OF GREAT BRITAIN. 107 



VIII. Provided always, and be it enacted, That in case any such 

 fishing ship or vessel shall at her last clearing out from the said island 

 of Newfoundland have on board, or export any goods or merchandise 

 whatsoever, except fish, or oil made of fish, such ship or vessel, and 

 the goods thereon laden, shall be subject and liable to the same securi- 

 ties, restrictions and regulations, in all respects, as they would have 

 been subject and liable to if this act had not been made, anything 

 hereinbefore contained to the contrary notwithstanding. 



******* 



XII. And whereas it has been a practice of late years for divers 

 persons to seduce the fishermen, sailors, artificers, and others, em- 



Eloyed in carrying on the fishery, arriving at Newfoundland, on 

 oard fishing and other vessels from Great Britain, and the British 

 dominions in Europe, to go from thence to the continent of America, 

 to the great detriment of the fishery and the naval force of this 

 kingdom: now, in order to remedy the said evil, and to secure the 

 return of the said fishermen, sailors, artificers, and others, employed 

 as aforesaid to the British dominions in Europe, be it further enacted 

 by the authority aforesaid, That from and after the first day of 

 January one thousand seven hundred and seventy-six, it shall not 

 be lawful for the master, or person having the charge or command 

 of any ship or vessel trading to or from any place within the govern- 

 ment of Newfoundland, to carry or convey, as passengers, any such 

 fishermen, sailors, artificers, and others, employed as aforesaid, from 

 thence to any part of the continent of America, without the permis- 

 sion under the hand and seal of the governor of the said island of 

 Newfoundland, under the penalty of forfeiting two hundred pounds 

 for every such offence. 



XIII. And whereas in several acts, passed in the eleventh and 

 twelfth years of William the Third, the eighth of George the First 

 and the second and twelfth of George the Second, provision has been 

 made to prevent seamen and mariners in the merchant service being 

 wilfully left beyond sea, and to secure and provide for their return 

 home to such part of his Majesty's dominions whereto they belong: 

 and whereas, for want of such provisions being extended to seamen 

 and fishermen going out as passengers to Newfoundland, and hired 

 and employed in the fisheries carried on there, great numbers of them 

 remain in that country at the end of every fishing season, who 

 would otherwise return home and some of them have frequently 

 turned robbers and pirates; for remedy of which evil, bo it enacted 

 by the authority aforesaid, That no person or persons whatsoever 

 shall from and after the first day of January, one thousand, seven 

 hundred and seventy-six, employ or cause to be employed, at New- 

 foundland, for the purpose of carrying on the fishery there, any 

 seaman or fisherman going as passengers, or any seaman or fisher- 

 man hired there, without first entering into an agreement or con- 

 n-net in writing with every such seaman or fisherman, declaring 

 what wages such seaman or fisherman is to have, and the time for 

 which he slnill serve, which shall he signed by both parties; Wherein 

 it shall be stipulated (amongst other things) that the person so hiring 

 or employing shall be at liberty and he is hereby authorized, required 

 and directed, to reserve, retain, and deduct, out of the wages of 



