174 LAWS GOVERNING MARINE INSPECTION 



the continuous discharge book, the Coast Guard shall provide a cer- 

 tificate of discharge, printed on durable paper, in such form as to 

 specify the name and citizenship of the seaman to whom it is issued, 

 the serial number of his certificate of identification, the name and offi- 

 cial number of the vessel, the nature of the voyage (foreign, inter- 

 coastal or coastwise), the class to which the vessel belongs (steam, 

 niotor, sail, or barge), the date and place of the shipment and of the 

 discharge of such seaman, and the rating (capacity in which em- 

 ployed) then held by such seaman. Eecords of service entered in 

 either continuous discharge books or certificates of discharge shall 

 contain no reference to the character or ability of the seaman. The 

 Coast Guard official to whom the duties of shipping commissioner 

 have been delegated shall issue such certificate of discharge and make 

 the proper entries therein, which certificate shall be signed by the 

 seaman to whom it is issued and the master of the vessel and shall be 

 witnessed by such Coast Guard official. 



(f) There shall be maintained in the Coast Guard, District of 

 Columbia, a record of every continuous discharge book, certificate of. 

 identification, certificate of discharge, and any other certificate issued 

 by the Coast Guard, together with the name and address of the sea- 

 man to whom it is issued and of his next of kin, and certified copies 

 of all entries made in continuous discharge books or certificates of 

 discharge, which entries shall be forwarded to the Coast Guard by 

 the Coast Guard official to whom the duties of shipping commis- 

 sioner have been delegated or other person making such entries in 

 accordance with the provisions of this section. Records so main- 

 tained shall not be open for general or public use or inspection. 



(g) Any person, partnership, company, or corporation who shall 

 require any seaman employed or applying for employment to pos- 

 sess, produce, or carry a continuous discharge book, if and when such 

 seaman possesses or carries an identification certificate, or to carry 

 an identification certificate, if and when such seaman possesses and 

 carries a continuous discharge book, or who shall exchange or give 

 to any other person, partnership, company, or corporation informa- 

 tion to cause discrimination against a seaman for electing to carry 

 either an identification certificate or a continuous discharge book, 

 or to prevent a seaman from obtaining employment on that account, 

 shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor; and, on conviction thereof, 

 shall be pimishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprison- 

 ment for not more than one year, at the discretion of tlie court. 



Seamen shall apply for certificates of identification or continuous 

 discharge books hereunder; and if any application contains any 

 statement known by the applicant to be false, he shall be deemed 

 guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction thereof before any dis- 

 trict court, of the United States, shall be fined not more than $1,000 

 or imprisoned for not more than one year, in the discretion of the 

 court. 



(h) In case of the loss of a continuous discharge book, a certifi- 

 cate of identification, or of any certificate of discharge by shipwreck 

 or other casualty, the seaman shall be supi)lied with a duplicate of 

 such continuous discharge book, certificate of identification, or cer- 

 tificate of discharge in which shall be entered all data that may be- 



