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This initial legislation led to the formation of the United States
Coast Survey.
[Act of Feb. 10, 1807, Sess. II, ch. 8, 2 Stat. 413-14 (1807)]
NINTH CONGRESS. SESS II. CH. 5, 8. 1807
CHAP.
VIII. An Act to provide for surveying the coasts of the United
States.
Be
it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled, That the President
of the United States shall be, and he is hereby authorized and requested,
to cause a survey to be taken of the coasts of the United States, in
which shall be designated the islands and shoals, with the roads or
places of anchorage, within twenty leagues of any part of the shores
of the United States; and also the respective courses and distances
between the principal capes, or head lands, together with such other
matters as he may deem proper for completing an accurate chart of every
part of the coasts within the extent aforesaid.
SEC. 2.
And be it further enacted, That it shall be
lawful for the President of the United States to cause such examinations
and observations to be made, with respect to St. George's bank, and
any other bank or shoal and the soundings and currents beyond the distance
aforesaid to the Gulf Stream, as in his opinion may be especially subservient
to the commercial interests of the United States.
SEC. 3.
And be it further enacted, That the President
of the United States shall be, and he is hereby authorized and requested,
for any of the purposes aforesaid, to cause proper and intelligent persons
to be employed, and also such of the public vessels in actual service,
as he may judge expedient, and to give such instructions for regulating
their conduct as to him may appear proper, according the the tenor of
this act.
SEC. 4.
And be it further enacted, That for carrying
this act into effect there shall be, and hereby is appropriated, a sum
not exceeding fifty thousand dollars, to be paid out of any monies in
the treasury, not otherwise appropriated.
APPROVED,
February 10, 1807.
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