Whereas it contributes greatly to the Increase of Trade a[torn] Ports or Places of Delivery where Ships, Sloops and Other Deck’d Vessel [torn] And Whereas for want of such Ports or Places [torn] Small Sloops [or] other Vessels Importing Cargoes of Little Value Run with their Vessels into Small Rivers and C[torn] Rum, Punch, and Other Liquors, at Extravagant prices and thereby Purchase a great part of Ou[torn] Produce for Little or Nothing to the great Prejudice of the Inhabitants of this Province. And [torn] Vessels Loading and unloading Valuable Merchandizes in the Same are Obliged to go up and D[torn] Rivers to unload and take in their Ladeing whereby their Voyages are Rendred tedious Dilat[torn] -sive and Merchandizes are Sold at Dearer Rates than if Certain Marts or Places of Delivery [torn] were Established to the great Discouragement and preventing of Merchants and tradeing Men [torn] and Consequence Setling resideing and Dealing in this Province And also the great Lessning of [torn] Revenue by the Clandistine Running unaccustomed goods to the Ruine and prejudice of [torn] all Commerce. Therefore the better to Encourage Merchants and for the Dispatch of Trade and [torn] pray your most Sacred Majesty That it may be Enacted and be it [Enacted by] the Governour Council and General Assembly of this Province And it is Hereby Enacted by the A[uthority of] the Same That from and After the first Day of October which will be in the Year of our Lord [torn] Every Ship Sloop or Other Deck’d Vessel comeing into Port Roanoak shall be Loaded and unloaded at [torn] and at no Other Places, River Creek or Landing whatsoever in said Port or District And every [torn] or Other Deck’d Vessel comeing into Port Curratuck shall be Loaded and unloaded from the Cou[torn] for the County of Curratuck, and Every Ship Sloop or Other Deck’d Vessel comeing into Port [torn] shall be Loaded and unloaded at Newbern or Beaufort Town or a Place called Bear Inlet. And [every Ship] Sloop or Other Deck’d Vessel Comeing into Port Brunswick shall be Laded and unladed at Brunswick [torn] Wilmington and at no Other Places whatsoever within the said Ports and their Districts And be it [further] Enacted by the Authority aforsaid that if Any Master or Commander of any Ship Sloop or Other Vessel comeing into or Going Out of any the Ports or Places aforsaid shall take in their Load or Cargo [torn] Part thereof (Lumber Bricks and Salt Excepted) on board his said Ship Sloop or Other Deck’d Vessel or [torn] his Cargoe or any Part thereof in any Other Place River Creek or Landing in the several Ports or D[torn] than by this Act particularly Directed mentioned and Appointed for the same that then Such [torn] Commander so offending shall forfeit and pay the Sum of Twenty Pounds Proclamation Money [torn] and Every Offence contrary to the true Intent and meaning of this Act which forfeitures shall be recovered by [Bill] Plaint or Information in any Court of Record within this Government wherein no Essoin Injunction [or Wager] of Law shall be allowed or admitted of any Law usage or Custom to the Contrary in any Wise Notwithstanding one halfe to the Informer the Other halfe to his M[ajesty to] be paid and Applyed by the Commissioners appointed for Facilitating Navigation in each Port and also the Commissioners of [torn] or the Majority of them towards building and Erecting Publick Warfs in the most Convenient places in each of the said Towns and Publick Landings.

And Be it Further Enacted by the Authority aforsaid that if any Collector of [His] Majestys Customes within any of the Aformentioned Ports shall give any Permitt for Loading [or] unlading any Ship Sloop or Other Trading deck’d Vessel contrary to the true intent and meaning [torn] he Shall forfeit and pay the Sum of Twenty Pounds Proclamation Money for each and Every o[torn] Recovered and Applyed as aforesaid and also every Merchant that shall Lade and unlade any Ship [torn] other Deckd Vessel contrary to the true Intent and Meaning of this Act Shall forfeit and pay the Sum of [torn] Pounds Proclamation Money to be recovered and applyed as aforesaid And Be it Further [Enacted] by the Authority aforesaid That if any Master or Commander of any Ship Sloop or other Deck’d [torn] Any Other Person or Persons On board the Same going for Lomber or to unlade Salt or [torn] Shall retail any Rum Punch or Other Liquor which shall be drank on board his [torn] He or they so offending for Each and Every Offence Shall forfeit and pay the Sum of five P[ounds] Proclamation money to be recovered and Applyed as aforsaid Provided That nothing [torn] Act shall Extend to Vessels One halfe Whereof are really and bona fide Owned by [torn] of this Province who shall make Oath before the Collector of the Port if Required that [torn] Such Vessel claimed by him or them truly and really belongs to him or them and that the same [torn] Over or Sold to him or them under any Colour whatsoever.

Gab. Johnston                              
[illegible]                                      
J. Hodgson Speaker                    

General Assembly Session Records, North Carolina State Archives
Repealed by an act of 1745. State Records, 23:219-220.