Page:History of merchant shipping and ancient commerce (Volume 3).djvu/357

 *senger on the orlop deck, thirty feet. Under our Act, no ship could clear out that had not six feet between the decks. In some cases the law of the United States was but loosely observed; while other cases, doubtless, occurred where English vessels sailed from Liverpool to New Orleans with a number greatly exceeding what they could legitimately carry, but which they had reason to expect would not be noticed on their arrival. Owing, however, to some change of persons at the Custom House at New Orleans an inspection was instituted; two vessels were heavily fined, and one was confiscated. But it was found more difficult to provide against the frauds practised by the Shipowners in supplying bad or unwholesome provisions.

The amount of provision by the Parliamentary scale to each adult passenger per week was, viz., water, 21 quarts; biscuit, 2-1/2 lbs.; wheaten flour, 1 lb.; oatmeal, 5 lbs.; rice, 2 lbs.; molasses, 2 lbs., to be issued in advance, at the interval of twice a week. Potatoes might be given in lieu of oatmeal or rice, in the proportion of 5 lbs. of potatoes for 1 lb. of oatmeal or rice; and, in vessels sailing from Liverpool, or from Scotch or Irish ports, oatmeal might be substituted in equal quantities for rice. The dietary was afterwards altered by the Act of 1851, an alternative scale being promulgated, with the substitution of beef or pork, preserved meat, salt fish, split peas, &c., &c., for bread-stuffs. This more expensive scale was adopted in the ports, whence English emigrants usually sailed; but, besides the legal supply, nearly every emigrant took with him some additional provision, such as bacon, eggs, &c., &c.