SECTION 1. Section twelve hundred and three, subsection (e), of Act Numbered Twenty-seven hundred and eleven, as amended by Act Numbered Thirty-five hundred and fifty-three, is hereby further amended to read as follows:
"(e) Every steam vessel of less than one hundred gross tons shall have the following officers: One patron in the minor coastwise trade who shall have charge of the vessel as master; but when such vessel navigates for more than twenty-four hours from the point of departure until its return thereto, it shall carry a mate who shall be at least a patron in the minor coastwise trade: Provided, That upon written application, the owner or agent of a motor vessel under thirty-five gross tons operating in places where licensed officers are not available, may be permitted by the Insular Collector of Customs, under such conditions as the latter may require, to operate such craft without such licensed officers, for a reasonable time, in the discretion oi the Insular Collector of Customs: Provided, further, That such permit shall be granted only to vessels under thirty-five gross tons register operating within a radius of not more than one hundred miles from the principal port of operation or home port of the vessel, at the risk and responsibility of the operator and owner, and at a distance from shore of not more than six miles."