When a certificate of registry or enrolment is surrendered, if to the Collector who granted the same, the bond given therefor is to be cancelled; but if to the Collector of another district, he is to grant to the master of the vessel a receipt or certificate according to the form marked (C,) before mentioned; which being produced to the Collector who granted the register or enrolment, he his to cancel the bond, as though the register or enrolment had been produced.

Licenses are also either permanent, being those granted in districts where the vessels belong, or temporary, being those granted in other districts; both of which are to be granted and surrendered for the same causes as certificates of enrolment; the license of a vessel is at all times to be surrendered with her enrolment; licenses may, however, at any time be renewed or exchanged at the pleasure of the owners and masters of vessels, care being taken that only one license, and for one employment, be granted to a vessel for the same time. No license is of any validity for more than one year after its date, nor except the vessel be under twenty tons burthen, nor unless it be predicated on and correspond with the enrolment of the vessel, nor unless the vessel is owned in the manner and is of the description set forth in the license. Whenever a change is made of the master of a vessel, a memorandum of such change is to be endorsed on the license, in the same manner as is directed in respect to the enrolment. The new master must, however, previously make oath according to the form numbered (VIII).

It is requested that permanent certificates of registry, enrolment, and licenses may be distinguished from those which are temporary, by writing the words permanent or temporary in a strong engrossing hand in the margin immediately above the number: the same rule should be observed in respect to the copies and records.

On granting a license a bond is to be taken of the husband or managing owner, together with the master, with one or more sureties, conditioned for the payment of the sums mentioned in the 4th section of the act for enrolling and licensing of ships and vessels, &c., the form of which is here with transmitted, marked (F); the master of the vessel must also take the oath or affirmation prescribed by the form (No. VII), or in case the vessel is under twenty tons burthen, that prescribed by the form marked (IX).

On granting a license, a tonnage duty is in all cases to be first paid; where a license is for the first time granted, or where a former license has expired; where a license is granted in lieu of one said to be lost, destroyed, or unintentionally mislaid, the duty will be six cents per ton per annum-but where a license is granted in lieu of one in force and surrendered, an abatement is to be made, in proportion to the term of said license which has not expired.

Licensed vessels under twenty tons burthen are subject to all the regulations before mentioned, except that the enrolment, and matters relative thereto, are to be dispensed with.

Certificates of record are to be granted, under the following regulations, to ships or vessels built within the United States after the 15th of August, 1789, and owned wholly or in part by the subjects of foreign powers: 1st. The certificates of record are to be granted by the Collectors of those districts where the vessels are built. 2d. An oath or affirmation is to be taken by the builder according to the form, (No. VI,) transmitted from this office on the 23d March, 1793, which oath is to be recorded in a book to be kept by the Collector.

3d. The vessel must be admeasured according to the rule prescribed by the 43d section of the Collection law. The person admeasuring the vessel must grant a certificate descriptive of the same, and which must be countersigned by the said builder, and by an owner, or the master or person having command thereof.

If the master or the name of any recorded vessel shall be changed, the owner, part owner, or consignee, shall report the same to the Collector of the district where the vessel shall first be after such change shall take place, who shall endorse the same on the certificate of record, and transmit a copy of such endorsement to the Collector who granted the certificate of record, and also to the Register of the Treasury. Certificates of record are to be produced whenever the vessel possessed thereof make entry in any district.

Recorded vessels are on entry chargeable with the duty of thirty cents per ton, imposed by the Tonnage act. If a contrary practice shall not have been adopted before this communication is received, it is requested that the issuing of certificates of registry, enrolment, and record, and the licenses to enrolled vessels for carrying on the coasting trade, whale fishery, and cod fishery, and the licenses to vessels under twenty tons burthen which may be issued under the acts herein mentioned, may each commence with a new series of numbers; otherwise it is requested that this rule may be observed after the expiration of the present year.

The forms of the records relative to the registry, enrolment, recording, and licensing of ships and vessels, and the abstracts to be rendered to the Register of the Treasury, are next to be proposed.

It is presumed that regularity, and the convenience of the Collectors, can be best reconciled by observing the following regulations:

Let blank books be provided for the certificates of registry, record, enrolment, licenses for the coasting trade, whale fishery, and cod fishery, and for vessels under twenty tons, of such size as may be convenient, and according to the probable demands which will be made in each office, with suitable alphabets for each.

When any certificate or license is granted, let it be recorded in the book appropriated for that purpose; let the name and particular kind of the vessel, and the number and year in which it was granted, be inserted in the alphabet.

When any certificate or license is surrendered, or when proof of loss, destruction, or mislaying is made to the Collector by whom granted, or regular information thereof received from any other office, or when an alteration has been made in the vessel, or a change of the master has happened, or a change of the name in the case of a recorded vessel, or when for any cause an endorsement has been made on the original document, or when official information has been obtained that any document has ceased to be of validity, let an endorsement, accurately stating the fact, be made on the back of the record. When any new document is issued, predicated on a former one, let the endorsement refer to the new document and to the record thereof.

It is evident, that a careful observance of these rules will enable the Collectors, by an easy reference, to know the state of any particular vessel, and of the changes which she may have undergone, and also what documents are outstanding.

This object being obtained, it will remain, that such information be transmitted to the Treasury as will enable the Register to make corresponding records, and also form statements of the quantity of tonnage belonging to the different districts, and of the manner in which it is employed.

Let each of the Collectors form an accurate abstract of all certificates of registry issued in their respective districts before the first day of April, 1793, and then remaining in force, agreeably to the form marked (G). Particular attention will be necessary, in stating this abstract, that no register remaining in force be omitted, and that no register be included which has been surrendered, or of which notice has been received that it has ceased to be of validity-the footing of this register is to shew the quantity of registered tonnage in each district on the first of April, 1793, when the new act began to operate.

Let a suitable book be provided, and a sufficient part ruled according to the form marked (H), being an account of permanent certificates of registry; let the amount of registered tonnage on the first of April, 1793, be entered in one line on the debit side of the account. Underneath let a brief record be made of every permanent certificate of registry which may be issued. The following explanations, it is presumed, will make the form intelligible. In all cases, except where a register is granted for a new vessel, and except where a loss, destruction, or mislaying is proved, the former document is to be surrendered. In the column headed "for what cause granted," the reason for granting the register is to be inserted; in the subsequent columns headed "description of former register, enrolment, or record," a reference is to be made to the document surrendered.

The first entry supposes a register to have been granted to a new vessel.

The second entry, that a recorded vessel has been purchased by citizens of the United States, the certificate of record surrendered, and a register granted.

The third entry supposes an enrolment to have been surrendered.

The fourth entry, that a vessel belonging to a district has been sold within the district; which circumstance is expressed by the words new owners.

The fifth entry, that a vessel has been purchased by citizens within the district from citizens without the district, which would occasion a temporary register issued in another district to be surrendered, and a permanent register to be issued in lieu thereof.

The sixth entry, that legal proof has been made of the loss, destruction, or mislaying of a permanent register issued within the district, and that another register has been granted.

The seventh entry supposes a vessel to have been altered, so as to render a new register necessary, and the former one to have been surrendered.

On the credit side of the account are to be entered all permanent registers surrendered or vacated.

The first entry supposes a surrender of a register on a change of property, and is made to annul the charge therefor on the debit side of the account.

The second entry is supposed to be made on proof of loss being produced and granting a new register.
The third entry supposes the surrender of a register where the vessel had been altered.

The fourth entry is to vacate a debit, on proof or satisfactory information being received of the loss of a vessel at sea having a permanent register. This case is applicable, when a vessel is broken up, or otherwise destroyed. The fifth entry, supposes the case of a vessel belonging to the district, and sold in another district, in consequence of which the permanent register is surrendered.

The sixth entry supposes notice to have been received of the surrender of a permanent register in another district, and that an enrolment has been issued in lieu thereof.

By attention to the examples which have been given, it will be observed, that all permanent registers are to be entered on the debit side of the account, and that counter entries are to be made whenever said registers are surrendered or vacated; so that the balance of the account may at all times exhibit the quantity of registered tonnage belonging to the district, except so far as said balance may be affected by transactions at other offices which have not been communicated.

For temporary certificates of registry, an account is also to be opened agreeably to the form marked (1,) in which all registers for vessels belonging to other districts are to be entered.

The debit entries in the form relate to three cases in which temporary registers are to be granted, viz: 1st. Where a vessel is purchased for, or sold to, citizens of the United States, belonging out of the district. 2d. In case an enrolled vessel is out of the district to which she belongs, and is registered before proceeding on a foreign voyage.

3d. Where a vessel arrives in a district other than that to which she belongs, her register having been lost, or destroyed, or mislaid.

The credit entries are to be made whenever the surrendered registers are received from another office, or when official information is received that they have been so surrendered, or when legal proof is made that they have been lost, destroyed, or mislaid. By attention to the state of this account, the Collectors will be able to judge, whether the requisitions of the law are properly complied with in regard to the surrender of temporary registers. The observations before made on the forms marked (H) and (I) will in a great measure explain the entries to be made respecting certificates of enrolment. In the first place, the quantity of tonnage in all enrolments remaining in force in each district on the last day of May, 1793, will be ascertained in an abstract, agreeably to the form marked (K); the amount of this abstract will then be extended to the debit of an account of permanent certificates of enrol

ment, to be stated according to the form marked (L); after which the same rules will be observed in respect to permanent enrolments issued and surrendered, or vacated, as have been proposed in respect to permanent certificates of registry.

The form marked (M) respects temporary certificates of enrolment, in which the entries will be made on the principles which have been suggested in regard to the form marked (I).

It is found that the purposes of the law may be answered without subjecting the Collectors to the trouble and expense of transmitting copies of the different licenses; in lieu thereof, separate abstracts of the licenses granted to enrolled vessels for carrying on the employments of the coasting trade, whale fishery, and cod fishery, are to be rendered, according to the form marked (N).

Abstracts of licenses to enrolled vessels which may be surrendered are to be transmitted agreeably to the form (0), distinguishing in separate returns each kind of licenses which may be surrendered.

As vessels under twenty tons are not to be enrolled, a more formal arrangement is necessary for the purposes of ascertaining the quantity of tonnage and manner of employment of this description of vessels.

It is therefore requested, that an abstract be rendered according to the form marked (P), to which particular attention will be necessary, as it is proposed that the records of the Treasury shall be made therefrom.

It will be taken for granted that every particular in the abstract (P) corresponds with the license issued; to wit, that the master has taken the oath required by law, and that he, with the person named as husband or managing owner, and the person named as surety, have executed a bond for one hundred dollars. Unless the expectations of the Treasury are fulfilled in respect to the accuracy of this return, it will be indispensably necessary to require copies of the licenses.

At the foot of this abstract, or separate therefrom, as may be most convenient, a list of all licenses, surrendered or vacated, of those granted within the district, is to be inserted according to the example given in the form. The balance of tonnage will be carried forward, and constitute the first entry in the succeeding return.

Licenses granted in other districts and surrendered in your office will be separately transmitted, according to the rules before given, but will not be entered in this abstract, the balance of which is intended to exhibit the whole tonnage of licensed vessels under twenty tons burthen belonging to the district.

Certificates of record are to be regularly numbered, and copies thereof transmitted to the Register of the Treasury,

with an account of blanks received and issued.

It will be observed, that all recorded vessels on being purchased by citizens of the United States are entitled to be registered or enrolled, the requisites of the law in other cases being first complied with. When such cases occur,

it will be necessary to require the certificates of record to be surrendered, which, after being cancelled, ought to be returned to the Register of the Treasury.

It is required by the law, that whenever the master of a registered, enrolled, recorded, or licensed vessel is changed, a memorandum of such change be endorsed on the certificate or license by the Collector of the district at which the vessel shall first arrive, or where the vessel shall be, at the time when the change shall happen. If the endorsement is made by any other than the Collector of the district who granted the certificate or license, a notice of such endorsement is to be transmitted to him by the regular post.

That the necessary records of changes of masters of vessels may be made at the Treasury, a return of all endorsements is to be rendered to the Register, agreeably to the form marked (Q).

For the sake of uniformity, I have to request that all endorsements may be made in the following manner, except that what respects the oath may be omitted on certificates of record, viz:

District of

Port of

ent master of the within vessel, in lieu of

A. B. having taken the oath required by law, is at preslate master.

C. D., Collector.

The following regulations are prescribed by law in regard to the coasting trade and fisheries: 1st. The master of a vessel licensed for the coasting trade, bound from one district to another, in the same or an adjoining State, on the sea coast or on a navigable river, and having on board goods, wares, or merchandise, of the growth or product of the United States only, except distilled spirits, or distilled spirits not exceeding 500 gallons, or wine in casks not exceeding 250 gallons, or wine in bottles not exceeding 100 dozens, or sugar in casks or boxes not exceeding 3000 pounds, or tea in chests or boxes not exceeding 500 pounds, or coffee in casks or bags not exceeding 1000 pounds, or foreign merchandise in packages as imported not exceeding in value 400 dollars, or foreign merchandise of any kind, including any or all of the articles before mentioned, the aggregate value of which does not exceed 800 dollars, the duties upon which have been paid or secured, may proceed from one place to another, within the limits aforesaid, without delivering a manifest thereof, or obtaining a permit to depart from any Officer of the Customs. In all cases, however, where any cargo is on board, the master is to be provided with a manifest subscribed by himself, agreeably to the form herewith transmitted, marked (R).

The master of a vessel licensed for the coasting trade, not having on board foreign goods or distilled spirits of the quantities and value before mentioned, is also exempted from making report or entry on his arrival at any port or place within the limits aforesaid; he may, however, be required by any Officer of the Customs to exhibit the manifest subscribed by himself, and to give true information from whence the vessel last sailed, and how long she has been in port. 2d. The master of a vessel licensed for the coasting trade, bound from one district to another, in the same or an adjoining State, on the sea coast or on a navigable river, and having on board any of the articles of foreign growth or manufactures, or distilled spirits, exceeding the quantities or value before mentioned, or any or all of said articles, exceeding in the aggregate 800 dollars in value, must, previous to the departure of the vessel, make out and subscribe duplicate manifests of the whole cargo on board; and if there be a Collector of the Customs or Surveyor within five miles

of the port where the vessel may be, he must make oath to the truth of such manifests, and that the duties on the foreign articles and distilled spirits have been paid or secured according to his best knowledge and belief. The form of the oath to be taken in this case is herewith transmitted, numbered (XI), and is also endorsed on the form of the manifest marked (R). The duplicate manifests are then to be certified by the Collector or Surveyor, and one of them returned to the master, with a permit for the departure of the vessel. The form of a permit is endorsed on the manifest marked (R).

On the arrival of such vessel at the port of destination within the limits aforesaid, if there be a Collector or Surveyor within five miles thereof, the master must, before unlading any part of his cargo, exhibit to said Collector or Surveyor the certified manifest before mentioned; or, if no certified manifest was obtained by reason of there being no Collector or Surveyor residing within five miles of the place of departure, then he must produce the duplicate manifests before mentioned, to the truth of which he must make oath according to the form numbered (XII).

In case any goods shall have been taken on board after the departure of the vessel with the certified or duplicate manifests, the particulars thereof must be made known and declared on oath; which being done, a permit for unlading the cargo will be granted, the form of which is herewith transmitted, marked (S). In case there be no Collector or Surveyor residing within five miles of the port of arrival, the master may proceed to unlade his cargo; but he must deliver to the Collector or Surveyor of the first port at which he afterwards arrives, and within twenty-four hours of his arrival, the certified manifest or the duplicate manifests before mentioned, and must note thereon the time when, and the place where, the cargo was discharged, to the truth whereof he must make oath.

3d. The master of a registered vessel bound from one district to another district, or of a vessel licensed for the coasting trade, bound to any district other than a district in the same or an adjoining State, on the sea coast, or on a navigable river, must previous to his departure deliver to the Collector residing at the port, or if there be no Collector at such port, to the Collector of, or a Surveyor residing within, the district, as the one or the other may reside nearest to the port where the vessel may be, duplicate manifests of the whole cargo on board such vessel, to which he must make oath according to the form numbered (XI); or if there be no cargo or loading other than sea stores on board said vessel, he must make oath that such is the case. This is not, however, to extend to registered vessels of the United States, having on board merchandise imported in those vessels from abroad, on which the duties have not been paid or secured according to law. Such vessels must govern themselves according to the regulations of the Collection law.

When these things have been complied with, the Collector or Surveyor will certify the manifests, and grant a permit as in the preceding case; or, if there be no cargo, he will grant a permit according to the form marked (T). On the arrival of any such vessel at the port of her destination, the master thereof must, within twenty-four hours thereafter, deliver to the Collector residing at such port of arrival, if there be one, or to a Collector, or a Surveyor, within the district, if either reside within five miles of such port, or within forty-eight hours after his arrival, if there be no Collector or Surveyor residing within five miles, and previous to unlading any part of the cargo, a certified manifest of the whole cargo on board, to the truth of which he must make oath according to the form numbered (XIII)."

If there be no cargo on board, the master must produce a certificate and permit from the Collector or Surveyor at the port of departure, according to the form marked (T), and must also make oath that such is the case.

The Collector or Surveyor at the port of arrival will thereupon grant a permit for unlading a part or the whole of such cargo as may be requested; but in case a part only of the cargo is discharged, the Collector or Surveyor will endorse the articles discharged on the back of the manifest, and will grant a permit to the master to proceed with the vessel to the place of her farther destination.

4th. The master of a foreign ship or vessel bound from one district to another district with a cargo, must in all cases deliver to the Collector of the district duplicate manifests of the lading on board the vessel, if there be any; if there be no lading, he must declare that such is the case, and make oath to the truth of such manifests or declaration, according to the form numbered (XV), and must also obtain a permit from the Collector to proceed to the place of destination,

Within forty-eight hours after his arrival in any other district of the United States, and before unlading any part of his cargo, he must deliver to the Collector of the district his permit for proceeding from the port of departure with a manifest of the cargo on board, if there be any, and if there be no cargo he must so declare, and make oath to the truth of said manifest or declaration, according to the form numbered (XVI); after which a permit for unlading the cargo, if any, will be granted.

In case any master of a vessel employed in transporting goods from district to district shall put into a port other than the one to which he is bound, he must, within twenty-four hours after his arrival, if he continue so long, report to the principal officer of the port his arrival, the place from whence he came, and where he is bound, with an account of the lading on board his vessel.

In case the master of a vessel employed in the coasting trade, having on board goods of foreign growth or manufacture, or distilled spirits, shall have lost or mislaid the certified manifest of his cargo, or the permit received from the Collector or Surveyor of the district from which he departed, he is to give bond for the payment, within six months, of the duties on said articles of foreign growth or manufacture, or distilled spirits, as though said articles had been imported from a foreign country. Said bond may, however, be cancelled within six months, on producing a certificate from the Collector or Surveyor of the district from whence the vessel sailed, that such articles were legally exported in such vessel from said district. Bonds of this description are to be put in suit immediately after becoming forfeited, if not cancelled in the manner before mentioned,

The form of a bond to be taken in this case is herewith transmitted, marked (V).

The Surveyors, who may certify manifests, or grant permits, or who may receive manifests or permits, are to make returns thereof at least once in each month to the Collectors of their respective districts.

The master of any vessel licensed for carrying on the cod fishery or whale fishery, who may intend to touch or trade at any foreign place, must apply to the Collector of the district where such vessel may be previous to her departure, and obtain a permit for that purpose, agreeably to the form marked (W). All foreign goods or merchandise imported in vessels so licensed under said permits, are liable to the payment of duties under the regulations of the Collection law.

. The following points will deserve attention in regard to the Tonnage act:

Registered vessels having a license in force under the act lately repealed, entitled "an act for registering and clearing vessels, &c." Vessels enrolled and licensed, and vessels under twenty tons, licensed according to the existing law, are not liable to tonnage duties, except on taking out their respective licenses. Under the present law no registered vessel can take out a new license.

Registered vessels not having a license in force granted under the late law, which shall arrive in any district other than a district in the same or an adjoining State, having on board any goods or cargo whatever taken in in one State to be delivered in another State, are liable to the payment of six cents per ton on every such arrival.

Foreign ships or vessels, arriving in any district from another district, having on board any goods or cargo whatever, taken in in one district to be delivered in another district, are liable to the payment of fifty cents per ton on every such arrival.

It will be perceived that in certain cases a registered vessel will be liable to the payment of tonnage duties on her arrival at a port where there is no Collector; in such cases, it will be proper for the Surveyor to demand the duty and account therefor to the Collector. To avoid, however, any question respecting the authority of the Surveyor, it may be proper for the Collector of the district to constitute him a special agent for this particular purpose. It is evident that most of the regulations established in relation to the coasting trade and fisheries will be rendered nugatory, unless a vigilant inspection is observed; that this was intended by the legislature appears from the 13th and 27th sections of the law.

The ideas which can be suggested from the Treasury on this subject must, however, be of a general nature, as the propriety of many regulations will depend on the situation and circumstances of particular ports. It is confided that the arrangements to be made by the Collectors will promote a due execution of the law, without any considerable increase of expense or embarrassment to trade. Whenever any special difficulties shall be found in reconciling these objects, it is expected that they will be suggested.

On the arrival of a vessel the inspectors will have a right to inquire the name of the master and vessel, and the place from whence she sailed, and how long she has been in port, if unknown.

Except in the case of constant traders, whose papers are known to be regular, it will be proper to inspect the enrolments and licenses of coasting vessels. If either should appear to be forged or altered, or if the master should be of a different name from the one mentioned in, or endorsed on, the license or enrolment, or if the name of the vessel as inserted in the enrolment or license be different from that painted on her stern, or if no name be so painted, or if the license be expired, or the employment of the vessel be different from that for which she is licensed, a report ought to be immediately made to the Collector or Surveyor.

It will also be proper that the inspectors should be accurately informed of the cases in which it is necessary that manifests subscribed by the master, duplicate manifests, or certified manifests and permits, ought to accompany vessels; an inspection of these documents may be required, and where there is ground for suspicion, the Inspectors may search and examine a vessel.

It is conceived that a satisfactory examination in respect to most of the objects before mentioned may be made in many cases by the Inspectors who are employed in the Revenue boats: so far as this is practicable, it is recommended.

An examination of the cargoes discharged from coasting vessels, consisting of foreign merchandise or distilled spirits, is expedient; where this duty can be performed by an Inspector in pay, and attending a vessel from a foreign port, it ought to be enjoined; but the vessel from a foreign port should be considered as the primary object, and not to be neglected.

The Inspectors ought to be enjoined to confine their inquiries to the points mentioned in the law; indeed, as their duty will require little more than vigilant observation, it may be performed without occasioning much delay and inconvenience to trade. In cases where it appears from the permits to unlade, and from a view of the cargoes, that there are no foreign goods or distilled spirits on board, no inspection of the deliveries will be necessary. I am sir, respectfully, your obedient servant, OLIVER WOLCOTT.

APPENDIX.

Forms of the Oaths or Affirmations required by the act entitled "an act concerning the registering and recording of ships or vessels," passed December the 31st, 1792.

No. I.-Section 4th and 5th.—I, A. B., of in the county of and State of if of a religious denomination, conscientiously scrupulous of swearing,) do solemnly, sincerely, and declare, according to the best of my knowledge and belief, that the ship (or vessel) called the of burthen one hundred and ninty-five tons and

and was built at

in the State of