514 ACCOUNT OF AFFIDAVITS AND CEIITIFICATES. [aPP. x'iv. 



8. Appbentices. — " Apprentices must be above twelve 

 and under twenty years of age wben bound ; and the inden- 

 tures must be for three years at least. If any doubt arise as 

 to the proper age, proof must be made by the master, produ- 

 cing his parocliial register, or otherwise the boy is rejected. 

 Care is taken, by examining the indentures, to see that the 

 owners names, and the name of the ship in which they are to 

 serve, are inserted therein." 



9. " The number of lines, liarpoons, boats, and other re- 

 quisites prescribed by the act, are examined." 



The muster-list is then made out, " certified and dehvered 

 to the collector, who thereby clears the ship outwards, and 

 the board grants her licence to proceed on her voyage *." 



" On the return, the master gives notice to the mustering 

 officers, who go on board, order the crew upon the quarter- 

 deck, and proceed by calling them by their names. If any 

 have run, as is frequently the case, the person present is 

 examined strictly as to his qualifications, and his name is pla- 

 ced in the list, noting in whose room he has served. The 

 contents of the cargo is inserted in this list." 



Some Account of the Affidavits, Certificates, ^c. required hy 

 Law. 



1. The Certificate of the mustering officer consists of a co- 

 py of the " muster-list," with a notification of the number of 

 lines, harpoons, and boats on board, and a declaration of the 

 sufficiency of the provisions, — of the vessel being strongly 

 built, and otherwise a proper ship for such voyage and fishe- 

 ry, — and of there being among her crew a sufficient number 

 of harpooners, steersmen, and line-managers, who have before 

 been employed in such voyages. This, also including the af- 

 fidavits of the owner and master, with regard to their faithful 



" As the Licence is a matter of right, when all the papers expressive of the 

 conditions of the law having been fulfilled, are regularly prepared, the ship is 

 not obliged to wait until the arrival of the licence. 



