If the master of any such vessel fails by his neglect or fault to obtain the copy of his report from the collector of the district from which he is about to depart, or any certificate which he ought to obtain, or neglects to exhibit the same to the collector of any other district to which the vessel afterward proceeds, within the time for that purpose allowed, he shall be liable to a penalty, for every such neglect or omission, of five hundred dollars. (R. S., 2784.)
Vessels exempt from entry.
It shall not be necessary for the master of any vessel of war, or of any vessel employed by any prince, or state, as a public packet for the conveyance of letters and dispatches, and not permitted by the laws of such prince or state to be employed in the transportation of merchandise, in the way of trade, to make report and entry. (R. S., 2791.)
Any passenger vessel engaged triweekly or oftener in trade between ports of the United States and foreign ports shall be exempt from entrance and clearance fees and tonnage taxes while such service triweekly or oftener is maintained. (May 28, 1908.)
Sea-stores.
In order to ascertain what articles ought to be exempt from duty as the sea-stores of a vessel, the master shall particularly specify the articles, in the report or manifest to be by him made, designating them as the sea-stores of such vessel; and in the oath to be taken by such master, on making such report, he shall declare that the articles so specified as sea-stores are truly such, and are not intended by way of merchandise or for sale; whereupon the articles shall be free from duty. (R. S., 2795.)
Whenever it appears to the collector to whom a report and manifest of sea-stores are delivered, together with the naval officer, where there is one, or alone, where there is no naval officer, that the quantities of the articles, or any part thereof, reported as sea-stores, are excessive, the collector, jointly with the naval officer, or alone, as the case may be, may in his discretion estimate the amount of the duty on such excess; which shall be forthwith paid by the master, to the collector, on pain of forfeiting the value of such excess. (R. S., 2796.)
If any other or greater quantity of articles are found on board such vessel as sea-stores than are specified in an entry of sea-stores, or if any of the articles are landed without a permit first obtained from the collector, and naval officer if any, for that purpose, all such articles as are not included in the report or manifest by the master, and all which are landed without a permit, shall be forfeited, and may be seized; and the master shall moreover be liable to a penalty of treble the value of the articles omitted or landed. (R. S., 2797.)
Sea-stores and the legitimate equipment of vessels belonging to regular lines plying between foreign ports and the United States delayed in port for any cause may be transferred in such port of the United States under the supervision of the customs officers from one vessel to another vessel of the same owner without payment of duties, but duties must be paid on such stores or equipments landed for consumption, except American products. (Mar. 3, 1897; sec. 17.)