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LAWS OF MARYLAND.— 1803.

register of the board for every renewal; and the board may
renew any license or not as they may think proper.

Their oath.

SEC. 3. And be it enacted. That every member of the said
board before he proceeds to examine any person applying for a
warrant as a pilot under this act, shall take the following oath,
or affirmation, (to be administered by any justice of the peace,)
to wit: 'I, —— —— , do swear, (or solemnly, sincerely and
truly declare and affirm,) that I will impartially examine and
inquire into the capacity, skill and experience, of any applicant
or applicants, in the art of piloting in Chesapeake bay, and the
rivers thereof, and will admit them as I find them qualified,
or reject them if I shall find them unqualified, without favour,
affection or reward.'

May make
and use a
common
seal.

SEC. 4. And be it enacted, That the said board may make
and use a common seal, and alter and renew the same at their
pleasure, and may appoint a register, who shall enter in a book
to be provided for that purpose, all applications to, and all other
proceedings of, the said board; and the register shall counter-
sign all warrants for pilots granted by the board, and every
such warrant shall be under the seal of the said board.

No person
to act as
pilot unless
he keeps a
boat 26 feet
keel.

SEC. 5. And be it enacted, That it shall not be lawful for any
person to act as a pilot, notwithstanding his having obtained a
warrant as aforesaid, unless he, or the company to which he
belongs, shall keep one sufficient boat, of twenty six feet keel
straight rabbit at the least, and decked and well found, under
the penalty of one hundred and fifty dollars for every vessel
such person shall undertake to conduct or pilot; and the name
of every boat, and the place she belongs to, shall be put on her
stern, and on her mainsail and foresail, in large letters.

Penalty for
acting
without
license.

SEC. 6. And be it enacted, That if any person, not having a
warrant as a pilot agreeable to this act, shall presume to take
upon himself to conduct or pilot any vessel bound from any
port in this state to sea, or coming from sea and bound up any
river of this state, and to any port thereof, every such person
shall forfeit one hundred and fifty dollars, and such person
shall also be liable for all damages occasioned by his undertak-
ing to conduct or pilot any such vessel, by action at common

Proviso.

law ; Provided, that this prohibition shall not extend to prevent
any person from assisting any vessel in distress, if such person
shall deliver up such vessel to any pilot who shall come on
board, and offer to conduct or pilot such vessel, and he shall
pay such person one-half of the fees received by him for the
pilotage of such vessel.

Six may be
in partner
ship.

SEC. 7. And be it enacted, That not more than six pilots
shall be in partnership, under the penalty of two hundred
dollars each.