Die vom Englischen Unterhause angenommene 
Merchant Shippiwj Act 1876, welche unterdess bereits 
an das Oberhaus gelangt ist, enthält in den §§ 21 u. 25 
folgende Bestimmungen: 
(Penalty on ships carrying deckloads of Umher in 
teinter): 21. From and after the 1st day oj January, 
1877, a ship, British or foreign, arriving at any port 
in the United Kingdom, ichich has sailed from any port 
beyond the limits of the United Kingdom after the ist 
day of October or bejore the 16th day of March 
in any year, shall not, while subject to British juris 
diction, carry as deck cargo, that is to say, in any 
uncovered space upon deck, or in any covered space not 
included in the cubical contents forming the ship^s regi 
stered tonnage, any timber, deals, or battens. If any 
timber, deals, or battens, be caQ'ried by any ship in con 
travention oj this section, the Master of the ship, and 
also the Owner, if he is privy to the ofence, shall be 
liable to a penalty not exceeding õ K for every hundred 
cubic feet of timber, deals or battens so carried, and such 
penalty, to an amount not exceeding 100 K (ivhatever 
may be the maximum penalty recoverable) may be reco 
vered on summary conviction. 
Provided that the Master or Owner shall not be 
liable to any penalty under this section in respect of any 
timber, deals, or battens which the Master has considered 
it necessary to place or keep on deck during the voyage 
on account of the springing of any leak, or oj any other 
damage to the ship received or apprehended. 
Provided also, that nothing in this clause shall 
a feet any foreign ship coming into any port oj the United 
Kingdom under stress of iveather, or jor repairs, or for 
any other purpose than the delivery of her cargo. —