Title 48, Territories and Insular PossessionsRelease 119-102
§1412 Notice of Discovery of Guano and Proofs
Title 48 › CHAPTER 8 — GUANO ISLANDS › § 1412
Summary
Anyone who finds an island, rock, or key must promptly send a sworn notice to the State Department giving its latitude and longitude, say the place was claimed for the United States, and provide proof it was not held by any other government or that government's citizens when found.
Full Legal Text
Title 48, §1412
Territories and Insular Possessions, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
The discoverer shall, as soon as practicable, give notice verified by affidavit, to the Department of State, of such discovery, occupation, and possession, describing the island, rock, or key, and the latitude and longitude thereof, as near as may be, and showing that such possession was taken in the name of the United States; and shall furnish satisfactory evidence to the State Department that such island, rock, or key was not, at the time of the discovery thereof, or of the taking possession and occupation thereof by the claimants, in the possession or occupation of any other government or of the citizens of any other government, before the same shall be considered as appertaining to the United States.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Codification R.S. § 5571 derived from act Aug. 18, 1856, ch. 164, § 1, 11 Stat. 119.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
48 U.S.C. § 1412
Title 48, Territories and Insular Possessions
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102