Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby authorized to cause yachts used and employed exclusively as pleasure vessels, and designed as models of naval architecture, and now entitled to be enrolled as American vessels, to be licensed on terms which will authorize them to proceed from port to port of the United States without entering or clearing at the custom-house. Such license shall be in such form as the Secretary of the Treasury may prescribe: Provided, Such vessels so enrolled and licensed shall not be allowed to transport merchandise or carry passengers for pay: And provided further, That the owner of any such vessel, before taking out such license, shall give a bond, in such form and for such amount as the Secretary of the Treasury shall prescribe, conditional that the said vessel shall not engage in any unlawful trade, nor in any way violate the revenue laws of the United States, and shall comply with the laws in all other respects.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That all such vessels shall, in all respects, except as above, be subject to the laws of the United States, and shall be liable to seizure and forfeiture for any violation of the provisions of this act.

Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That all such licensed yachts shall use a signal of the form, size, and colors prescribed by the Secretary of the Navy, and the owners thereof shall at all times permit the naval architects in the employ of the United States to examine and copy the models of said yachts.

Approved, August 7, 1848.