to this act, or shall verbally describe, or cause or procure or permit such ship or vessel to be described, by any other name to any officer or officers of his Majesty's revenue in the due execution of his or their duty, then and in every such case such owner or owners or master or other person having or taking the charge or command of such ship or vessel shall forfeit the sum of 1007.-24.

Builder's Certificate of Particulars of Ship.-All and every person and persons who shall apply for a certificate of the registry of any ship or vessel shall and they are hereby required to produce to the person or persons authorised to grant such certificate a true and full account, under the hand of the builder of such ship or vessel, of the proper denomination, and of the time when and the place where such ship or vessel was built, and also an exact account of the tonnage of such ship or vessel, together with the name of the first purchaser or purchasers thereof (which account such builder is hereby directed and required to give under his hand on the same being demanded by such person or persons so applying for a certificate as aforesaid), and shall also make and subscribe a declaration before the person or persons herein-before authorised to grant such certificate that the ship or vessel for which such certificate is required is the same with that which is so described by the builder as aforesaid.-25.

Certificate of Registry lost or mislaid.-If the certificate of registry of any ship or vessel shall be lost or mislaid, so that the same cannot be found or obtained for the use of such ship or vessel when needful, and proof thereof shall be made to the satisfaction of the commissioners of his Majesty's customs, such commissioners shall and may permit such ship or vessel to be registered de novo, and a certificate thereof to be granted: provided always, that if such ship or vessel be absent and far distant from the port to which she belongs, or by reason of the absence of the owner or owners, or of any other impediment, registry of the same cannot then be made in sufficient time, such commissioners shall and may grant a licence for the present use of such ship or vessel, which licence shall, for the time and to the extent specified therein, and no longer, be of the same force and virtue as a certificate of registry granted under this act provided always, that before such registry de novo be made, the owner or owners and master shall give bond to the commissioners aforesaid, in such sum as to them shall seem fit, with a condition that if the certificate of registry shall at any time afterwards be found, the same shall be forthwith delivered to the proper officers of his Majesty's customs to be cancelled, and that no illegal use has been or shall be made thereof with his or their privity or knowledge; and further, that before any such licence shall be granted as aforesaid, the master of such ship or vessel shall also make and subscribe a declaration that the same has been registered as a British ship, naming the port where and the time when such registry was made, and all the particulars contained in the certificate thereof, to the best of his knowledge and belief, and shall also give such bond and with the same condition as is before mentioned: provided also, that before any such licence shall be granted, such ship or vessel shall be surveyed in like manner as if a registry de novo were about to be made thereof; and the certificate of such survey shall be preserved by the collector and comptroller of the port to which such ship or vessel shall belong; and in virtue thereof it shall be lawful for the said commissioners and they are hereby required to permit such ship or vessel to be registered after her departure, whenever the owner or owners shall personally attend to take and subscribe the declaration required by this act before registry be made, and shall also comply with all other requisites of this act, except so far as relates to the bond to be given by the master of such ship or vessel; which certificate of registry the said commissioners shall and may transmit to the collector and comptroller of any other port, to be by them given to the master of such ship or vessel, upon his giving such bond, and delivering up the licence which had been granted for the then present use of such ship or vessel.-26. Persons detaining Certificate of Registry to forfeit 1001.-In case any person who shall have received or obtained by any means, or for any person whatever, the certificate of the registry of any ship or vessel (whether such person shall claim to be the master or to be the owner or one of the owners of such ship or vessel, or not), shall wilfully detain and refuse to deliver up the same to the proper officers of customs, for the purposes of such ship or vessel, as occasion shall require, or to the person or persons having the actual command, possession, and management of such ship or vessel as the ostensible and reputed master, or as the ostensible and reputed owner or owners thereof, it may and shall be lawful to and for any such last-mentioned person to make complaint on oath of such detainer and refusal to any justice of the peace residing near to the place where such detainer and refusal shall be, in Great Britain or Ireland, or to any member of the supreme court of justice or any justice of the peace in the islands of Jersey, Guernsey, or Man, or in any colony, plantation, island, or territory to his Majesty belonging in Asia, Africa, or America, or in Malta, Gibraltar, or Heligoland, where such detainer and refusal shall be in any of the places last mentioned; and on such complaint the said justice or other magistrate shall and is hereby required, by warrant under his hand and seal, to cause the person so com plained against to be brought before him to be examined touching such detainer and refusal; and if it shall appear to the said justice or other magistrate, on examination of such person or otherwise, that the

said certificate of registry is not lost or mislaid, but is wilfully detained by the said person, such person shall be thereof convicted, and shall forfeit and pay the sum of 1001., and on failure of payment thereof he shall be committed to the common gaol, there to remain without bail or mainprize for such time as the said justice or other magistrate shall in his discretion deem proper, not being less than 3 months nor more than 12 months; and the said justice or other magistrate shall and he is hereby required to certify the aforesaid detainer, refusal, and conviction to the person or persons who granted such certificate of registry for such ship or vessel, who shall, on the terins and conditions of law being complied with, make registry of such ship or vessel de novo, and grant a certificate thereof conformably to law, notifying on the back of such certificate the ground upon which the ship or vessel was so registered de novo; and if the person who shall have detained and refused to deliver up such certificate of registry as aforesaid, or shall be verily believed to have detained the same, shall have absconded, so that the said warrant of the justice or other magistrate cannot be executed upon him, and proof thereof shall be made to the satisfaction of the commissioners of his Majesty's customs, it shall be lawful for the said commissioners to permit such ship or vessel to be registered de novo, or otherwise, in their discretion, to grant a licence for the present use of such ship or vessel in like manner as is herein-before provided in the case wherein the certificate of registry is not lost or mislaid.- 27.

Ship altered in certain Manner to be registered de novo.-If any ship or vessel, after she shall have been registered pursuant to the directions of this act, shall in any manner whatever be altered so as not to correspond with all the particulars contained in the certificate of her registry, in such case such ship or vessel shall be registered de novo, in manner herein-before required, as soon as she returns to the port to which she belongs, or to any other port which shall be in the same part of the United Kingdom, or in the same colony, plantation, island, or territory as the said port shall be in, on failure whereof such ship or vessel shall, to all intents and purposes, be considered and deemed and taken to be a ship or vessel not duly registered.- 28.

Vessels condemned as Prize, &c.-The owner or owners of all such ships and vessels as shall be taken by any of his Majesty's ships or vessels of war, or by any private or other ship or vessel, and condemned as lawful prize in any court of admiralty, or of such ships or vessels as shall be condemned in any competent court as forfeited for breach of the laws for the prevention of the slave trade, shall, for the purpose of registering any such ship or vessel, produce to the collector and comptroller of customs a certificate of the condemnation of such ship or vessel, under the hand and seal of the judge of the court in which such ship or vessel shall have been condemned (which certificate such judge is hereby authorised and required to grant), and also a true and exact account in writing of all the particulars contained in the certificate herein-before set forth, to be made and subscribed by one or more skilful person or persons to be appointed by the court then and there to survey such ship or vessel, and shall also make and subscribe a declaration before the collector and comptroller that such ship or vessel is the same vessel which is mentioned in the certificate of the judge aforesaid. - 29.

Prize Vessels not to be registered at Guernsey, Jersey, or Man.-No ship or vessel which shall be taken and condemned as prize or forfeiture as aforesaid shall be registered in the islands of Guernsey, Jersey, or Man, although belonging to his Majesty's subjects residing in those islands, or in some one or other of them; but the same shall be registered either at Southampton, Weymouth, Exeter, Plymouth, Falmouth, Liverpool, or Whitehaven, by the collector and comptroller, at such ports respectively, who are hereby authorised and required to register such ship or vessel, and to grant a certificate thereof in the form and under the regulations and restrictions in this act contained.-30.

Transfers of Interest to be made by Bill of Sale.-When and so often as the property in any ship or vessel, or any part thereof, belonging to any of his Majesty's subjects, shall, after registry thereof, be sold to any other or others of his Majesty's subjects, the same shall be transferred by bill of sale or other instrument in writing, containing a recital of the certificate of registry of such ship or vessel, or the principal contents thereof, otherwise such transfer shall not be valid or effectual for any purpose whatever, either in law or in equity: provided always, that no bill of sale shall be deemed void by reason of any error in such recital, or by the recital of any former certificate of registry instead of the existing certificate, provided the identity of the ship or vessel intended in the recital be effectually proved thereby.-31.

Property in Ships to be divided into Sixty-four Parts or Shares.-The property in every ship or vessel of which there are more than one owner shall be taken and considered to be divided into 64 equal parts or shares, and the proportion held by each owner shall be described in the registry as being a certain number of 64th parts or shares; and no person shall be entitled to be registered as an owner of any ship or vessel in respect of any proportion of such ship or vessel which shall not be an integral 64th part or share of the same; and upon the first registry of any ship or vessel, the owner or owners who shall take and subscribe the declaration required by this act, before registry be made, shall also declare the number of such parts or shares then held by each owner, and the same shall be so registered accordingly: provided always, that if it shall at any time happen that the property of any owner or owners in any ship or vessel cannot be reduced by division into any number of integral 64th parts or shares, it shall and may be lawful for the owner or owners of such fractional parts as shall be over and above such number of integral 64th parts or shares into which such property in any ship or vessel can be reduced by division to transfer the same one to another, or jointly to any new owner, by memorandum upon their respective bills of sale, or by fresh bill of sale, without such transfer being liable to any stamp duty: provided also, that the right of any owner or owners to any such fractional parts shall not be affected by reason of the same not having been registered: provided also, that it shall be lawful for any number of such owners, named and described in such registry, being partners in any house or copartnership actually carrying on trade in any part of his Majesty's dominions, to hold any ship or vessel, or any share or shares of any ship or vessel, in the name of such house or copartnership, as joint owners thereof, without distinguishing the proportionate interest of each of such owners, and that such ship or vessel, or the share or shares thereof so held in copartnership, shall be deemed and taken to be partnership property to all intents and purposes, and shall be governed by the same rules, both in law and equity, as relate to and govern all other partnership property in any other goods, chattels, and effects whatsoever.- 32.

Only Thirty-two Persons to be Owners of any Ship at One Time.-No greater number than 32 persons shall be entitled to be legal owners at one and the same time of any ship or vessel, as tenants in common, or to be registered as such: provided always, that nothing herein contained shall affect the equitable title of minors, heirs, legatees, creditors, or others, exceeding that number, duly represented by or holding from any of the persons within the said number, registered as legal owners of any share or shares of such ship or vessel: provided also, that if it shall be proved to the satisfaction of the commissioners of customs that any number of persons have associated themselves as a joint stock company, for the purpose of owning any ship or vessel, or any number of ships or vessels, as the joint property of such company, and that such company have duly elected or appointed any number, not less than 3, of the members of the same to be trustees of the property in such ship or vessel or ships or vessels so owned by such company, it shall be lawful for such trustees or any 3 of them, with the permission of such commissioners, to make and subscribe the declaration required by this act before registry be made, except that, instead of stating therein the names and descriptions of the other