COLOMBtA. 485 



DECREE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PANAMA, NO. 6 OF 1890. 



[From Gaceta de Pananiil, 6th February, 1890, No. 324.] 

 ON DIVING WITH MACHINES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT. 



[Translatiou.] 



Tlie Governor of tlie Department, in tlie use of his attributes, and 

 considering: 



1. That the diving* for raotlier-of- pearl shells with machines has 

 been prohibite*! in this department, it being considered prejudicial to 

 the progress of the indnstry of the country: 



2. That the Supreme Government authorized this Government 

 (dept'l) to permit this diving in designated places on the coasts of the 

 department on the payment of a tax for every ton of mother-of-pearl 

 shells obtained by each machine; 



3. That the collection of this tax under the established conditions 

 was attended with many difficulties, it not beijig easy to ascertain with 

 correctness the number of tons of the said mollusk obtained by each 

 machine; and 



4. That this Government, being obliged to protect the interests of 

 the Treasury, 



DECREES : 



Art. 1. The diving with machines will be permitted on the coasts 

 of the department between Points " Mariato" and " Burica," whenever 

 the respective patent be previously obtained. 



Art. 2. The " patents " will be issued to each machine employed 

 in this diving for the term of one year; they will be issued by the Gen- 

 eral Admiuistrator of Finance, and will be vised by the Secretary-Gen- 

 eral of the Departmental Government. 



Art. 3. The cost for each " patent," or permit, will be $200, which 

 will be paid in to the General Admiuistrator of Finance prior to its 

 despatch. 



Art. 4. No permits will be issued for diving with machines within 

 the Gulf of Panama from Points Mala to Garacldne. 



Art. 5. The transgressors will suffer the penalty of confiscation 

 of their diving juachines and all accessories used in the diving for 

 mother-of-pearl shells, and also a fine equal to four times the amount 

 which should have been paid for tlie annual " patent." In case the 

 fined person be insolvent the flue will be commuted by arrest at the 

 rate of one day's arrest for every two dollars. 



Art. 0. The Prefects of the Provinces of the Department will in- 

 struct the employes under their jurisdictions, by requisite orders, how 

 to prevent diving by unlicensed machines. 



Art. 7. Tlic captain of the gunboat Boi/aocl will inspect the coasts 

 of the Department whenever practicable, and prevent diving with 

 machines in prohibited places, and in others, where diving with 

 machines is parniitteil, will see that the diving is done in accordance 

 with the terms of this Decree. 



Be it made public. 



Given in the Palace of the Governor of Panama, this 2t)th of Janu- 

 ary, 1890. 



J. V. Ayuardi. 



The Secretary General, 



S. McKay, 



