1803.

NOVEMBER. LAWS OF MARYLAND

CHAP.
LXIII.

vided for that purpose all applications to, and all other proceedings of, the d board; and the re-
gister shall countersign 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 a pilot,
&c,

V. AND BE IT ENACTED, That it shall not be lawful for any person to act as a pilot, notwith-
standing 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 streight rabbit at the least, .and decked and
well found, under the penalty of one hundred and fifty dollars for every vessel such person shall un-
dertake 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 act-
ing without li-
cence, &c.

VI. 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 da-
mages occasioned by his undertaking to conduct or pilot any such vessel, by action at common 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
partnership.

VII. AND BE IT ENACTED, That not more than six pilots shall be in partnership, under the pe-
nalty of two hundred dollars each.

Pilots to pro-
cure a copy of
this law, &c.

VIII. AND BE IT ENACTED, That every pilot, on receiving a warrant as aforesaid, shall supply
himself, from the register of the board, with a copy of the law, for which he shall pay twenty-five
cents to said register, and shall also give bond, with good security, (such as shall be approved/of,)
in the penalty of five hundred dollars, for the faithful discharge of his duty agreeably to this ad. .

Board may
make rules, &c

IX. AND BE IT ENACTED, That the said board of examiners may make such rules and orders for
the government and regulation of pilots appointed and licensed by them, as they may think proper,
aot contrary to the provisions of this act; and the said. Board may, by their order, deprive any of
the said pilots of their licence, or suspend them for a limitted time, for breaking such rules or or-
ders, or omitting any thing required by the same, or for acting in any manner contrary thereto; and
if any of the said pilots, so suspended or deprived, during the time of such suspension or depriva-
tion shall take upon him to pilot or conduct any vessel, such pilot shall forfeit and pay one hundred
dollars for every such offence,.

Vessels obligee
to receive pi-
lots, &c.

X. AND, for the encouragement of pilots to do their duty, BE IT ENACTED, That every master
of a merchant-vessel drawing nine feet water or upwards, coming from-sea, shall be obliged to re-
ceive the first pilot who offers below the Horseshoe to conduct or pilot his vessel, and shall conti-
nue the same pilot to his first port of discharge, or shall pay him half pilotage to the first port; and
every master of a merchant-vessel of the aforesaid draught of water, going to sea, shall be obliged
to receive a pilot to conduct or pilot his vessel, and shall continue the same pilot to the Capes, or
pay half pilotage to the Capes to the first applicant, and the master of every vessel, not having a
pilot on board, who shall follow another vessel that has a pilot on board, shall pay him half pilotage ;
and every pilot shall be exempt from militia duty during the time he shall act as pilot.

Pilot to offer
first to the ves-
sel nearest land
&c.

XL AND BE IT ENACTED, That every pilot cruising or standing out to sea, shall offer his ser-
vices first to the vessel nearest the land, or in most distress, under the penalty of fifty dollars; and
if any pilot, not being hindered by sickness or other lawful cause, shall refuse to go on board any
vessel when required by the master, to execute his office, such pilot shall forfeit and pay one hundred
dollars, and in either case, upon complaint and conviction before the board of examiners, such pilot
shall be liable to be suspended by them for such time as they shall think fit; and every pilot, on of-
fering his services to the master of any vessel, shall produce and shew to such master his warrant of
appointment and licence, granted him in virtue of this act, under the penalty of ten dollars for
every neglect,

Penalty for nc
gligence, &c.

XII. AND BE IT ENACTED, That if any pilot shall negligently or carelessly lose any vessel under
his care, and be thereof convicted by due course of law, he shall For ever after such conviction be
incapable of acting as a pilot in this state, and shall be also liable by action at common law to pav
all such damages as any person shall sustain by such negligence or carelessness , and if any pilot