United States Statutes at Large, Volume 1
United States Congress
Public Acts of the First Congress, First Session, Chapter III
260595United States Statutes at Large, Volume 1 — Public Acts of the First Congress, First Session, Chapter IIIUnited States Congress


July 20, 1789.

Chap. III.An Act imposing Duties on Tonnage.[1]

Repealed by act of July 20, 1790, chap. 30. Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the following duties shall be, and are hereby imposed on all ships or vessels entered in the United States, that is to say:

On all ships or vessels built within the said States, and belongingSix cents per ton on vessels built in U.S., or belonging to citizens. On vessels hereafter built in the U.S., belonging to foreigners, 30 cts. per ton. On all others, 50 cts. per ton. wholly to a citizen or citizens thereof; or not built within the said States, but on the twenty-ninth day of May, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine, belonging, and during the time such ships or vessels shall continue to belong wholly to a citizen or citizens thereof, at the rate of six cents per ton. On all ships or vessels hereafter built in the United States, belonging wholly, or in part, to subjects of foreign powers, at the rate of thirty cents per ton. On all other ships or vessels, at the rate of fifty cents per ton.

Vessels built in the U.S., in the coasting trade, to pay tonnage but once a year. Sec. 2. Provided always, and be it enacted, That no ship or vessel built within the aforesaid States, and belonging to a citizen or citizens thereof, shall, whilst employed in the coasting trade, or in the fisheries, pay tonnage more than once in any year.

50 cts. a ton on foreign vessels engaged in the coasting trade. Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That every ship or vessel employed in the transportation of any of the produce or manufactures of the United States, coastwise within the said States, except such ship or vessel be built within the said States, and belong to a citizen or citizens thereof, shall, on each entry, pay fifty cents per ton.

Act to commence August 15, 1789. Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That this act shall commence and be in force from and after the fifteenth day of August next.

Approved, July 20, 1789.