_An act to amend and render more effectual the several laws now in force for encouraging the fisheries carried on at ~Newfoundland~, and parts adjacent, from ~Great Britain~, ~Ireland~, and the ~British~ dominions in ~Europe~; and for granting bounties, for a limited time, on certain terms and conditions._ [Sidenote: Preamble. 15 _Geo._ III. Cap. 31. After _Jan. 1, 1787_, bounties to be given to vessels fitted out from _Great Britain_, &c. for the _Newfoundland_ fishery, qualified, _etc._ agreeable to 10 & 11 _Gul._ III. Cap. 25. Bounties to be paid the first 100 vessels which shall arrive at _Newfoundland_ with a cargo of fish. Ditto to the Second 100 vessels which shall so arrive. Certificates to be produced to the collector of customs from the governor of _Newfoundland_ of the qualification of ships, _etc._ Masters and mates to make oath. Collectors of customs to pay the bounties.] Whereas the bounties granted to a certain number of vessels employed in the _British_ fishery on the banks of _Newfoundland_, by an act passed in the fifteenth year of the reign of his present Majesty, intituled, _An act for the encouragement of the fisheries carried on from ~Great Britain~, ~Ireland~, and the ~British~ dominions in ~Europe~; and for securing the return of the fishermen, sailors, and others employed in the said fisheries, to the ports thereof, at the end of the fishing season_, will expire on the first day of _January_ one thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven: And whereas, at the expiration thereof, it is expedient that new bounties should be granted, for a limited time, under certain conditions, limitations, and restrictions: And whereas it has been found by experience, that several of the provisions and regulations contained in the laws now in force for encouraging the fisheries, carried on at _Newfoundland_, and parts adjacent, are insufficient to answer the good purposes thereby intended, and that it is requisite that other provisions and regulations should be enacted: To that end, be it therefore enacted by the King’s most excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords spiritual and temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, That, from and after the first day of _January_ one thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven, the respective bounties herein-after mentioned shall be paid and allowed annually, for ten years, to a certain number of ships or vessels employed in the _British_ fishery on the banks of _Newfoundland_, under the limitations and restrictions herein-after expressed; that is to say, That such vessels shall appear by their register to be _British_-built, and wholly owned by his Majesty’s subjects residing in _Great Britain_, _Ireland_, or the islands of _Guernsey_, _Jersey_, or _Man_; and shall be navigated each with a master, and at least three fourths of the mariners being _British_ subjects, usually residing in his