try shall not be delivered up, as aforesaid, except where the same may have been destroyed, lost, or unintentionally mislaid, and an oath or affirmation thereof shall have been made, as aforesaid, the owner or owners of such ship or vessel shall forfeit and pay the sum of five hundred dollars, to be recovered, with costs of suit.
Owner or master to report such change to collector.Sec. 15. And be it further enacted, That when the master, or person having the charge or command of a ship or vessel, registered pursuant to this act, or the act hereby in part repealed, shall be changed, the owner, or one of the owners, or the new master of such ship or vessel, shall report such change to the collector of the district where the same shall happen, or where the said ship or vessel shall first be, after the same shall have happened, and shall produce to him the certificate of registry of such ship or vessel, and shall make oath or affirmation, showing that such new master is a citizen of the United States, and the manner in which, or means whereby, he is so a citizen; whereupon the said collector shall endorse upon the said certificate of registry, a memorandum of such change, specifying the name of such new master, and shall subscribe the said memorandum with his name, and if other than the collector of the district, by whom the said certificate of registry shall have been granted, shall transmit a copy of the said memorandum to him, with notice of the particular ship or vessel, to which it shall relate; and the collector of the district, by whom the said certificate shall have been granted, shall make a like memorandum of such change, in his book of registers, and shall transmit a copy thereof, to the register of the treasury. And if the said change shall not be reported, or if the said oath or affirmation shall not be taken, as above directed, the registry of such ship or vessel shall be void, and the said master, or person, having the charge or command of her shall forfeit and pay the sum of one hundred dollars.
Vessels sold to foreigners forfeited on neglect to make such report.Sec. 16. And be it further enacted, That if any ship or vessel, heretofore registered, or which shall hereafter be registered, as a ship or vessel of the United States, shall be sold or transferred, in whole or in part by way of trust, confidence or otherwise, to a subject or citizen of any foreign prince or state, and such sale or transfer shall not be made known, in manner herein before directed, such ship or vessel, together with her tackle, apparel, and furniture shall be forfeited: Provided, That if such ship or vessel shall be owned in part only, and it shall be made appear to the jury, before whom the trial for such forfeiture shall be had, that any other owner of such ship or vessel, being a citizen of the United States, was wholly ignorant of the sale or transfer to, or ownership of, such foreign subject or citizen, the share or interest of such citizen of the United States shall not be subject to such forfeiture; and the residue only shall be so forfeited.
Oath on entry of vessel of U. S. from foreign ports.Sec. 17. And be it further enacted, That upon the entry of every ship or vessel of the United States, from any foreign port or place, if the same shall be at the port or place, at which the owner, or any of the part owners reside, such owner or part owner shall make oath or affirmation, that the register of such ship or vessel contains the name or names of all the persons, who are then owners of the said ship or vessel; or if any part of such ship or vessel has been sold or transferred, since the granting of such register, that such is the case, and that no foreign subject or citizen hath, to the best of his knowledge and belief, any share, by the way of trust, confidence, or otherwise, in such ship or vessel. And if the owner, or any part owner, shall not reside at the port or place, at which such ship or vessel shall enter, then the master or commander shall make oath or affirmation, to the like effect. And if the owner, or part owner, where there is one, or the master or commander, where there is no owner, shall refuse to swear or affirm as aforesaid, such ship or vessel shall not be entitled to the privileges of a ship or vessel of the United States.
