INSPECTION OF VESSELS 119 



SUBCHAPTER 3F.— TRANSPORTATION OF STEERAGE PASSENGERS 



Accommodations for steerage passengers in vessels from foreign 

 ports 



46 U.S.C. 151 



It shall not be lawful for the master of any vessel whereon steerage 

 passengers have been taken at any port or place in the foreign coun- 

 try or dominion (ports and places in foreign territory contiguous 

 to the United States excepted) to bring such vessel and passengers 

 to or take from any port or place in the United States unless the 

 compartments, spaces, and accommodations hereinafter mentioned 

 have been provided, allotted, maintained, and used for and by such 

 passengers during the entire voyage, unobstructed by cargo, stores, 

 or goods. The master of a vessel coming to a port or place in the 

 United States in violation of any of the provisions of this section 

 shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor; and if the number of 

 steerage passengers carried or brought in the vessel, or in any com- 

 partment, space, poop, or deck house thereof, is greater than the 

 number allowed to be carried, or brought therein, respectrv^ely, as 

 hereinafter prescribed, the said master shall be fined $50 for each 

 and every such passenger in excess of the proper number, and may 

 also be imprisoned not exceeding six months. 



In computing the number of passengers carried or brought in any 

 vessel, children under one year of age shall not be included, and two 

 children between one and eight years of age shall be counted as one 

 passenger; and any person brought in such vessel who shall have 

 been, during the voyage, taken from any other vessel wrecked or in 

 distress on the high seas, or have been picked up at sea from any 

 boat, raft, or otherwise, shall not be included in such computation. 



Second. The expression "steerage passenger" means all passengers 

 except cabin passengers, and persons shall not be deemed cabin pas- 

 sengers unless the space allotted to their exclusive use is in the pro- 

 portion of at least thirty-six clear superficial feet to each passenger. 



Third. The expression "lowest passenger deck" means the deck 

 next below the water line; and the expression "passenger deck" in- 

 cludes every deck or portion of a deck which is above the lowest 

 passenger deck, and is appropriated for passengers. 



Fourth. A vessel shall not carry passengers, whether cabin or 

 steerage passengers, on more than one deck below the water line. 



Fifth. The height between that part of any deck on which steerage 

 passengers are carried and the deck immediately above it shall not 

 be less than six feet. 



Sixth. No steerage passengers shall be carried on the lowest pas- 

 senger deck unless it is efficiently lighted by side scuttles and other- 

 wise to the satisfaction of the inspector. 



Seventh. No greater number of steerage passengers shall be carried 

 on the lowest passenger deck than in the proportion of one steerage 

 passenger to every twenty-one clear superficial feet allotted to their 

 use. If, however, the height between the lowest passenger deck and 

 the deck immediately above it is less than seven feet, and the aper- 

 tures, exclusive of side scuttles, through which light and air are ad- 

 mitted are less in size than in the proportion of three square feet to 



