tion of either party in foreign-going ship where amount does not exceed £5; if both parties agree in wri.ing, superintendent may settle disputes, whatever amount. Power of superintendent to require production of ship's papers-penalty for non-compliance. Seamen paid wages in foreign money must receive current rate of exchange.

A

Advance and Allotment of Wages.- Sections 140 to 144. seaman may insist on a stipulation in the agreement for the allotment of any part, not exceeding half, of his wages in favour of certain relatives. The allotment may be made in favour of the seamen's savings bank, and paid into his account. The first payment to relatives or other persons shall begin at the end of a month, except in the case of a savings bank, when the first payment is made at the end of three months from signing agreement. Subsequent payments shall be made as agreed upon and stated in allotment note. Allotments issued to non-relatives cannot be recovered summarily at law. Remittances of allotment money may be paid by owners and agents to the relatives of seamen by means of seamen's money orders free of expense. Allotment forms may be had at the Mercantile Marine Office. Advance notes restricted to one month's wages. Right of suing on allotment notes and proof. Time for payment of allotment notes.

Seamen's Money Orders and Savings Banks.-Sections 145 to 154. Remittances of seamen's wages by seamen's money orders authorised. Power of Board of Trade to pay when orders lost. Penalty for issuing money orders with fraudulent intent. Power of Board of Trade to establish savings banks at Mercantile Marine Offices. National Debt Commissioners empowered to receive deposits-rate of interest. Application of deposits of deceased depositors. Expenses of banks to be defrayed out of interest. Accounts and copy of regulations re savings' banks to be laid before Parliament. Public officers to be exempt from legal proceedings, except in cases of wilful default. Forgery of documents, &c., for purpose of obtaining money in savings' banks, and punishment.

Rights of Seamen in respect of Wages.-Sections 155 to 163. Right to wages, when to begin. Right to recover wages and salvage not to be forfeited. Wages not to depend on freight Wages on termination of service by wreck or illness. Wages not to accrue during refusal to work or imprisonment. Forfeiture of wages, &c., of seamen when illness caused by his own default. Costs of procuring imprisonment not exceeding £3 may be deducted from wages. Compensation provided for seamen improperly discharged Restriction on sale of, and charge upon, wages.

Mode of Recovering Wages.-Sections 164 to 167. Summary proceedings for wages authorised. Restrictions on suits for wages in superior courts where less than £50. Wages not recoverable abroad in certain cases, and where engagement to end in United Kingdom. Master has same remedies as seaman for recovery of wages, disbursements, &c.

Power of Courts to Rescind Contracts.-Section 168. In disputes between owners or masters and seamen power given Court to rescind contract.

Property of Deceased Scamen.-Sections 169 to 181. Masters are bound within 48 hours of the arrival of any foreign-going or hometrade ship in the United Kingdom to deliver to the Superintendent of the Mercantile Marine Office the wages and effects of any sea

man or apprentice who has died during the voyage, together with a proper account of same on the prescribed form, which may be obtained at that office. Even should no balance be due to seaman, the account must still be made out, and the fact shown thereon. De duction for funeral, hospital, or medical expenses cannot be made where seamen have died from injuries received in service of the ship. Claims to the wages and effects of deceased seamen must be made by the relatives or next-of-kin on forms to be had at the Mercantile Marine Offices. Letters of administration or probate will be required where the amount of the wages exceeds 50. Method of dealing with and accounting for wages and effects. Penalty for non-compliance. Effects of deceased seamen left abroad, but not on board ship. Property of deceased seamen may be dealt with by Consuls and officials abroad. Power of Board of Trade to recover wages, &c., of seamen lost with their ship. Wages and effects of seamen dying at home to be accounted for. Mode of payment over of property of deceased seamen by Board of Trade. Dealing with deceased seaman's property when he leaves a will. Claims by creditors. Unclaimed property of deceased seamen after lapse of six years to go to Mercantile Marine Fund. Forgery of documents, &c., for purpose of obtaining property of deceased seamen entails penal servitude or imprisonment. Property of seamen discharged from Royal Navy and dying in merchant ship to be dealt with as Accountant-General of Navy directs.

Reimbursement of Relief to Seamen's Families.—Sections 182, 183. Relief to seamen's families by Union or parish to be chargeable on certain portion of wages, viz. :—If one member chargeable, one-half of wages; if two or more members, two-thirds of wages. Parochial authorities to give notice to owner of their claim that same may be retained from wages. Method of enforcing reduction

Destitute Seamen.-Sections 184, 185. Penalties on masters of ships leaving seamen who are natives of Asia or Africa, or South Sea, or Pacific Islands in distress in the United Kingdom. Secretary of State for India empowered to relieve destitute Lascars and send them home. Parochial authorities to give India Office notice of claims for relief to Lascars and natives of India, which office has power to reimburse claimants.

masters

Leaving Seamen Abroad.-Sections 186 to 189. Discharge of seamen abroad only to take place under certain conditions. Passage home or employment to be found a seaman in addition to wages. Certificate of discharge and consular endorsement necessary. Penalty on masters for failure to comply. Penalty on for forcing seamen on shore or leaving them behind. Seamen not to be discharged abroad without the certificate of superintendent or Consul abroad and an official certificate of cause of discharge to be obtained. Accounts of wages and pay. ment to seamen left abroad. Money or in certain cases by bill.

Distressed Seamen.-Sections 190 to 194. Board of Trade empowered to make regulations respecting seamen in distress abroad. Provisions for maintenance of distressed seamen. Authority to maintain and send distressed seamen home. Masters of British ships compelled to take distressed seamen home in proportion of one for every fifty tons burthen. Penalty not exceeding 100 for non-compliance. Recovery of expenses of relief of distressed seamen from masters or owners of ships to which they belonged,

provided. Expenses of relief to be payable out of Mercantile Marine Fund. [See also Merchant Shipping (Mercantile Marine Fund) Act, 1898, sec. 4, page 139.]

Volunteering into the Navy.-Sections 195 to 197. Seamen allowed to leave their ships in order to enter the Navy. Money and effects of such seamen to be paid over by masters in manner laid down. Wages of such seamen have to be paid; loss sustained by masters engaging substitutes may apply to Admiralty for reimbursement. Forgery or fraud in connection with documents made a misdemeanour.

Provisions, Health, and Accommodation.-Sections 198 to 210. Power of three or more of crew to make complaint and procure an official examination of provisions and water. Pecuniary allowance to scamen for short or bad provisions. Board of Trade to make regulations respecting medicines, anti-scorbutics, &c. Owners of ships to provide medicines and medical stores according to scale. Certain ships to be supplied with anti-scorbutics. Penalty for noncompliance. Weights and measures to be kept on board ship under penalty. Inspection of medicines, medical stores, and anti-scorbutics provided. Medical inspection of seamen provided on application of owner or master. Appointment of Medical Inspectors by Board of Trade or Local Marine Board. Appointment of Medical Inspector, and regulations as to supply of anti-scorbutics in Colonies. Inspection of provisions and water for crew provided in case of all ships going through Suez Canal, or round Cape of Good Hope or Cape Horn. Regulations and rules therefor to be made by Board of Trade. Expenses of medical attendance, &c., where master seaman or apprentice hurt in service of ship to be defrayed by Like expenses payable by owner where illness caused by bad provisions or water, or non-issue of medicines, medical stores, and anti-scorbutics. Recovery of expenses from owner. Ships carrying one hundred persons or upwards on board to carry a medical practitioner. Accommodation for each seaman or appren tice to be in space of not less than 72 cubic feet, and not less than 12 superficial feet. Such space to be free from goods and stores. Penalty for infraction.

owner.

Facilities for making Complaints.-Section 211. A seaman or apprentice desirous of making complaint against master or any of the crew, to have facilities for making same. Penalty for refusal.

Protection of Seamen from Imposition.-Sections 212 to 219. Assignment or sale of salvage invalid. Debts exceeding 5s. incurred by a seaman after engagement not recoverable until conclusion of service. Definition of powers of local anthorities to license and inspect seamen's lodging-houses, and make bye-laws regulating. Penalty for over-charges by lodging house keepers. Penalty for detaining seamen's effects. Penalty for solicitations by lodginghouse keepers in cases of seamen within twenty-four hours of arrival in port. Penalty on unauthorised persons going on board ship on or after arrival. Application of last provisions to foreign ships to be by Order in Council.

Provisions as to Discipline.-Sections 220 to 238. Misconduct of a master seaman or apprentice endangering life or limb, and punish. ment. Desertion and absence without leave entails fine and forfeiture of wages, and in places out of the United Kingdom, imprisonment. Deserters may be conveyed on board ship. Provisions as to arrest and imprisonment applying out of the United

Kingdom. Power of Court to order offender to be taken on board ship. General offences against discipline and punishment. Summary remedies not to affect other remedies for breach of contract, &c. Penalty entailed by seaman giving false statement as to ship or name. Entry of offences under Act to be made in official log. Entry of desertions abroad and certificates thereof. Register of deserters to be kept by Superintendent of Mercantile Marine. Facilities for proving desertion in proceedings for forfeiture of wages. Application of forfeitures. Decision of questions of forfeiture and deductions may be determined in suits for wages. Ascertainment of amount of forfeiture out of wages. Deductions from wages, and payment to superintendents, &c., of fines. Penalty for harbouring deserters or enticing to desert. Penalty-fine or imprisonment of stowaways, who, with seamen carried under compulsion are subject to discipline of ship. Powers of Her Majesty by Order in Council to recover and apprehend deserters from foreign ships. Harbouring or secreting deserters entails a fine of £10. Official Logs.-Sections 239 to 243. Official log books to be kept, and to be evidence. By whom entries to be signed. Entries of certain matters required in official log-book. Penalty for noncompliance. Destroying or mutilating or making false or fraudulent entries a misdemeanour. No entry to be made more than twentyfour hours after arrival under fine of £30. Delivery of official logbooks to superintendents compulsory. Official logs to be sent home in case of transfer of ship, and in case of loss. Non-compliance and penalty, £10.

Local Marine Boards.-Sections 244, 245. Continuance and constitution of Local Marine Boards in manner specified in 7th Schedule to Act. Control of Board of Trade over Local Marine Boards.

Mercantile Marine Offices.-Sections 246 to 250. Establishment and control of Mercantile Marine Offices by Board of Trade. Business of Mercantile Marine Offices. Embezzlement by officers of Local Marine Boards and punishment. Power of Board of Trade to dispense with transactions of certain matters at Mercantile Marine Offices. Prohibition on taking other than authorised fees at the Mercantile Marine Offices.

Registration of and Returns respecting Seamen.-Sections 251 to 258. General Register and Record Office of Seamen to be maintained in London. Board of Trade to appoint Registrar-General of Seamen and all officers and servants thereat. Register of seamen to be kept. Lists of the crew to be made out and signed by master of foreign-going and home-trade ships containing certain particulars. Lists of foreign-going ships to be delivered to superintendent within forty-eight hours after arrival at final port of destination; of hometrade ships, within twenty-one days after June 30 and December 31 in each year. Penalty for non-compliance, £5. Return of births and deaths to be made and transmitted by master. List of crew to be made out and delivered up by owner or master in case of transfer or loss of ship. Penalty for non-compliance, £10. Transmission of lists and all documents to Registrar-General by superintendents and other officers. Deposit of agreement with crew, indentures and assignments of apprenticeship necessary at foreign and Colonial ports in the case of all British ships (excepting passenger ships) with chief officer of Customs or Consular officer within forty-eight hours after arrival. Penalty for non-compliance by master, £20.

Sites for Sailors' Homes.-Section 259. Corporations or other local public bodies emp wered to grant sites for Sailors' Homes at any port in the United Kingdom and vest same in trustees.

Application of this Part of Act.-Sections 260 to 266. Part II. applies to ships registered in the United Kingdom, subject as hereinafter provided with respect to (a) Ships belonging to any of the three general lighthouse authorities; (b) Pleasure yachts; and (c) Fishing boats. Definition of what provisions apply to ships registered elsewhere than in the United Kingdom :-Only partial application of Part II. to ships of lighthouse authorities and pleasure yachts-exemptions defined. Partial application of Part II. to Fishing boats, and exemptions. Colonial Legislatures empowered to apply Part II. to Colonies. Conflict of laws:-Unregistered ship deemed to be registered in United Kingdom for certain purposes.

PART III.-Passenger and Emigrant Ships.

Definition of Passenger and Passenger Steamer.-Section 267. "Passenger "includes any person other than master and crew, and the owner, his family and servants. "Passenger steamer every British steamship carrying passengers to, from, or between any place in United Kingdom, except steam ferry boats working in chains (commonly called "steam bridges ") and every foreign steamship carrying passengers between places in the United Kingdom.

Definition of Emigrant Ship.—Section 268. Expression" Emigrant ship' defined to which this part of Act applies. Scale for determining length of voyages. Definition of Colonial voyage.

Passenger Steamers.-Sections 271 to 284. Annual survey of passenger steamers compulsory. Mode of survey and declaration of survey. Transmission of survey declaration to Board of Trade necessary, and penalty on owners for non-compliance. Issue of passenger certificate by B ard of Trade. Appeal to Court of Survey provided for aggrieved owners. Transmission of passenger certificate by Board of Trade for issue. Fees for certificate payable as defined in Part I. of 9th Schedule to Act. Duration of certificate. Power of Board of Trade to cancel certificate. Delivery up of certificate on expiration or cancellation, and penalty for failure. Passenger certificate to be posted up in conspicuous position in ship, and penalty for failure. Penalty for forgery or fraud in connection with passenger certificate or declaration. Penalty provided for carrying excess passengers. Colonial passenger certificate valid it approved by Order in Council.

General Equipment of Passenger Steamers.-Sections 285, 286. Equipment of passenger steamers with compasses, hose, deckshelters, and safety appliances. Penalty provided for defauit. Prohibition of increasing weight on safety valve beyond fixed survey limits; penalty £100.

Keeping Order in Passenger Steamers.--Sections 287 to 288. Offences in connection with passenger steamers by passengers and others, and penalties. Power given to exclude drunken passengers on home-trade passenger steamers.

Survey of Emigrant Ships.-Section 289. Preliminary survey of emigrant ships necessary. Time of survey; and failure to comply with requirements punishable by law.

Equipments of Emigrant Ships.-Section 290. Emigrant ship, to be equipped with certain compasses, chronometers fire-engines, anchors, &c. Penalty for non-compliance.