Chapter CLXIV. *to authorize Protection to be given to Citizens of the United States who may discover Deposites of Guano.* Aug. 18, 1856. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, * That when any citizen orGuano islands discovered by citizens a
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Chap. CLXIV.— An Act *to authorize Protection to be given to Citizens of the United States who may discover Deposites of Guano.* Aug. 18, 1856. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, * That when any citizen orGuano islands discovered by citizens and not belonging to other countries, may be considered as appertaining to the United States. citizens of the United States may have discovered, or shall hereafter discover, a deposit of guano on any island, rock, or key not within the lawful jurisdiction of any other government, and not occupied by the citizens of any other government, and shall take peaceable possession thereof, and occupy the same, said island, rock, or key may, at the discretion of the President of the United States, be considered as appertaining to the United States: *Provided, however,* That notice be given by such discovererProviso. or discoverers, as soon as practicable, to the State Department of the United States, of such discovery, occupation, and possession, verified by affidavit, describing said island, rock, or key, and the latitude and longitude thereof, as near as may be, and showing that such possession was taken in the name of the United States, and that satisfactory evidence be furnished to the State Department that such island, rock, or key was not, at the time of the discovery thereof, or of the taking possession and occupation thereof by the claimants, tn the possession or occupation of any other government or of the citizens of any other government.
Sec. 2. *And be it further enacted,* That the said discoverer or discoverers,Rights of discoverers in such cases. or his or their assigns, being citizens of the United States, may be allowed, at the pleasure of Congress, the exclusive right of occupying said island, rocks, or keys, for the purpose of obtaining said guano, and of selling and delivering the same to citizens of the United States, for the purpose of being used therein, and may be allowed to charge and receive for every ton thereof delivered alongside a vessel, in proper tubs, within reach of ship’s tackle, a sum not exceeding eight dollars per ton for the best quality, or four dollars per ton in its native place of deposit: *Provided, however,* That no guano shall be taken from said island, rock, orProvisos. key, except for the use of the citizens of the United States, or of persons resident therein, as aforesaid. *And provided, also,* That said discoverer or discoverers, or his or their assigns, shall first enter into bonds, with such penalties or securities as may be required by the President, to deliver the said guano to citizens of the United States, for the purpose of being used therein, and to none others, and at the price aforesaid, and to provide all necessary facilities for that purpose within a time to be fixed 120THIRTY-FOURTH CONGRESS.
Sess. I. Ch. 165, 166. 1856.in said bond. And any breach of the provisions thereof shall be taker and deemed a forfeiture of all rights accruing under and by virtue of this act. Sec. 3. Transportation of such guano, how regulated. *And be it further enacted,* That the introduction of guano from such islands, rocks, or keys, shall be regulated as in the coasting trade between different parts of the United States, and the same laws shall govern the vessels concerned therein. Sec. 4.
United States not bound to retain such islands. *And be it further enacted,* That nothing in this act contained shall be construed obligatory on the United States to retain possession of the islands, rocks, or keys, as aforesaid, after the guano shall have been removed from the same. Sec. 5. Land and naval forces may be employed to enforce said rights. *And be it further enacted,* That the President of the United States is hereby authorized, at his discretion, to employ the land and naval forces of the United States to protect the rights of the said discoverer or discoverers or their assigns, as aforesaid.
Sec. 6. Provision against crimes on such islands. *And be it further enacted,* That until otherwise provided by law, all acts done, and offences or crimes committed, on every such island, rocks, or keys, by persons who may land thereon, or in the waters adjacent thereto, shall be held and deemed to have been done or committed on the high seas, on board a merchant ship or vessel belonging to the United States, and be punished according to the laws of the United States relating to such ships or vessels and offences on the high seas; which laws, for the purposes aforesaid, are hereby extended to and over such islands, rocks, or keys.
Approved, August 18, 1856. Chapter CLXV: to extend the Jurisdiction of the Corporation of the City of Washington over the lower Eastern Branch or Navy-yard Bridge, and to regulate Travel upon the upper Eastern Branch, or Benning’s Bridge, and for other Purposes. 11 Stat. 120 1856-08-18 Chapter CLXV Little, Brown and Company text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. Digitization Vendor 2026-01-11 34 2 public
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Chapter CLXIV
*to authorize Protection to be given to Citizens of the United States who may discover Deposites of Guano.* Aug. 18, 1856. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, * That when any citizen orGuano islands discovered by citizens a
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