Art. RECORDS OF DOCUMENTS. 65. Records and indexes. 66. Accounts of marine documents. tions of tons. 69. Lists of vessels. 70. Records of masters. MEASUREMENT OF VESSELS. 71. Method of measurement. 75. Cubical contents. R. S., 4131, 41484155, 4331, 4371, 2, B. of N. CLASSIFICATION AND DOCUMENTATION. 66 Article 1. Vessels of the United States.-The term ves4311, 4312, sels of the United States" applies to such only as are 4612, Cir. No. duly documented either by license, by license and enrollment, or by certificate of registry. Vessels of 5 net tons and less than 20 net tons burden can be licensed. Those of 20 net tons and upward can be either enrolled and T. Ds. 5839, licensed or registered. Vessels of less than 5 net tons can not be licensed. Pleasure vessels measuring under 16 tons gross, can not be licensed, except under special instruction from the Bureau of Navigation of the Department of Commerce and Labor. 11958. T. Ds. 8447, 8937, 12276. quare bo where su chafing a A vess Art. 2. Name on documented vessel.-The name of every documented vessel (yachts excepted) shall be marked in full upon each bow and upon the stern, and the home port shall also be marked in full upon the stern. These names shall be painted, or carved and gilded, in roman letters R. S., 4178, in a light color on a dark ground, or in a dark color on a Act of Feb light ground, and must be distinctly visible. The letters Ds. 10990, used shall not be less in size than 4 inches. 4334. 21. 1891; T. 11940. r neares than one band or ton own at which is name refere ail on t trued to tered or rict whe he owne Art. 3. ocument ribed b missioner rescribe dange t Thers t jort. Art. 4. ons mu of the United States shall be found without these names R. S., 4495. it has such, and in case the vessel has side wheels also on t less t less ame mu date ilers t Sean o sels o Trent and 10830. On vessels called "double-enders," the letters prescribed TDs. 3226, by the statute may be placed on the parts corresponding to the bows and stern; and on vessels with sterns not affording sufficient space for letters, they will be placed on the adjacent parts, in both cases so as to conform to the law as closely as possible, and so that the home port shall be marked at one end of the vessel. Scows, barges, or other vessels "scow built," or with square bow, may be marked on the bow instead of the side, where such marking would be speedily obliterated by chafing against other vessels, spiles, docks, etc. R. S., 4141, 4178, and act sec. 21; Cir. T. D. 17614. A vessel's home port is that port established by law at or nearest to which the owner resides, or, if there be more June 26, 1884, than one owner, that port at or nearest to which the hus- Dec. 21, 1896. band or managing owner usually resides, or the corporation owning it locates its business. It is also the port at which a vessel's permanent marine papers issue, and its name must be specified in all marine documents. But in reference to the painting of the name of a port of hail on the stern of a vessel, the word "port" may be construed to mean either the port where the vessel is registered or enrolled or licensed or the place in the same district where the vessel was built, or where one or more of the owners reside. Art. 3. Application for change of name.-The name of a documented vessel shall not be changed except as prescribed by law, under penalty of forfeiture. The Commissioner of Navigation has authority, under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Commerce and Labor, to change the name of any vessel on application by the owners thereof through the collector at the vessel's home. port. R. S., 4179. Act Mar. 2, Art. 4. Requirements for change of name.-Such applications must show the reasons for the desired change and that the vessel is not over 20 years old; if she be over 10 years old, the repairs upon her must have amounted to not less than 40 per cent, and if she be 15 years old to 1881, secs. 1, not less than 60 per cent of her first cost. Her existing is, sec. 10. name must have been given her at least 5 years prior to 9605. the date of application for a change, and if she have,Cir. Sept. 3. boilers they must be not more than 10 years old. Seaworthiness may be shown in the case of steam vessels or other inspected vessels by a duplicate of the current certificate from the local inspectors of steam vessels; and the age and other particulars, by a copy of the 2 act Feb. 14, T. Ds. 8292, 1889. T. D. 17988. last marine document. In the case of sailing vessels or motor vessels not inspected, inspectors of hulls are authorized to make special examinations at the owner's expense and to furnish certificates. Evidence must be produced from the collector of customs showing that the official records at the home port exhibit no evidence of outstanding indebtedness (Form Cat. No. 1330). Before forwarding applications with transmitting reports collectors shall see that these preliminaries have been complied with. When permission is granted, the order for change of name must be published in some daily or weekly paper at or nearest to the port of documentation. in at least four successive issues, and the cost of procuring evidence and of publication must be paid by the applicant for change of name. T. D. 5042. T. Ds. 8618, 10130. R. S., 4132. Cir., Apr. 1897. T. 17975. D. The name of a mortgaged vessel can not be changed even by consent of the mortgagee. The name of a steam vessel not entitled to be documented can be changed only at the time of making application for the annual inspection. Vessels sold by the United States Government to citizens may receive any name the owner may choose, approved by the Bureau of Navigation. Art. 5. Vessels entitled to documents.-The following vessels are entitled to receive documents under existing laws: Class 1.-Those built in the United States, wholly owned by a citizen or by an incorporated company of the United States. 1, A vessel registered pursuant to law, which by sale has become the property of a foreigner, shall be entitled to a new register upon afterward becoming American property, unless it has been enlarged or has undergone change in build outside of the United States. R. S., 4180 to 4184. R. S., 4131. R. S., 4132. Class 2.-Those built in the United States, in whole or in part under foreign ownership, and duly recorded, on being purchased, and wholly owned by a citizen of the United States, and never before documented. Class 3.-Those captured in a war to which the United States is a party, by a citizen thereof, law fully condemned as prizes, and wholly owned by a citizen or citizens of the United States, Class 4-Those which have been adjudged to be forfeited for a breach of the laws of the United States, and wholly owned by a citizen or citizens thereof. This does not include vessels sold under a decree in admiralty for debt or seamen's wages. Class 5.-Those authorized by special act of Congress to be documented. Class 6.-Those sold by the United States Government to citizens, if built in the United States, but foreignbuilt vessels bought or chartered by the Government are not thereby entitled to registry on sale to a citizen. T. D. 1886. T. D. 19859. Cir., Apr. 1, T. Ds. 5106, 5444, 17975. and act Apr. A foreign vessel imported in parts and put together 1897. in the United States can not be documented. Art. 6. Permanent documents.-Permanent enrollment R. S., 4328, and license may issue to any vessel absent from her home 17, 1874. port upon application to the collector thereof, through the office of the collector of the port at which the vessel may be, where the master's oath should first be taken. Art. 7. Documents to corporate owners.-Marine docu- R. S., 4313. ments may be issued for vessels owned by an incorporated company within the United States in the name of the president, vice-president, or acting president or secretary of such company, or a duly authorized agent, and will not be vacated or affected by the sale of shares in such company to a foreigner. Art. 8. Steamboats on river or bay of United States.Steamboats, otherwise entitled to be documented, if employed only in a river or bay of the United States, may be enrolled and licensed as vessels of the United States, although owned wholly or in part by an alien resident. Art. 9. Return to American register.-A documented vessel of the United States, seized or captured and condemned under the authority of any foreign power, may receive new marine papers in case she shall afterwards. become American property. (See art. 5, class 1.) T. D. 8981. R. S., 4316, 4317. R. S., 4165. Cir. 153. The voluntary sale of a registered vessel, in whole or Aug. 9, 1898; in part, to an alien, excludes the vessel from the privilege T. D. 19820. of subsequent documenting, unless, under instructions from the Bureau of Navigation, her nationality be restored; and the voluntary sale to an alien of a vessel enrolled or licensed denationalizes her and subjects her to forfeiture if she continues in the coast wise trade. R. S., 4165, 4377. On application for the readmission of an American vessel to American registry, sold foreign, under the pro- 3, 4897. visions of section 4165, Revised Statutes, as amended by 20270-08-2 the act of March 3, 1897, notice will be posted in the custom-house as follows: The applicant on to and swears that he is an American citizen; that the vessel was a registered vessel of the United States, and that it has neither been enlarged nor undergone change of build outside of the United States. and He states that the former American owner was gives the following reasons briefly for the sale of the vessel and surrender of his American register: He gives the following reasons briefly for desiring a new registry: The application will not be forwarded to the Bureau of Navigation until one week after the issue of this notice, and in the meantime any person desiring to make any statement concerning the application is requested to do so in writing to this office before that date. R. S., 4177. T. D. 5816. Collector of Customs. Art. 10. Official number and signal letters.-Every documented vessel is required by law to have an official number given by the Commissioner of Navigation, upon application of the master or owner through the collector of customs, and marine documents will not be delivered until proper evidence is produced that the number has been marked upon the vessel's main beam (form catalogue No. 1322). For all seagoing vessels of 100 tons or over numerals and letters are to be designated, and for all other vessels numerals only. Signal letters may also be assigned to vessels of less than 100 tons when special application is made therefor through the collector. Art. 11. Official number.-The official number of a vessel must be carved or marked permanently on her main beam, preceded by the abbreviation " No.," and her name, number, and signal letters must appear in all her documents. The number must be marked at the expense of the owner, in Arabic numerals, at least 3 inches in height, when the size of the main beam will permit. If the main beam is of wood, it must be carved or branded in figures not less than three-eighths nor more than one-half inch in depth. If the main beam is of iron or other metal, it |