319.—(1) If any emigrant ship—

(a) proceeds to sea without the master having obtained the certificate for clearance; or

(b) having proceeded to sea, puts into any port in the British Islands in a damaged state, and leaves or attempts to leave that port with steerage passengers on board without the master having obtained the proper certificate for clearance;

that ship shall be forfeited to the Crown, and may be seized by any officer of customs if found within two years from the commission of the offence in any port in Her Majesty’s dominions, and shall thereupon be dealt with as if she had been seized as forfeited under the laws relating to the customs.

(2) The Board of Trade may release, if they think fit, any such forfeited ship, on payment, to the use of the Crown, of such sum not exceeding two thousand pounds as the Board specify.