Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 3.djvu/92



to his agent or lawful representative, by the collector of the district where such boat or vessel may belong, the sum of one dollar and sixty cents upon every ton admeasurement of such boat or vessel, which allowance shall be accounted for as part of the proceeds of the fares of said boat or vessel, and shall accordingly be so divided among all persons interested therein: Provided, however, That this allowance shall be made only to such boats or vessels as shall have been actually employed at sea in the cod fishery for the term of four months at the least of the preceding season: And provided also, That such boat or vessel shall have landed in the course of said preceding season, a quantity of fish not less than twelve quintals for every ton of her admeasurement; the said quantity of fish to be ascertained when dried and cured fit for exportation, and according to the weight thereof as the same shall weigh at the time of delivery when actually sold, which account of the weight, with the original adjustment and settlement of the fare or fares among the owners and fishermen, together with a written account of the length, breadth, and depth of said boat or vessel, and the time she has actually been employed in the fishery in the preceding season, shall in all cases be produced and sworn or affirmed to before the said collector of the district, in order to entitle the owner, his agent, or lawful representative to receive the allowances aforesaid. And if at any time within one year after payment of such allowance it shall appear that any fraud or deceit has been practised in obtaining the same, the boat or vessel upon which such allowance shall have been paid, if found within the district aforesaid, shall be forfeited, otherwise the owner or owners having practised such fraud or deceit, shall forfeit and pay one hundred dollars, to be sued for, recovered, and distributed in the same manner as forfeitures and penalties are to be sued for, recovered, and distributed for any breach of the act, entitled “"

. And be it further enacted, That the owner or owners of every fishing vessel of twenty tons and upwards, his or their agent or lawful representative, shall, previous to receiving the allowance made by this act produce to the collector who is authorized to pay the same, the original agreement or agreements which may have been made with the fishermen employed on board such vessel as is herein before required, and also a certificate, to be by him or them subscribed, therein mentioning the particular days on which such vessel sailed and returned on the several voyages or fares she may have made in the preceding fishing season, to the truth of which he or they shall swear or affirm before the collector aforesaid.

. And be it further enacted, That no ship or vessel of twenty tons or upwards, employed as aforesaid, shall be entitled to the allowance granted by this act, unless the skipper or master thereof shall, before he proceeds on any fishing voyage, make agreement in writing or in print, with every fisherman employed therein according to the provisions of the act, entitled “”

. And be it further enacted, That any person who shall make any false declaration in any oath or affirmation required by this act, being duly convicted thereof in any court of the United States having jurisdiction of such offence, shall be deemed guilty of wilful and corrupt perjury and shall be punished accordingly.

. And be it further enacted, That this act shall continue in force until the termination of the war in which the United States are now engaged with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the dependencies thereof, and for one year thereafter and no longer.

, July 29, 1813.