Clearance

When a vessel is ready for sea the customs officials must be provided with a detailed manifest (see Manifest) of the ship's cargo, which will be sworn to; then, if the port charges of the vessel have been paid, and her inward cargo properly accounted for, the collector will furnish her with a clearance document, without which she must not attempt to leave port under penalty, except American vessels under coasting license, which are allowed to sail within certain districts in the United States without entrance or clearance, provided they have domestic cargo on board.