Chapter XL. authorizing the deposit of the papers of foreign vessels, with the consul of their respective nations
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Chap. XL.— An Act authorizing the deposit of the papers of foreign vessels, with the consul of their respective nations.March 3, 1817. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Act of Feb. 26, 1803, ch. 9. Ships’ papers to be produced to the collector before entry. United States of America, in Congress assembled,* That the register, or other document in lieu thereof, together with the clearance and other papers, granted by the officers of the customs to any foreign ship or vessel, at her departure from the port or place from which she may have arrived, shall, previous to entry in any port of the United States, be produced to the collector with whom such entry is to be made.
And it The papers to be deposited with the consul of the nation within forty-eight hours. shall be the duty of the master or commander, within forty-eight hours after such entry, to deposit the said papers with the consul or vice-consul of the nation to which the vessel belongs, and to deliver to the collector the certificate of such consul or vice-consul, that the said papers have been so deposited; and any master, or commander, as aforesaid, who shall fail to comply with this regulation, shall, upon conviction thereof in any court of competent jurisdiction, be fined in a sum not less than five Fine in case of non-compliance.
Proviso; as to foreign nations in whose ports American consuls are not allowed to have custody of papers according to the act mentioned. hundred dollars, nor exceeding two thousand dollars; *Provided,* That this act shall not extend to the vessels of foreign nations in whose ports American consuls are not permitted to have the custody and possession of the register and other papers of vessels entering the ports of such nation, according to the provisions of the second section of the act supplementary to the act “concerning consuls and vice-consuls, and for the further protection of American seamen,” passed the twenty-eighth of February, one thousand eight hundred and three.
Sec. 2. *And be it further enacted,* That it shall not be lawful for 1803, ch. 9. Consul not to deliver the papers to the master until he produces a clearance. any foreign consul to deliver to the master or commander of any foreign vessel the register and other papers deposited with him pursuant to the provisions of this act, until such master or commander shall produce to him a clearance in due form from the collector of the port where such vessel has been entered; and any consul offending against the provisions of this act shall, upon conviction thereof before the Supreme Court Consuls offending to be fined. of the United States, be fined at the discretion of the court in a sum not less than five hundred dollars, nor exceeding five thousand dollars.
Approved, March 3, 1817.