Page:History of merchant shipping and ancient commerce (Volume 3).djvu/633

 *visions, not less often than twice a week, at the rate of 7 lbs. of bread-stuffs per week, half at least to be bread or biscuit, the other half might be potatoes, of which 5 lbs. were to be reckoned equal to one pound of bread-stuffs. The length of the voyage to be computed as follows:—

Weeks. For a voyage to North America, except the west coast thereof                                              10 For a voyage to the West Indies, including under that term the Bahama Islands and British Guiana           10 For a voyage to any part of the continent of Central or South America, except the west coast thereof, and except British Guiana                                12 For a voyage to the West Coast of Africa               12 For a voyage to the Cape of Good Hope or the Falkland Islands                                              15 For a voyage to the Mauritius                          18 For a voyage to Western Australia                      20 For a voyage to any other of the Australian colonies   22 For a voyage to New Zealand                            24

Two children under 14 were to be computed as one passenger; children under one year were not to count.

The provisions and water were to be inspected and surveyed by the Government emigration agents, or in their absence by the officer of Customs. Seaworthiness of vessels was to be ascertained by those officers, who might order a survey if necessary. Boats were to be taken in the following numbers, viz.:—

Ships between 150 and 250 tons, two boats.

Ships between 250 and 500 tons, three boats.

Ships of 500 tons and upwards, four boats; one of them to be a long-boat, of the proper size.

Copies of the Act were to be kept on board, to be produced to the passengers on demand. A proper supply of medicines, &c., with directions for their use, was to be provided for the voyage to North America; and on other voyages, ships carrying 100 passengers, or fifty, if the voyage were longer than twelve weeks, were also required to have on board a duly-qualified medical practitioner. The sale of spirits to the passengers was prohibited. Parties contracting to find passages to North America were to give written receipts for moneys received in a prescribed form. No person, except owner or master of