PART I-VESSELS. 1. Definition of vessel. 2. Vessels of the United States. 3. Registered vessels. 4. Whaling vessels. 5. Enrolled and licensed vessels. 6. Licensed vessels under twenty tons. 1. Definition of vessel. 7. Undocumented vessels. 9. Official number. The word "vessel" includes every description of water- R. S., 3. craft or other artificial contrivance used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water. 2. Vessels of the United States. Vessels registered pursuant to law and no others, except such as shall be duly qualified according to law for carrying on the coasting or fishing trade, shall be deemed vessels of the United States, and entitled to the benefits and privileges appertaining to such vessels; but no such vessel shall enjoy such benefits and privileges longer than it shall continue to be wholly owned by a citizen or citizens of the United States or a corporation created under the laws of any of the States thereof, and be commanded by a citizen of the United States. And all the officers of vessels of the United States who shall have charge of a watch, including pilots, shall in all cases be citizens of the United States. [See also Qualification of officers, page 53.] No vessel which has been recorded or registered as an American vessel of the United States, pursuant to law, and which was licensed or otherwise authorized to sail under a foreign flag, and to have the protection of any foreign government during the existence of the rebellion, shall be deemed or registered as a vessel of the United States, or shall have the rights and privileges of vessels of the United States, except under provisions of law especially authorizing such registry. 3. Registered vessels. R. S., 4131. May 28, 1896. R. S., 4135. Vessels built within the United States, and belonging R.S., 4132. wholly to citizens thereof, and vessels which may be captured in war by citizens of the United States, and lawfully condemned as prize, or which may be adjudged to be forfeited for a breach of the laws of the United States, being wholly owned by citizens, and no others, may be registered as directed in this title [R. S., 4131-4305]. 14317-03-2 17 R. S., 4136. The Commissioner of Navigation may issue a register or enrollment for any vessel built in a foreign country, whenever such vessel shall be wrecked in the United States, and shall be purchased and repaired by a citizen of the United States, if it shall be proved to the satisfaction of the Commissioner that the repairs put upon such vessel are equal to three-fourths of the cost of the vessel when so repaired. A vessel registered pursuant to law, which by sale has March 3, 1897. become the property of a foreigner, shall be entitled to a new register upon afterwards becoming American property, unless it has been enlarged or undergone change in build outside of the United States. R. S., 4165. Sec. 10. R. S., 4339. R. S., 4311. R. S., 4316. R. S., 4317. R. S., 4318. 4. Whaling vessels. All vessels which may clear with registers for the purpose of engaging in the whale fishery shall be deemed to have lawful and sufficient papers for such voyages, securing the privileges and rights of registered vessels, and the privileges and exemptions of vessels enrolled and licensed for the fisheries. 5. Enrolled and licensed vessels, Vessels of twenty tons and upward, enrolled in pursuance of this Title [R. S., 4311-4390], and having a license in force, or vessels of less than twenty tons, which, although not enrolled, have a license in force, as required by this Title, and no others, shall be deemed vessels of the United States entitled to the privileges of vessels employed in the coasting-trade or fisheries. Any steamboat employed or intended to be employed only in a river or bay of the United States, owned wholly or in part by an alien resident within the United States, may be enrolled and licensed, as if the same belonged to a citizen of the United States, subject to all the provisions of this Title [R. S., 4311-4390], except that, in such case, no oath shall be required that the boat belongs to a citizen of the United States. Such resident alien, owner of any steamboat, upon application for enrollment or license, shall give bond to the collector of the district, for the use of the United States, in the penalty of one thousand dollars, with sufficient surety, conditioned that the boat shall not be employed in other waters than the rivers and bays of the United States. Any vessel of the United States, navigating the waters on the northern, northeastern, and northwestern frontiers, otherwise than by sea, shall be enrolled and licensed in such form as other vessels; such enrollment and license shall authorize any such vessel to be employed either in the coasting or foreign trade on such frontiers, and no certificate of registry shall be required for vessels so employed. Such vessel shall be, in every other respect, liable to the regulations and penalties relating to registered and licensed vessels. |