MATE. In Maritime Law. The officer next in rank to the master on board a mer chant ship or vessel.
In such vessels there is always one mate, and sometitnes a second, third, and fourth mate, accord ing to the vessel's size and the trade in which she may be engaged. When the word mate is used without qualification, it always denotes ihe first mate; and the others are designated as above. On large ships the mate is frequently styled first officer, and the second and third mates, second and third officers. Parish, Sea Off. Man. 83-140.
The mate, as well as the inferior officers and seamen, is a mariner, and entitled to sue in the admiralty for his wages ; and be has a lien on the vessel for his security. Even when he acts as master in consequence of the death of the appointed master, he can sue in the admiralty for his proper wages as mate, but not for the increased compensation to which be is entitled as acting master. And he is entitled, when sick, to be cured at the expense of the ship. The mate should possess a sufficient knowledge of navigation to take command of the ship and carry on tbe voyage in case of the death of the master • and it may well be doubted whether a vessel be sea worthy for a long voyage at sea when only the roaster is competent to navigate her.
Blount, Comm. Dig. 32 ; Dana, Seaman's Friend, 146; Curtis, Rights and Duties of Merchant Seamen, 96, note. It is the special duty of the mate to keep the log-book. The mate takes charge of the larboard watch at sea, and in port superintends the storage and breaking out of the cargo.
The mate succeeds, of course, to the station, rights, and authorities of the captain or mas ter on the death of the latter, and he also has command, with the authority required by the exigencies of the case, during the temporary absence of the master. See MesvEa OF SHIP; Dana, Seaman's Friend ; Parish, Sea Officer's Manual ; Curtis, Rights and Duties of Merchant Seamen ; Parsons, Maritime Law.