AMENDMENT TO SECTION 4426, REVISED STATUTES (REGULATION OF MOTOR VESSELS) Department of Commerce and Labor OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY Washington DEPARTMENT CIRCULAR No. 115 STEAMBOATHINSPECTION SERVICE June 8, 1906. To United States Supervising and Local Inspectors, Steamboat-Inspection Service, and persons in charge of vessels of fifteen gross tons or less propelled by gas, gasoline, petroleum, naphtha, fluid, or electricity, and carrying passengers for hire, and others concerned: Your attention is called to the act of Congress approved May 16, 1906, which reads as follows: AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION FORTY-FOUR HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SIX OF THE REVISED STATUTES OF THE UNITED STATES; REGULATION OF MOTOR BOATS. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That section forty-four hundred and twenty-six of the Revised Statutes of the United States be, and it is hereby, amended by striking out, after the words "launches of ten," and before the words and under," the words 'tons burden," and inserting in lieu thereof the words gross tons," and by striking out, after the words "above fifteen," and before the words carrying freight," the words tons burden," and inserting in lieu thereof the words gross tons;" and also that said section be, and it is hereby, further amended by adding at the end thereof the following: "All vessels of fifteen gross tons or less propelled in whole or in part by gas, gasoline, petroleum, naphtha, fluid, or electricity, and carrying passengers for hire, shall carry one life-preserver, of the sort prescribed by the regulations of the board of supervising inspectors, for every passenger carried, and no such boat while SO carrying passengers shall be operated or navigated except in charge of a person duly licensed for such service by the local board of inspectors. No examination shall be required as a condition of the obtaining of such a license, and any such license shall be revoked or suspended by the local board of inspectors for misconduct, gross negligence, recklessness in navigation, intemperance, or violation of law on the part of the holder, and if revoked, the person holding such license shall be incapable of obtain- ing another such license for one year from the date of revocation," SO that said section, when amended, shall read as follows: "SEC. 4426. The hull and boilers of every ferryboat, canal boat, yacht, or other small craft of like character propelled by steam, shall be inspected under the provisions of this title. Such other provisions of law for the better security of life as may be applicable to such vessels shall, by the regulations of the board of supervising inspectors, also be required to be complied with before a certificate of inspection shall be granted, and no such vessel shall be navigated without a licensed engineer and a licensed pilot: Provided, however, That in open steam launches of ten gross tons and under, one person, if duly qualified, may serve in the double capacity of pilot and engineer. All vessels of above fifteen gross tons carrying freight or passengers for hire, but not engaged in fishing as a regular business, propelled by gas, fluid, naphtha, or electric motors, shall bo, and are hereby, made subject to all the provisions of section forty-four hundred and twenty-six of the Revised Statutos of the United States relating to the inspection of hulls and boilers and requiring engineers and pilots, and for any violation of the provisions of this title applicable to such vessels, or of rules or regulations lawfully established therounder, and to the extent to which such provisions of law and regulations are SO applicable, the said vessels, their masters, officers, and owners shall be subject to the provisions of sections forty-four hundred and ninety-six, 11-1986 322