The Commissioner of Customs is authorized and directed to prescribe from time to time and enforce regulations governing the boarding of vessels arriving at the seaports of the United States, before such vessels have been properly inspected and placed in security, and for that purpose to employ any of the officers of the United States Customs Service. Each person violating such regulations shall be subject to a penalty of not more than $100 or imprisonment not to exceed six months, or both, in the discretion of the court. This section shall be construed as supplementary to section 9 of act August 2, 1882 (
22 Stat. 189), and section
2279 of title
18.