1. Who May Be.—
The owner of an American vessel must be a citizen of the United States. The statutes provide that "Vessels registered pursuant to law and no others, except such as shall be duly qualified according to law for carrying on the coasting or fishing trade, shall be deemed vessels of the United States, and entitled to the benefits and privileges appertaining to such vessels; but no such vessel shall enjoy such benefits and privileges longer than it shall continue to be wholly owned by a citizen or citizens of the United States or a corporation created under the laws of any of the States thereof, and be commanded by a citizen of the United States" (7 Comp St., 1916 § 7707). Ownership may be shown by possession, under claim of title, as in the case of other personal property, but the best evidence is the formal bill of sale, possession, and a clean abstract of title from the records of the Collector of Customs of her home port. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to its jurisdiction, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. Thus minors, married women (except those having alien husbands), persons under guardianship, trustees, and corporations, like other citizens, may be owners.