XXI. And whereas the bounties given by an act of parliament, made in the eleventh year of the reign of his prefent Majefly, intituled, An act for the better fupport and establishment of the Greenland and whale fisheries, have been found of great advantage to the navigation, trade, and manufactures of this kingdom; and it is juft and expedient that the like bounties which are granted by that alt to ships fitted out from Great Britain, or any of his Majesty's dominions in America, for thofe fifberies fhould, in like manner, be granted to ships fitted out for that purpose from the kingdom of Ireland; be it thereAfter Dec. 25, fore enacted by the authority aforesaid, That from and after the 1775, bounties granted by act twenty-fifth day of December, one thoufand feven hundred and 11 Geo. 3. ex-feventy-five, the refpective bounties herein-after mentioned shall tended to Ire. be allowed for every fhip or veffel British built, and owned by his

land.

voyage.

Majefty's fubjects of Ireland, and whereof the captain or master and at least one-third of the mariners are his Majefty's fubjects of Great Britain or Ireland, which fhall proceed from any port in the faid kingdom of Ireland within the time limited by this act on the whale fishery to the Greenland feas, and Davis's Streights, and the adjacent feas, under the several rules and restrictions. Officers to cer- herein-after expreffed; that is to fay, Every fuch fhip or vessel, tity that ships before the proceeds on fuch voyage, fhall be vifited by the proare properly per officer or officers of the customs belonging to fuch port, who fore they prothall examine into fuch fhip or veffel, and take an account of the ceed on their tonnage thereof by admeasurement, and fhall certify fuch his or their vifitation, examination, and admeasurement, to the commiffioners of his Majefty's revenue in Ireland; and if it appears by the certificate of fuch officer or officers that the hath on board fuch a number of men, provifions, boats, fishing lines, and inftruments to be used in fuch fifhery as herein-after are mentioned; that he is ftrongly built, and otherwife a proper fhip for fuch voyage and fishery, and hath on board among her crew a fufficient number of harpooners, fteerfmen, and line-managers, who have been before employed in fuch voyages, (the names of fuch persons to be contained in fuch certificate;) and if it further appears by the oath of one or more owner or owners, and of the mafter or chief officer of such ship, written at the foot of fuch certificate, and made before the collector or comptroller of fuch port, (who are hereby impowered and required to adminifter the fame,) that it is really and truly their firm purpose and determined refolution, that fuch fhip fhall, as foon as licence fhall be granted, forthwith proceed, fo manned, furnished, and accoutred, on a voyage to the Greenland feas, or Davis's Streights, or the feas adjacent, and there in the then approaching season to ufe the utmost endeavours of themselves and their fhip's company to take whales, or other creatures living in the fea, and on no other defign or view of profit in fuch voyage, and to import the whale fins, oil, and blubber thereof, into the kingdom of Great Britain, (naming the port to which it is their intention to return;) and if the mafter, after such certificate had, and oath made, do alfo become bound, with two fufficient fecurities, unto his Majefty, his heirs and fucceffors, in the penalty of fuch fum

as

as fhall be equal to treble the bounty intended by this act, (which bond the faid collector, with the approbation of the comptroller, is hereby required to take, and is to be in force for the term of three years against the mafter and fureties for the faithful dealings of the faid mafter and fhip's company in regard to the faid fhip and voyage;) then, and in all fuch cafes, it shall and may Commiffioners be lawful for any three or more of the faid commiffioners of the of the revenues revenues in Ireland for the time being, on receiving fuch certifi- receiving fuch cates and oaths made, and it being certified to them by the col- certificates to lector and comptroller of fuch port, that fufficient fecurity hath grant licence, been given as aforefaid, to give and grant, and they are hereby required to give and grant to the master and owners of such ship, full licence and authority to proceed on fuch voyage as aforefaid,

in Ireland, on

&c.

XXII. And to prevent any disputes that may arife whether a ship be properly qualified and duly fitted out for the whale fibery, according to the true intent and meaning of this act, and intitled to a certificate thereof from the custom-boufe officers, it is hereby enacted, That What number every thip of the burthen of two hundred tons, defigned for this of men, lines, fishery, fhall and is hereby obliged to have on board forty fishing boats,&c. ships lines of one hundred and twenty fathom each, forty harpoon menfions fhall irons, four boats with feven men, including a harpooner, a have on board. steerfman, and a line manager, to each boat, making in the whole twenty-eight men befides the mafter and furgeon, with fix months provifion at the least for fuch number of men ; and every fhip of larger burthen an increase of fix men, one boat, ten (uch lines and ten harpoon irons more, for every fifty tons above the faid two hundred tons, together with provifions in proportion; and every fhip which fhall be fo employed in the faid fishery fhall have on board an apprentice indentured for the space of three years at the least, for every fifty tons burthen, who shall be accounted as one of the number of men required to be on board such ship as aforefaid.

officers to go

XXIII. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, On return of That on the return of fuch ship to the port to which the mafter hips, proper and mate declared on oath their intention to return, the proper on board and officers of the customs at fuch port fhall immediately repair on infpect the board, and view the condition of fuch fhip and her lading, and cargo, &c. certify the fame, together with their obfervation thereon, as alfo

matters, har.

of the real tonnage of the said ship; and the said officers are al- and take an fo to take an account or schedule of the names of the mafter, account of the mate, and other perfons on board, distinguishing therein the names of the harpooners and perfons more immediately employed in the faid poppers,&c. fishery,and to certify the fame; and the mafter and mate fhall make oath before the collector and comptroller, (who are hereby impowered and required to adminifter the fame,) on the back of, or annexed to the licence granted as aforefaid, which they are hereby then required to deliver up, that they did in pursuance thereof, mentioning the day of their departure, proceed on a voyage directly to the places aforefaid, and have not fince been on any other voyage, or purfued any other defign or view of profit; and that they did there (mentioning the time of their

F 2

tay

ftay in those feas) use the utmost endeavour of themselves and their fhip's company to take whales, and other creatures living in those feas; and that all the whale fins, oil, and blubber, imported (if any) in fuch fhip, was really and bona fide caught and taken in the faid feas by the crew of fuch fhip only, or with the affiftance of the crew of fome other fhip duly licensed for that voyage, pursuant to the directions of this act; all which schedule, certificate, licence, and oath, fhall be tranfmitted by the collector and comptroller of fuch port to the refpective commiffioners of the customs for that part of Great Britain where fuch fhips fhall Commiffioners arrive; and fuch commiffioners being fully fatisfied of the faithbeing fatisfied of the faithful ful dealings of the mafter and other perfons employed in fuch dealings of the ships with refpect to fuch voyage and fishery, fhall, on demand, mafter, &c. to caufe payment to be made to the mafter or owners, or to his or pay the boun- their affigns, by the receiver general of the customs for that part of Great Britain where fuch fhip fhall arrive, the bounty or preto the admea- mium following, according to the admeasurement of fuch ship furement of duly certified as aforefaid; (that is to fay,) For every fuch fhip the ships. as fhall proceed on the faid fishery, from the twenty-fifth day of December, one thoufand feven hundred and feventy-five, to the twenty-fifth day of December, one thousand feven hundred and feventy-fix, the fum of forty fhillings per ton; and for every fuch fhip as fhall proceed on the faid fithery from the twentyfifth day of December, one thousand seven hundred and feventyfix, to the twenty-fifth day of December, one thoufand feven hundred and eighty-one, the fum of thirty fhillings per ton; and for every fuch fhip as fhall proceed on the faid fishery from the twenty-fifth day of December, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-one, to the twenty-fifth day of December, one thousand feven hundred and eighty-fix, the fum of twenty fhillings per

ties as direct

ed, according

any perfon be

bounty.

ton.

Certain provi- XXIV. Provided always, and it is hereby further enacted by foes refpecting the authority aforefaid, That no perfon or perfons fhall be allowthips before ed or intitled to receive the bounty herein-before granted, for intitled to the any fhip which fhall proceed on the faid whale fishery after the twenty-fifth day of December, one thousand feven hundred and feventy-five, unless fuch fhip fhall fail from the port where the fhall be furveyed, and cleared directly on her intended fishery, on or before the tenth day of April in each and every year, and fhall continue with her crew in the Greenland feas, or Davis's Streights, or the adjacent feas, diligently endeavouring to catch whales, or other creatures living in thofe feas, and fhall not depart from thence before the tenth day of Auguft then following, unless fuch fhip fhall be laden with the blubber and fins of one whale, caught by the crew thereof, or with the affistance of the crew of fome other licenfed fhip, before that time, or fhall be forced by fome unavoidable accident or neceffity to depart fooner from those feas; which accident or neceffity fhall be verified on the oaths of the mafter and mate belonging to fuch fhip, upon her return from the faid fishery, before the collector and comptroller of the cuftoms at the port where the fhall arrive, who fhall

tranf

transmit the fame, together with the schedule, licence, and other documents by this act required, to the refpective commiffioners of the customs for that part of Great Britain where she shall arrive.

not fufficient

XXV. And be it further enacted by the authority aforefaid, If monies arifThat it shall and may be lawful to and for the commiffioners of ing from the the cuftoms in England and Scotland respectively to order the re- old fubfidy be spective receivers general of the cuftoms, in cafe the monies re- to pay bounmaining in their hands arifing from the old fubfidy fhall not be ties, any other fufficient at any time or times, during the continuance of this revenuemoney act, to fatisfy the faid bounty of forty fhillings per ton, and thirty may be taken. fhillings per ton, and twenty fhillings per ton, during the several periods herein- before limited, payable on all fhips employed in the faid fishery, according to the directions of this present act, to pay the fame out of any money that fhall be in their hands arifing from any of the duties and revenues under their manage ment respectively.

XXVI. And be it further enacted by the authority aforefaid, CommiffionThat the commiffioners of his Majesty's customs in England and ers, at the beScotland refpectively fhall, at the beginning of every feffion of ginning of every feffion of parliament, lay before both houfes of parliament an account in parliament, to writing, under their hands, of what number of fhips employed lay before in the whale fishery to Davis's Streights and the Greenland feas, them an acin pursuance of this act, with their refpective names and bur-count of the thips employthens, have returned to Great Britain, and at what port in Great ed in thewhale Britain they were discharged, and alfo what quantity of oil, blub- fishery, &c. ber, or whale fins, each fhip fhall have imported, and from what port in Ireland or the Isle of Man they were fitted out,

XXVII. And whereas it hath been found by experience, that fhips under the burthen of two hundred tons are fit for the faid fishery; be

it therefore enacted and declared by the authority aforefaid, That Ships under every owner or owners of any fhip or fhips under the burthen 200 tons intitled to a bounof two hundred tons, which fhall be employed in the said fishery, who have conformed themfelves in all refpects to the rules and able to their ty proportiondirections herein-before prefcribed to the owners of ships of two admeasurehundred tons, fhall be intitled to the faid bounty, as herein-be- ment. fore limited, according to the admeasurement of such ship or fhips refpectively.

intitled to a

XXVIII. Provided always, and be it enacted by the authority Ships above aforefaid, That no fhip to be employed in the faid fishery, al- 400 tons not though she be above the burthen of four hundred tons, fhall be larger bounty intitled to a larger bounty than a fhip of four hundred tons would than a 400 ton be intitled to.

ship;

XXIX. Provided alfo, That nothing in this prefent act con- and owners tained shall extend, or be construed to extend, to oblige the owner not obliged to or owners of any ship above the burthen of four hundred tons, equip, &c. more than a in order to intitle him or them to the faid bounty, to fit out, ship of 400 equip, and man, any fuch fhip, otherwise than as a fhip of the tons. burthen of four hundred tons only is, by this present act, required to be fitted out, equipped, and manned.

XXX. Provided alfo, and it is hereby further enacted by the

No appren. tice, when in dentured, to

exceed 18, nor be under 14 years;

authority aforefaid, That every apprentice indentured after the twenty-fifth day of December, one thousand seven hundred and feventy-five, to ferve on board any fhip or veffel proceeding on the fisheries in purfuance of this or any other act of parliament now in force, granting any bounty or bounties thereon, fhall not exceed the age of eighteen years, nor be under fourteen, at the and no bounty time he fhall be fo indentured; and that no bounty shall be alto be paid un- lowed or paid for any fhip or veffel fo employed, either by virtue lefs fhips em- of this or any former act of parliament, unless the whole and ployed belong entire property of fuch fhip or veffel fhall belong to fome of his Majesty's fub. Majefty's fubjects refiding in that part of his Majefty's domijects where nions from whence fuch fhip or veffel fhall be refpectively fitted and cleared out, any law, cuftom, or ufage, to the contrary notwithstanding.

to fome of his

fitted out,

XXXI. And to prevent any application to parliament for the bounty on any ship employed in either of the fisheries before mentioned, which may happen to be loft at fea before their return to Great BriBounties may tain, be it declared and enacted by the authority aforefaid, That

be infured.

Perfons giving falfe certificates, &c. to

forfeit sool.

Forfeitures how to be applied.

it shall and may be lawful for the owner or owners of any ship, employed, or defigned to be employed, in the faid fisheries, or either of them, to infure the bounty which fuch owner or owners would have been intitled to upon the return of such ship to Great Britain, on the performance of all other matters directed and appointed by this prefent act to be performed for obtaining the faid bounties.

XXXII. And it is hereby further enacted by the authority aforefaid, That if any perfon or perfons fhall give or grant any falfe certificate for any of the purposes required or directed by this act, such perfon or perfons fhall forfeit the fum of five hundred pounds, and be rendered incapable of serving his Majesty, his heirs or fucceffors, in any office whatsoever; and if any perfon or perfons fhall counterfeit, erafe, alter, or falfify, any certificate required or directed by this act, or fhall knowingly or willingly make ufe of any falfe certificate, or of any certificate fo counterfeited, erafed, altered, or falfified, fuch perfon or perfons fhall, for every fuch offence, forfeit the fum of five hundred pounds; and every such certificate shall be invalid, and of no effect.

XXXIII. And it is hereby further enacted by the authority aforefaid, That one moiety of the penalties and forfeitures inflicted by this act (except in fuch cafes where other directions are given by this act) shall be to the use of his Majesty, his heirs and fucceffors, and the other moiety to fuch officer or officers of the customs as fhall fue or profecute for the fame in any of his Majefty's courts of record at Westminster or Dublin, or in the court of exchequer in Scotland, or in any court of admiralty having jurifdiction in his Majesty's colonies or iflands respectively, where the offence thall be committed.

XXXIV. And be it further enacted by the authority aforeForfeitures in- faid, That from and after the first day of January, one thousand curred in New- feven hundred and feventy-fix, the penalties and forfeitures in

foundland to

Alicted