Thames Conservancy Act 1775
| Jurisdiction | UK Non-devolved |
| Citation | 1775 c. 11 |
(15 Geo. 3) C A P. XI.
'WHEREAS by an Act passed in the twenty-fourth Year of the Reign of his late Majesty(intituled, Thamesand Isis, from the City of London Westward, to the Town of Cricklade, in the County of Wilts), the Commissioners thereby appointed were, amongst other Things, impowered to make Orders and Regulations touching the Sizes and Draughts of Water of all Boats, Barges, and other Vessels, navigating the said Rivers, and to settle proper Gauges on the Sides thereof, and how deep they should load at all Times, and in different Seasons of the Year, so as no Boat, Barge, or other Vessel, navigating the said Rivers, should draw more than four Feet of Water at any Season of the Year: And whereas by another Act, passed in the eleventh Year of his present Majesty, for improving and completing the said Navigation, the Commissioners thereby appointed were also (amongst other Things) impowered to make Orders and Regulations touching the Sizes and Draughts of all Boats, Barges, and other Vessels, navigating the said Rivers, and to settle proper Gauges on the Sides thereof, and how deep they should load at all Times, so as no Boat, Barge, or other Vessel whatsoever, navigating the said River, should draw more than three Feet of Water, which Depth should be ascertained by a straight white Line one Inch broad, extending from Head to Stern, on each Side of every Barge, Boat, or Vessel; and every Person offending therein, by navigating, his Boat, Barge, or Vessel, drawing more than three Feet of Water, or not having the said white Line on each Side thereof, is thereby made liable to a Penalty or Forfeiture, not more than twenty Pounds, nor less than five Pounds, to be levied and recovered in Manner therein mentioned: And whereas the said Restrictions, touching the Depth of Water to be drawn by Boats,Barges, and other Vessels, navigated upon the said Rivers, have been found to be very prejudicial to the Bargemasters, and other Persons employed in the said Navigation, and tend to enhance the Price of Carriage of the Goods, Wares, and Merchandises navigated thereon: And whereas the white Lines before mentioned are frequently worn out or rubbed off by unavoidable Accidents, whereby innocent Persons become liable to the said Penalty, and the Depth of Water would be better ascertained by Pieces of Tin, Lead, or other Metal, to be affixed in different Places on each Side of such Boats, Barges, and other Vessels;' may it therefore please your Majesty that it may be enacted; and be it 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, Thatno Person or Persons whatsoever shall, from and after the passing of this Act, be subject or liable to any Penalty or Forfeiture mentioned in the said Act of the eleventh Year of his present Majesty, or any other Penalty or Forfeiture whatsoever, in respect of the Depth of Water to be drawn by any Boat, Barge, or other Vessel...
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