For the voyage across the Atlantic sixty gallons of water. one hundredpounds ofsalt provisions. one gallon of vinegar. and one hundred pounds of wholesome ship bread were to be provided for each and every passenger. The carriage of live stock was left to the discretion of the master of the vessel. and all his further obligations under this act were embodied in a proviso requiring him to deliver. upon arrival. a register of the age. sex. nationality. occupation. and designation of the country of which the passenger intended to become an inhabitant. and enumeration of deaths occurring during the voyage. Nothing is said about cleanliness. ventilation. daily allowance of food. its cooking and proper preservation. sleeping apartments. discipline. or any other provision indicating that the health. the physical or moral welfare of the immigrant were matters of concern for legislation. This state of things remained materially unaltered for a period offully twentyeight years. during which time. according to statistical estimates. over one and a halfmillions of immigrants came to the United States. Marked progress was made by the act of February 2. 1847. which gave each passenger "fourteen clear superficial feet" during a voyage within the tropics. and on an orlop thirty superficial feet. This "increase" in breathing chance. however. can be considered as scarcely more than an indication of a faint idea that a human being. if shut off from air altogether. is likely to die. and that the passenger will suffer more in a hot climate from want of sufficient air than he does in cold regions.
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