§ 71. Registry of canal floats. The owner of every commercial float to be navigated on the canal system shall make application to the corporation for a New York state certificate of registry. The application shall be in form prescribed by the corporation and shall contain such information as the corporation may deem essential for full and complete identification of the float and the owner thereof. It shall be signed by the owner if an individual, or by an officer of a company, partnership or corporation if so owned. Upon receipt of an application in proper form, the corporation shall assign a state registry number and issue to the owner a certificate of New York state registry, a copy of which shall be entered in the records of its office.