Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 1.djvu/297

 the amount of the said drawback, until the expiration of the said time limited for payment thereof.

And the better to secure the collection of the said duties,

. Be it further enacted, That the President of the United States be empowered to cause to be built and equipped, so many boats or cutters, not exceeding ten, as may be necessary to be employed for the protection of the revenue, the expense whereof shall not exceed ten thousand dollars, which shall be paid out of the product of the duties on goods, wares and merchandise, imported into the United States, and on the tonnage of ships or vessels.

. And be it further enacted, That there shall be to each of the said boats or cutters, one master, and not more than three mates, first, second, and third, four mariners and two boys; and that the compensations and allowances to the said officers, mariners and boys respectively, shall be, to the master thirty dollars per month, and the subsistence of a captain in the army of the United States; to a first mate twenty dollars per month, to a second mate sixteen dollars per month, to a third mate fourteen dollars per month, and to every mate the subsistence of a lieutenant in the said army; to each mariner eight dollars per month, to each boy four dollars per month; and to each mariner and boy the same ration of provisions which is or shall be allowed to a soldier in the said army. The said allowances for subsistence to be paid in provisions or money at the contract prices, at the option of the Secretary of the Treasury.

. And be it further enacted, That the officers of the said boats or cutters, shall be appointed by the President of the United States, and shall respectively be deemed officers of the customs, and shall have power and authority to go on board of every ship or vessel which shall arrive within the United States, or within four leagues of the coast thereof, if bound for the United States, and to search and examine the same and every part thereof, and to demand, receive and certify the manifests herein before required to be on board of certain ships or vessels, and to affix and put proper fastenings on the hatches and other communications with the holds of ships or vessels, and to remain on board the said ships or vessels until they arrive at their places of destination.

. And be it further enacted, That the collectors of the respective districts may, with the approbation of the Secretary of the Treasury, provide and employ such small open row and sail boats in each district, together with the requisite number of persons to serve in them, as shall be necessary for the use of the surveyors and inspectors in going on board of ships and vessels and otherwise, for the better detection of frauds; the expense of which shall be defrayed out of the product of duties.

. And be it further enacted, That if any officer of the customs shall directly or indirectly take or receive any bribe, reward or recompense for conniving, or shall connive at any false entry of any ship or vessel, or of any goods, wares or merchandise, and shall be thereof convicted, every such officer shall forfeit and pay a sum not less than two hundred, nor more than two thousand dollars for each offence; and any person giving or offering any bribe, recompense or reward for any such deception, collusion or fraud, shall forfeit and pay a sum not less than two hundred, nor more than two thousand dollars for each offence. And in all cases where an oath is by this act required from a master or other person having command of a ship or vessel, or from an owner or consignee of goods, wares and merchandise, his or her factor or agent, if the person so swearing shall swear falsely, such person shall, on indictment and conviction thereof, be punished by fine or imprisonment, or both, in the discretion of the court before whom the conviction shall