INSPECTION OF VESSELS 109 



ways and other sufficient means, convenient to the passengers, for 

 their escape to the upper deck, in case of the vessel sinking or of other 

 accident endangering life; and in the stowage of freight upon such 

 deck, where passengers are carried, gangways or passages, sufficiently 

 large to allow persons to pass freely through them, shall be left open 

 both fore and aft of the vessel, and also to and along the guards on 

 each side. 



Accommodation of deck passengers 



46 U.S.C. 478 (R.S. 4485) 



The captain or mate of every steam vessel described in section 481 

 of this title carrying passengers upon the main deck shall assign to 

 all deck passengers, when taking passage, the space on deck they may 

 occupy during the voyage, and such space shall not thereafter be 

 occupied by freight, nor overcrowded by other persons, nor shall 

 freight be stowed about the boilers or machinery, in such a manner 

 as to obstruct or prevent the engineer from readily attending to his 

 duties. 



Penalty for not providing proper accommodations for passengers 



46 U.S.C. 479 (R.S. 4486) 



For every violation of the provisions of sections 477 and 478 of this 

 title the owners of the vessel shall be punished by a fine of $300. 



River steamers to be anchored when navigation is unsafe 



46 U.S.C. 480 (R.S. 4487) 



On any steamer navigating rivers only, when, from darkness, fog, 

 or other cause, the pilot or watch shall be of opinion that the naviga- 

 tion is unsafe, or, from accident to or derangement of the machinery 

 of the boat, the chief engineer shall be of the opinion that the 

 further navigation of the vessel is unsafe, the vessel shall be brought 

 to anchor, or moored as soon as it can prudently be done : Provided, 

 That if the person in command shall, after being so admonished by 

 either of such officers, elect to pursue such voyage, he may do the 

 same; but in such case both he and the owners of such steamer shall 

 be answerable for all damages which shall arise to the person of any 

 passenger, or his baggage, from such causes in so pursuing the voy- 

 age, and no degree of care or diligence shall in such case be held to 

 justify or excuse the person in conmiand, or the owners. 



Liability of master and owners for damage to passengers 



46 U.S.C. 491 (R.S. 4493) 



Wlienever damage is sustained by any passenger or his baggage, 

 from explosion, fire, collision, or other cause, the master and the 

 owner of such vessel, or either of them, and the vessel shall be liable 

 to each and every person so injured, to the full amount of damage 

 if it happens through any neglect, or failure to comply ^vith the 

 provisions of title 52 of the Revised Statutes, or through knowm defects 

 or imperfections of the steaming apparatus or of the hull; and any 

 person sustaining loss, or injury through the carelessness, negligence, 



