OFFICERS AND MERCHANT SEAMEN 181 



Muster of crew on motion or information ; rules and regulations ; 

 examination of applicant for certificate of service as able sea- 

 man; surrender of certificates; new certificates 



46 U.S.C. 672(d) 



The collector of customs may upon his own motion, and shall, 

 upon the sworn information of any reputable citizen of the United 

 States setting forth that this section is not being complied with, 

 cause a muster of the crew of any vessel to be made to determine 

 the fact, at which muster said reputable citizen must be present; 

 and no clearance shall be given to any vessel failing to comply 

 with the provisions of this section: Provided^ That the collector of 

 customs shall not be required to cause such muster of the crew to 

 be made unless said sworn information has been filed with him for 

 at least six hours before the vessel departs, or is scheduled to 

 depart: Provided further^ That any person that shall knowingly 

 make a false affidavit for such purpose shall be deemed guilty of 

 perjury and upon conviction tliereof shall be punished by a fine 

 not exceeding $500 or by imprisonment not exceeding one year, or 

 by both such fine and imprisonment, within the discretion of the 

 court. Any violation of any provision of this section by the owner, 

 master, or officer in charge of the vessel shall subject the owner of 

 such vessel to a penalty of not less than $100 and not more than 

 $500 : Provided further^ That the Commandant of the Coast Guard 

 shall make such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry 

 out the provisions of this section, and notliing herein shall be held 

 or construed to prevent the Commandant of the Coast Guard from 

 making rules and regulations authorized by law as to vessels ex- 

 cluded from the operation of this section : And provided further^ 

 That no certificate of service as able seaman shall be issued by the 

 Coast Guard until after examination of the applicant therefor, under 

 rules and regulations prescribed by the Commandant of the Coast 

 Guard as to his efficiency, and upon proof, as a result of such examina- 

 tion, that he has been trained in and is acquainted with the duties 

 entitling him to such rating. No seaman shall be considered as "able 

 seaman" within the meaning of the laws of the United States relating 

 to the manning of vessels unless he is in possession of such certificate 

 issued by the board of local inspectors or the Coast Guard. All cer- 

 tificates as "able seaman" and "lifeboatman" issued by the several 

 boards of local inspectors or other Federal officers prior to June 25, 

 1936, shall, within six months thereafter, be surrendered to such 

 boards of local inspectors for cancellation, and there shall be issued in 

 lieu thereof to all able seamen and lifeboatmen found qualified by such 

 examination new certificates as required by law : Provided, That if due 

 to inability on the part of the Department of Commerce to carry out 

 the provisions of this subsection with regard to all seamen, the Sec- 

 retary of Commerce may, in his discretion, extend the time for a period 

 not to exceed three months. Such new certificates shall be stamped 

 with the seal of the board of local inspectors or the Coast Guard, 

 placed partially over the signature of the applicant for such certificate ; 

 and there shall be attached thereto a photograph of the applicant. 

 Any other safeguards which, in the judgment of the Commandant of 



