Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 3.djvu/387



Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That all ships or vessels, about to depart for foreign ports or places, from the town of Bayou St. John, or Basin of the Canal de Carondolet, shall be permitted to clear out, with their cargoes, at the Custom-house, in the city of New Orleans, and depart, under the same rules, regulations, and restrictions, and in every respect in the same manner, as vessels clearing out and departing, for foreign ports, from the said city of New Orleans, by the way of the Mississippi river.

March 1, 1817.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Navy be authorized, and it shall be his duty, under the direction of the President of the United States, to cause such vacant and unappropriated lands of the United States as produce the live oak and red cedar timbers to be explored, and selection to be made of such tracts or portions thereof, where the principal growth is of either of the said timbers, as in his judgment may be necessary to furnish for the navy a sufficient supply of the said timbers. The said Secretary shall have power to employ such agent or agents and surveyor as he may deem necessary for the aforesaid purpose, who shall report to him the tracts by them selected, with the boundaries ascertained and accurately designated by actual survey or water courses, which report shall be laid before the President, which he may approve or reject in whole or in part; and the tracts of land thus selected with the approbation of the President, shall be reserved unless otherwise directed by law, from any future sale of the public lands, and be appropriated to the sole purpose of supplying timber for the navy of the United States: Provided, That nothing in this section contained shall be construed to prejudice the rights of any person or persons claiming lands which may be reserved as aforesaid.

. And be it further enacted, That if any person or persons shall cut any timber on the lands reserved as aforesaid, or shall remove or be employed in removing timber from the same, unless duly authorized so to do, by order of a competent officer, and for the use of the navy of the United States; or if any person or persons shall cut any live oak or red cedar timber on, or remove or be employed in removing from any other public lands of the United States, with intent to dispose of the same for transportation to any port or place within the United States, or for exportation to any foreign country, such person or persons so offending and being thereof duly convicted before any court having competent jurisdiction, shall pay a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars and be imprisoned not exceeding six months.

. And be it further enacted, That if the master, owner, or consignee of any ship or vessel, shall knowingly take on board any timber cut on lands reserved as aforesaid, without proper authority and for the use of the navy, or shall take on board any live oak or red cedar timber, cut on any other lands of the United States, with intent to transport the same to any port or place within the United States, or to export the same to any foreign country, the ship or vessel on board of which the same shall be seized, shall, with her tackle, apparel, and furniture be wholly forfeited.