E. LOUIS LOWE, ESQUIRE, GOVERNOR.

1852.

not exceeding nine feet draught; and every person re-
ceiving a warrant of appointment and license, agreea-
bly to this act, shall thereafter be reputed a lawful pilot;

CHAP. 188.

but no person shall be entitled to receive a warrant as
aforesaid, as a first rate pilot, unless he hath employed
himself at least three years in the business of piloting
vessels of any draught, or unless he shall have served
at least five years as an apprentice to the business of

First rate pi-
lot.

piloting; and every pilot shall receive his warrant of
license every year in the month of April or May, and
that no warrant shall be granted at any other time, or
renew license applied for, unless the pilot had been
carried to sea, or confined by sickness, so as to prevent

License to be
renewed every
year.

his application within that period; and every first rate
pilot shall pay two dollars, and every second rate pilot
shall pay one dollar and fifty-cents, and every third
rate pilot, one dollar, to the register of the board, and
the board may renew any license, or not, us they may
think proper.

Amount to be
paid by pilot
for license.

SEC. 2. And be it enacted, That every member of
the said board, before he proceeds to examine any per-
son applying for a warrant as pilot, under this act, shall
take the following oath or affirmation, to he adminis-
tered by a justice of the peace, to wit: "I,
, do swear (or solemnly, sincerely and
truly declare and affirm,) that I will impartially ex-
amine and inquire into the capacity, skill and expe-
rience of any applicant or applicants, in the art of
piloting in the 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 favor,
affection or reward."

Oath of mem-
ber of board.

SEC. 3. And be it enacted, That the said board
may make and use a common seal, and alter and re-
new the, same at their pleasure, and may appoint a reg-
ister, who shall enter in a book, to be provided for that
purpose, all applications to, and other proceedings of
the said board; and the register shall countersign all
warrants for pilots granted by the board, and every
such warrant shall be under the seal of the said board.

Board may
use a common
seal.

SEC. 4. 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 bent, of twenty-six feet keel, straight rabbit
at least, and decked, and well found, under the pen-
ally of one hundred and fifty dollars, for every vessel
such person shall undertake to pilot; and the name of
every boat, and the place she belongs to, shall be put

Pilot to keep
a sufficient
boat.