[Extract]

Whereas it is highly expedient in a time of War to preserve amongst ourselves such Articles as may be wanted for our own Consumption, or for the Use of the United States of America; And Whereas the restraining the Exportation of Pitch, Tar, Turpentine and other Naval Stores, may have a Tendency to distress our Enemies and greatly to Weaken their Operations against us, by withholding from them supplies so essentially necessary for the refitting and keeping in Repair their Ships and other Engines of War; —

Be it Enacted by the Council and General Assembly of this State and it is hereby Enacted by the Authority of the same That if any Pitch, Tar, Turpentine, Masts, Yards, Spars or other Naval Stores whatsoever shall at any time hereafter, be laden and found on Board any Ship or Vessel in any port of this State, for which no permit hath been obtained from the Commissioners in Manner herein after directed, it shall and may be lawful for the Collector of such Port, or any person by him duly Authorized, to seize such Pitch, Tar, Turpentine, Masts, Yards, Spars or other Naval Stores, together with the Ship or Vessel in which the same shall be so laden and found, and such Vessel together with such of the aforesaid Articles as shall be so laden or found on Board her at the time of such Seizure, are hereby declared to be forfeited, one third part thereof to the Use of the State, one third part to the Use of the Collector of the port in which the same shall be so seized, and the remaining third part to the Use of the Informer or Informers on whose Information the same shall be so seized. . . .