Merchant Shipping Act 1894

Marine Store Dealers.

538Marine store dealer to have his name and trade painted on his shop.

(1)Every person dealing in, buying, or selling, any of the articles following, that is to say, anchors, cables, sails, old junk, or old iron, or other marine stores of any kind (in this Part of this Act called a marine store dealer) shall have his name, together with the words " dealer in marine stores," distinctly painted, in letters of not less than six inches in length on every warehouse and place of deposit belonging to him.

(2)If a marine store dealer fails to comply with the requirements of this section, he shall for each offence be liable to a fine not exceeding twenty pounds.

539Marine store dealer to keep proper books.

(1)Every marine store dealer shall keep proper books, and enter therein an account of all marine stores of which he becomes possessed, stating in respect of each article the time at which and the person from whom he purchased or received the same, and a description of the business and place of abode of that person.

(2)If a marine store dealer fails to comply with the requirements of this section he shall be liable to a fine for the first offence not exceeding twenty pounds, and for every subsequent offence not exceeding fifty pounds.

540Marine store dealer not to purchase from person under sixteen.

(1)A marine store dealer shall not by himself or his agents purchase marine stores of any description from any person apparently under the age of sixteen years.

(2)If a marine store dealer so purchases any marine store, he shall be liable to a fine for the first offence not exceeding five pounds, and for every subsequent offence not exceeding twenty pounds.

541Marine store dealer not to cut up cable, &c.

(1)A marine store dealer shall not, on any pretence, cut up any cable or other like article exceeding five fathoms in length, or unlay the same into twine or paper stuff without obtaining a written permit as required by this section.

(2)In order to obtain a written permit a marine store dealer shall make a declaration before some justice of the peace having jurisdiction where the dealer resides, stating—

(a)the quality and description of the cable or other like article about to be cut up or unlaid ;

(b)the name and description of the person from whom he purchased or received the same ; and

(c)that he has purchased or otherwise acquired the same without fraud and without any knowledge or suspicion that it has been come by dishonestly :

and either the justice of the peace before whom the declaration is made, or the receiver of the district, upon the production of the declaration, may grant a permit authorising the marine store dealer to cut up or unlay the cable or other article.

(3)If a marine store dealer cuts up or unlays any cable or other article without complying with the provisions of this section he shall be liable to a fine for the first offence not exceeding twenty pounds, and for every subsequent offence not exceeding fifty pounds.

542Permit to be advertised before dealer proceeds to act thereon.

(1)A marine store dealer who has obtained a permit as aforesaid shall not proceed by virtue thereof to cut up or unlay any cable or other article until he has for the space of one week, at the least, published in some newspaper circulating in the place where he resides one or more advertisements, notifying the fact of his having so obtained a permit, and specifying the nature of the cable or article mentioned in the permit, and the place where it is deposited, and the time at which it is intended to be so cut up or unlaid.

(2)If any person suspects or believes that the cable or other article is his property he may apply to a justice of the peace for a warrant, and that justice may, on the sworn statement of the applicant, grant a warrant entitling the applicant to require the production by the marine store dealer of the cable or article mentioned in the permit, and also of the books required under this Part of this Act to be kept by the marine store dealer, and authorising the applicant to inspect and examine the cable or article or books.

(3)If a marine store dealer fails without reasonable cause to comply with any of the requirements of this section, he shall be liable for the first offence to a fine not exceeding twenty pounds, and for every subsequent offence to a fine not exceeding fifty pounds.