PROTECTION OF DEEP SEA FISHERIES. 383 



higher rate of wages than the rate stipulated to be paid 

 to him." 



In subsection 2 it was ordered that " For neglecting 

 or refusing without reasonable cause to join his ship, or 

 to proceed to sea in his ship, or for absence without leave 

 at any time within twenty-four hours of the ship's sailing 

 from any port either at the commencement or during the 

 progress of any voyage, or for absence at any time without 

 leave and without sufficient reason from his ship or from 

 his duty, not amounting to desertion, or not treated as 

 such by the master, he shall be liable to imprisonment 

 for any period not exceeding ten weeks, with or without 

 hard labour, and also at the discretion of the Court to 

 forfeit out of his wages a sum not exceeding the amount 

 of two days' pay, and in addition for every twenty-four 

 hours of absence, either a sum not exceeding six days' pay, 

 or any expenses which have been properly incurred in 

 hiring a substitute." 



So long as this was the law, everything worked satis- 

 factorily ; but by the Act of 1880 the words in subsection I, 

 " to imprisonment for any time not exceeding twelve weeks, 

 with or without hard labour," were ordered to be omitted. 

 Further, a clause was inserted as follows : " A seaman or 

 apprentice to the sea service shall not be liable to imprison- 

 ment for neglecting or refusing without reasonable cause to 

 join his ship, or to proceed to sea in his ship, or for absence 

 without leave at any time within twenty-four hours of 

 his ship's sailing from any port, or for absence at any time 

 without leave, and without sufficient reason from his ship 

 or from his duty." Thus imprisonment for desertion by 

 any seaman or apprentice was distinctly abolished. 



Subsection 3 was also inserted, and runs as follows: 

 " If a seaman or apprentice to the sea service intends to 



