Payment of wages and discharge of seanwn.—The owner of a trawler is required to deliver to the skipper, and the owner or skipper must deliver to every seaman of that boat, a. full and true account, in the prescribed form, of the wages of the skipper or seaman, as the case may be (not being a share in the catch), and of all deductions to be made therefrom. A deduction from the wages of a skipper or seaman will not be allowed unless it is included in the account so delivered, or is in regard of a matter happening after such delivery. The skipper may by notice to the owner, and a seaman may by notice to the skipper, dispense with the delivery of such account. Except where the account of wages is dispensed with, the account must be delivered not less than four hours before the paying off' or discharge of the skipper or seaman. Failure to comply with this requirement renders the owner or skipper liable to a fine of ,V5 for each offence. Upon the discharge of a seaman, or on the payment of his wages, the skipper is required to sign and deliver to hiin a certificate of discharge, in the prescribed form, specifying the period of his service and the time and place of his discharge. The penalty for not doing so is .C5 for each offence. If a seaman having signed a fishing-boat's agreement is discharged before the commencement of the voyage, or at any time during the voyage or engagement without fault on his part justifying the discharge, and without his consent, he is entitled to recover, in addition to an amount of wages proportionate to the thne he has served, sufficient compensation for the damage caused to him by the discharge ; and he may recover such compensation as wages duly earned. These provisions relating to the discharge of seamen and the payment of wages apply whether the seaman is serving under an ordinary agreement, or under an agreement to serve in two or more fishing-boats belonging to the same owner, or under a running agreement. Certificates of skippers and
second hands.—A trawler must not go to sea from a port of England or Ireland unless provided with a skipper and a second hand, both duly certifi cated. If a boat goes to sea contrary to this provision the owner is liable for each offejice to a penalty of 1'20. Penalties are incurred by a person not duly certificated going to sea in either c,apacity, and by any one employing such a person. A second hand may in certain cases be authorised, for a period not exceeding one month, to act as skipper. Examinations as to competency are held, and certificates are granted, withheld, and cancelled in the case of skippers and second hands of fishing-boats as in that of masters and mates. In some cases certificates of service in lieu of certificates of com petency may be granted. A register of certificated skippers and second hands is kept. Conveyaince 9ffish from trawlers.—The Board of Trade, on the application of any owners of a fleet of fishing-boats, or certain other persons interested therein, or without such application if the person entitled to make such application after a request by the Board of Trade does not do so, may make such regulations respecting the conveyance of fish from fishing boats catching fish as trawlers to vessels engaged in collecting and carrying fish to port, as may appear to the Board expedient for preventing loss of life, or danger to life or limb, and if any person to whom such a regulation applies fails without reasonable cause to comply therewith he is for each offence liable to a fine of £10.