PASSPORT (Fr. passer, to pass, port, har bor or gate). In Maritime Law. A paper containing a permission from a neutral state to the captain or master of a ship or ves sel to proceed on the voyage proposed. It usually contains his name and residence, the name, property, description, tonnage, and destination of the ship, the nature and quan tity of the cargo, the place from whence it comes, and its destination, with such other matters as the practice of the place requires.
It is also called a sea-brief, or sea-letter (q. v.). But Marshall distinguishes sea-let ter from passport, which latter, he says, is pretended to protect the ship, while the for me• relates to the cargo, destination, etc. See Jacobs, Sea-Laws 66, note.
This document is indispensably necessary in time of war for the safety of every neu tral vessel; Marsh. Ins. 317, 406 b.
A Mediterranean pass (q. v.), or tion against the Barbary powers.
A document granted in time of war to protect persons or property from the gen eral operation of hostilities. Wheat. Int. Law, 3d Eng. ed. § 408; 1 Kent 161; The Amiable Isabella, 6 Wheat. (U. S.) 3, 5 L. Ed. 191.
In most countries of continental Europe passports are given to travellers. These are intended to protect them on their jour ney from all molestation while they are obedient to the laws. The secretary of state may issue, or cause to be issued in foreign countries by such diplomatic or consular of ficers of the United States, and under such rules as the president may prescribe, pass ports, but only to citizens of the United States ; R. S. §§ 4075-4076. See SA.FE CON DUCT.
Lands upon which beasts feed themselves. By a grant of pastures the land itself passes. 1 Thomas, Co. Litt. 202.
See Commorf.