218 LAWS GOVERNING MARINE INSPECTION 



Appropriation of wages to costs of conviction 



46 U.S.C. 707 (R.S. 4605) 



Whenever in any proceedinp; relating to seamen's wajres it is shown 

 that any seaman or apprentice has, in the course of the voyagre, been 

 convicted of any offense by any competent tribunal, and rightfully 

 punished therefor, by imprisonment or otherwise, the court hearing 

 the case may direct a part of the wages due to such seaman, not 

 exceeding $15, to be applied in reimbursing any costs properly in- 

 curred by the master in procuring such conviction and punishment. 

 (R.S. § 4605 ; Feb. 27, 1877 ; ch. 69, § 1, 19 Stat. 252.) 



Wages on discharge before consular officer 



46 U.S.C. 682 (R.S. 4580) 



Upon the application of the master of any vessel to a consular of- 

 ficer to discharge a seaman, or upon the application of any seaman 

 for his own discharge, if it appears to such officer that said seaman 

 has completed his shipping agreement, or is entitled to his discharge 

 under any Act of Congress or according to the general principles or 

 usages of maritime law as recognized in the United States, such officer 

 shall discharge said seaman, and require from the master of said 

 vessel, before such discharge shall be made, payment of the wages 

 w^hich may then be due said seaman ; but no payment of extra wages 

 shall be required by any consular officer upon such discharge of any 

 seaman except as provided in sections 658, 683, 684, and 685 of this 

 title. (R.S. § 4580; June 26, 1884, ch. 121, § 2, 23 Stat. 54.) 



Penalty for neglect of consular officer to collect wages; inca- 

 pacitated seaman 



46 U.S.C. 683 (R.S. 4581) 



If any consular officer, when discharging any seaman, shall neglect 

 to require the payment of and collect the arrears of wages and extra 

 w-ages required to be paid in the case of the discharge of any seaman, 

 he shall be accountable to the United States for full amount thereof. 

 The master shall provide any seaman so discharged with employment 

 on a vessel agreed to by the seaman, or shall provide him with one 

 month's extra wages, if it shall be shown to the satisfaction of the 

 consul that such seaman was not discharged for neglect of duty, in- 

 competency, or injury incurred on the vessel. If the seaman is dis- 

 charged by voluntary consent before the consul, he shall be entitled 

 to his wages up to the time of his discharge, but not for any further 

 period. If the seaman is discharged on account of injury or illness, 

 incapacitating him for service, the expenses of his maintenance and 

 return to the United States shall be paid from the fund for the 

 maintenance and transportation of destitute American seamen. 



Provided^ That at the discretion of the Commandant of the Coast 

 Guard, and under such regulations as he may prescribe, if any seaman 

 incapacitated from service by injui-y or illness is on board a vessel 

 so situated that a prompt discharge requiring the personal appearance 

 of the master of the vessel before an American consul or consular 

 agent is impracticable, such seaman may be sent to a consul or consular 



