It shall be unlawful to transport, carry or convey, from one place to another in this state, any dynamite, gunpowder or other explosive on any vessel or vehicle of any description operated by a common carrier, which vessel or vehicle is carrying passengers for hire by railroad or on the public waters of the state; provided, that it shall be lawful to transport on any such vessel or vehicles small arms ammunition in any quantity, and such fuses, torpedoes, rockets or other signal devices as may be essential to promote safety in operation, and properly packed and marked samples of explosives for laboratory examination, not exceeding a net weight of
1/2 pound each, and not exceeding 20 samples at one time in a single vessel or vehicle, but such samples shall not be carried in that part of a vessel or vehicle which is intended for transportation of passengers for hire. Nothing in this section shall prevent the transportation of military or naval forces with their accompanying munitions of war on passenger equipment vessels or vehicles.