SEAMEN are technically those persons below the rank of officer., who are employed in navigating decked vessels on the high seas—men working on lakes and rivers being styled " watermen." Two opposite conditions are essential to the well-being of the vessel—first, the absolute subordination and perfect obedience of the crew to the master; and secondly, their protection against tyranny or caprice on his part. For this purpose the law of England is extremely minute in the rules laid down for both masters and seamen.
By an act of 1845, specially leveled against pimps and swindling agents, no person may hire seamen except the owner or master of a ship, and individuals licensed for that purpose by the board of trade. Under the mercantile marine act of •1850, a written agreement must be made when a marl is engaged, forth the nature and length of voyage, the capacity in which the man is to be employed, wages, fines, provisions, pun ishments, etc. If the ship be going abroad, this agreement must be attested before a shipping-master, who has a pow;er of periodical inspection over the agreements of all seamen in vessels in his port. Any clause in the agreenrut would be inoperative which
deprives the sailor of a lien upon his ship, or of other recovery for his wages, or of rights of salvage. In virtue of this agreement the seaman is hound to do his utmost in the service of the vessel; and consequently, if a master of a ship in distress promise his men extra pay for extraordinary exertions, the men cannot compel him to fulfill his promise.
In the event of disobedience or insubordination the master may administer correction, the law holding him responsible that such correction is reasonable. Desertion from the ship is punishable by imprisonment; and deserters may be apprehended on the informa tion of the master without warrant. In ease of open mutiny, the master may adopt the most stringent measures.
The mariner's wages are not due in case of loss of the ship, unless be duly exerted himself, and only up to the date of loss. It is a misdemeanor for the master to leave a sailor on shore in foreign parts, unless through the man's wrongful act.