3. Impedir que se bucée fuera de la zona permitida. 4. Impedir la pesca de la cria. 5. Impedir que los armadores maltraten á los buzos ó abusen de su trabajo. 6. Avisar violentamente á la aduana de cualquier caso grave que occurra, para el cual tendrán la facultad de ocupar una embarcacion pequeña y el número de tripulantes necesario, todo de la misma armada. VIII.-Penas. XX. Por cualquiera infraccion de este reglamento que cometan los armadores, impondrán los administradores una multa que no baje de $5 ni exceda de $200, excepto en los casos de contrabando en que se observarán las prevenciones del arancel vigente. XXI. Estas multas ingresarán en calidad de depósito, hasta que el ministerio resuelva si estuvieren bien aplicadas, para lo cual el administrador informará en cada que se aplique alguna. Transitorio. Se derogan los reglamentos anteriores. México, Junio 24 de 1874. MEJIA. LAWS RELATING TO MEXICAN PEARL FISHERIES. REGULATION OF MARCH 16, 1872. [Translation.] TREASURY DEPARTMENT, &c., First Section. The collector of customs at Progreso having requested from this Department instructions as to the proper method of procedure regarding fishery interests along the coast of the Republic, the President has seen fit, in the exercise of the faculties upon him conferred under par. 1 of Art. 85 of the constitution, to determine that the following regulations, applicable along the entire coast of the nation, shall be communicated to him: I. The privilege of fishing in the waters of the Republic, as well as that of searching for pearl, and the benefit of all maritime products, is free to all inhabitants of the Republic. II. Foreign vessels can engage in the transportation of such products, free of duty, and without any other condition than the register, at the nearest maritime custom-house, of the name of the vessel and the names of the crew, such custom-house, whether a high sea port or trading post, through its managers, shall issue the respective permit. III. Such permit is renewable annually, and upon issue thereof due advice shall be served upon the treasury department. IV. Foreign vessels can only engage in this traffic of transportation, reporting previously to the aforesaid maritime custom-house, where they shall pay the tonnage dues established, or which may be estab lished, for foreign shipping, which is now at the rate of one dollar per ton; and they shall receive a temporary permit good only for six months. V. To obtain such permit it shall be necessary to register the name of the vessel, that of the captain, and those of the crew. VI. The number of the crew on foreign vessels shall never exceed twenty-five. VII. The warrants and permits mentioned in these regulations authorize their holders to set up along the ecast provisional buildings to store the products of the fishing and for their preparation. VIII. In order to set up said buildings it shall be necessary first to secure license from the most available municipal authority, the crews of the vessels being subject to the laws of the land from the moment such permission is requested. The said municipal authority can not grant the license save when the warrant or permit of the respective maritime house is produced. IX. The municipal authority shall assign the place where such building can be erected for the time covered by the permit. X. The maritime customs guards are at liberty at any time whatsoever to visit the fishing or diving establishments and to inspect the vessels assigned to that service, to the end that under cover of the conces sion there may be no smuggling of foreign goods as against the provisions of the general customs ordinance. XI. In case of smuggling discovered delito infranganti, the belongings of the company and the vessels shall be confiscated, while, in accordance with the stipulations of the maritime customs ordinance, the requisite judicial proceedings shall be had and the imposition of the fines. XII. In accord with experts and practical intelligent persons, the collectors of customs shall determine the time when pearl fishing may be engaged in, such fishing not to be permitted when there is any danger of injuring or destroying the mother shell. XIII. The customs collectors shall designate the territory or space wherein any concessionaire may conduct fishing, diving, or other like operations, placing requisite signs or marks to the end that the interests of any third party shall not be injured. The extent of such territory shall be designated in the permit issued. XIV. Mexican or foreign vessels which may engage in fishing or diving traffic in violation of this regulation and the general laws of the Republic shall be fined, such fine being imposed by the collector of customs at the point nearest to the scene of arrest, the fine to be in the sum stipulated under the law, the offending vessel to be held in the port until such fine be satisfied. XV. These regulations written in Spanish, French, English, and German shall be posted up in a conspicuous place in each of the maritime custom-houses. Mexico, March 16, 1872. DECREE OF APRIL 21, 1874. [Translation.] ROMERO. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY, ETC., The President of the Republic has been pleased to address me the following decree: Sebastian Lerdo De Tejada, Constitutional President of the United Mexican States, to the inhabitants thereof: Know Ye, That the Congress of the Union has seen fit to decree the following: The Congress of the Union decrees: ART. 1. The pearl fisheries along the coast of Lower California shall be divided into four districts, the limits whereof shall be designated by the Executive. ART. 2. The fishing for shell and for pearl can be carried on alternatively each two years in any one of the districts, but under no consideration shall the mother shell be removed. Violators of the rule are liable to a fine of from $100 to $500. ART. 3. In conformity with this law, the Executive shall modify the Fishery Law of March 16, 1872. Palace of the Legislative Power of the Union, April 21, 1874. R. G. GUZMAN, Speaker of the House. A. RIBA Y ECHEVERRIA, Clerk of the House. S. NIETO, Clerk of the House. I therefore order that the same may be printed, published, and circulated and given due compliance. Given at the Palace of the Federal Government of Mexico, on the 21st of April, the year one thousand eight hundred and seventy-four. SEBASTIAN LERDO DE TEJADA. REGULATIONS TO GOVERN PEARL DIVING UNDER PROVISIONS OF THE DECREE OF APRIL 21, 1874. I.-Diving, etc. 1. Diving for pearl is free along the coast of the Mexican Republic, alike for the inhabitants thereof as well as for foreigners, provided they always are obedient to the laws of the land and to the regulation stipulations. 2. Whenever any person desires to open up fishing grounds he may apply for permission to the nearest customs collector, who can not deny him. 3. The fisheries shall last from May 15 to November 15 of each year, and under no conditions whatsoever can this term be extended. 4. No pearl cruiser can prevent any person whatever from frequenting the fishing grounds, and even purchasing pearls, provided always that the latter are the legitimate property of the vendor; in contrary event the vendee and the vendor alike being subject to the law governing stolen property. II.-Districts. 5. The pearl fisheries along the coast of Lower California shall be divided into four districts in accordance with the Supreme Decree of April 21 of the present year. NOTE. The sections of the law which are omitted relate to the boundaries of the fishing districts, the equipment of divers, and the collection of debts due by divers to the cruisers. IV.-Foreign Vessels. 13. All foreign merchant vessels can come to the coast of the Republie to engage in pearl fishing, provided they comply with the laws in force and with the following provisions, to wit: i. The prior request for permission. 11. The payment of tonnage dues established or to be established, and the payment of light-house charges wherever such are required. iii. The record upon the register of the name of the vessel, that of the captain, and of his crew. iv. That the number of foreigners in any crew shall not exceed twenty-five. v. That the list of provisions shall be made out in accordance with the requisites provided under the customs ordinance. vi. The payment of duties established or to be established upon food and provisions in excess. V.-Inspections. 14. The collectors of customs shall arrange that the fleets of the fishermen shall be inspected at least on six occasions during the fishing season. 15. The inspectors shall investigate whether compliance is had with the provisions of the Supreme Decree herein before mentioned, as well as with these regulations. 16. The employé or officer charged by the customs collector with the inspection shall render a detailed report of all that may occur and which it may be expedient to remember. VI.-Inspectors of Fleets. 17. The custom-house shall appoint one or two inspectors for each fleet. 18. These inspectors shall draw a salary of twenty dollars a month, which, with their board, shall be paid by the cruisers. 19. The following are the duties of the inspectors in connection with the police and the courts: i. To take immediate action in case of crimes or offenses committed upon the vessels, committing the trespassers, under safe guard, to the competent authorities. ii. To prevent smuggling. iii. To prevent fishing outside of the district allowed. iv. To prevent the extraction of mother shell. v. To prevent cruisers from illtreating the divers or taking undue advantage of their work. vi. To advise instantly the custom-house regarding any serious case which may occur, to which end they may occupy a small vessel, with the necessary crew, drawn from the fleet. VII.-Penalties. 20. Any transgression against these regulations committed by the cruisers shall be punished by the customs collectors with a fine of not less than five dollars nor exceeding two hundred dollars, except in cases of smuggling, in which case the customs regulations shall be enforced. 21. These fines shall be deposited, and held in deposit, until the Department (Treasury Department) shall decide upon their legality, to which end the customs collector shall in each case submit a report. Transitory. All foregoing regulations are annulled. MEGIA. HOVERING ACTS. GREAT BRITAIN. [9. Geo II, Cap. 35. A. D. 1736.] An act for indemnifying persons who have been guilty of offenses against the laws made for securing the revenues of customs and excise, and for enforcing those laws for the future. XXII. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That from and after the said twenty-fourth day of June, one thousand seven hundred and thirty-six, where any ship or vessel whatsoever coming or arriving from foreign parts, and having on board six pounds of tea, or any foreign brandy, arrack, rum, strong waters, or other sprits whatsoever, in casks under sixty gallons (except only for the use of the seamen then belonging to and on board such ship or vessel, not exceeding two gallons for each seamen) shall be found at anchor or hovering within the limits of any of the ports of this Kingdom, or within two leagues of the shore, or shall be discovered to have been within the limits of any port, and not proceeding on her voyage, wind and weather permitting (unless in case of unavoidable necessity, and distress of weather, of which necessity and distress the master, purser, or other person having or taking the charge or command of such ship or vessel shall give notice to, and make proof of before the collector or other chief officer of the customs of such port as aforesaid immediately after the arrival of such ship or vessel into the said port) all such tea, foreign brandy, arrack, rum, strong waters, and spirits, together with the chests, boxes, and casks, and other package whatsoever, containing the same goods, or the value thereof, shall be forfeited and lost (whether bulk shall then have been broken or not) and the same goods and package shall and may be seized and prosecuted, or the value thereof sued for by any officers of the customs or excise in such manner and form as hereinafter is expressed; any law, statute, or custom to the contrary nothwithstanding. XXIII. And whereas foreign goods are frequently taken out of ships at sea without the limits of any port, with intent to be fraudulently lan led in this kingdom; for preventing thereof, be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that in case any foreign goods, wares, or merchandizes shall, after the twenty ninth day of September, one thousand |