Acts. 285

Provided always, That it shall and may be lawful for any Master,
of Commander, of any Ship or Vessel coming into, or trading within,
this Province, to hire any Servant or Slave, Servants or Slaves, from

Liber H. S.
No. I

any Inhabitant within this Province, to work on board such his or
their Ship and Vessel, or Ships and Vessels; any Thing in this Act
contained to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding.
" Provided nevertheless, and it is hereby Enacted and Declared,
That where it shall happen, the Master of such Ship or Vessel as
aforesaid, shall by Reason of Sickness be rendered unable to attend
on such Naval-Officer, that then and in such Case, the chief Mate
or next Officer of such Ship or Vessel, shall be admitted to make
Entry of the said Ship or Vessel; and that afterwards, the said
Master, as soon as he is able, and before the Clearing of the said Ship
or Vessel, shall be, and is hereby obliged to take the said Oath, or
Affirmation if a Quaker, as aforementioned."

[Except on
hire.]

This Act to continue for Three Years, and unto the End of the
next Session of Assembly, which shall happen after the Expiration
of the said Three Years.

[Continu-
ance.]

9.^th Novem.^r 1753
Read and Assented to
by the Lower House of
Assembly
Signed p Order
M Macnemara Cl lo ho.

On behalf of the Right
Honble the Lord Propry
of this Province I will
this be a Law
Hor.° Sharpe

the great seal in
Wax Appendant

9 Novem.^r 1753
Read and Assented to
by the Upper House of
Assembly
Signed p Order
J. Ross Cl Up Ho.

No. 9 An Act to prevent Persons from secreting Boats, Flats, and other
Vessels, drove by Stress of Weather or otherwise, .from Landings
or Moorings.

p. 18

Whereas it often happens that Flats, Boats, and other Vessels, are
by Stress of Weather, or by Ice, drove from Landings, Moorings,
and Harbours, into the Bay, and from one River to another, and
are taken up by Persons who secrete such Boats or Vessels: To the
Intent therefore that the proper Owners may not be deprived of
their Property;

[Preamble.]

Be it Enacted, by the Right Honourable the Lord Proprietary, by
and with the Advice and Consent of his Lordship's Governor, and the
Upper and Lower Houses of Assembly, and the Authority of the
same, That from and after the last Day of March next, where any
Person or Persons shall discover, take up and secure any Flat, Boat,
or other Vessel, drove from any Place of Mooring, Landing, Har-
bour, or River, or from any other Vessel, such Person or Persons
shall, and they are hereby obliged, in Ten Days after such discovery,
taking up, and securing as aforesaid, to give Notice thereof to some
Justice of the Peace, for the County where such Flat, Boat, or other

[Boats, &c.
taken up, to
be described
and adver-
tised in the
Maryland
Gazette.]