OFFICERS AND MERCHANT SEAMEN 221 



SUBCHAPTER 6K.— EFFECTS OF DESERTED OR DECEASED SEAMEN 



Duty of master where seaman dies during voyage 



46 U.S.C. 621 (R.S. 4538) 



Whenever any seaman or apprentice belonging to or sent home on 

 any merchant vessel, whether a foreign-going or domestic vessel, em- 

 ployed on a voyage which is to terminate in the United States, dies 

 during such voyage, the master shall take charge of all moneys, clothes, 

 and effects which he leaves on board, and shall, if he thinks fit, cause 

 all or any of such clothes and effects to be sold by auction at the mast 

 or other public auction, and shall thereupon sign an entry in the 

 official logbook, and cause it to be attested by the mate and one of the 

 crew, containing the following particulars: 



First. A statement of the amount of money so left by the deceased. 



Second. In case of a sale, a description of each article sold, and 

 the sum received for each. 



Third. A statement of the sum due to deceased as wages, and the 

 total amount of deductions, if any, to be made therefrom. (R.S. 

 M538.) 



Proceedings in regard to effects 



46 U.S.C. 622 (R.S. 4539) 



In cases embraced by section 621 of this title, the following rules 

 sliall be observ^ed : 



First. If the vessel proceeds at once to any port in the United 

 States, the master shall, within forty-eight hours after his arrival, 

 deliver any such effects remaining unsold, and pay any money which 

 he has taken charge of or received from such sale, and the balance 

 of wages due to the deceased, to the Coast Guard official to whom 

 tlie duties of shipping commissioner have been delegated at the port, 

 of destination in the United States. 



Second. If the vessel touches and remains at some foreign port 

 before coming to any port in the Ignited States, the master shall re- 

 port the case to the United States consular officer there, and shall 

 give to such officer any information he requires as to the destination 

 of the vessel and probable length of the voyage ; and such officer may, 

 if he considers it expedient so to do, require the effects, money, and 

 wages to be delivered and paid to him, and shall, upon such delivery 

 and payment, give to the master a receipt ; and the master shall within 

 forty-eight hours after his arrival at his port of destination in the 

 Ignited States produce the same to the Coast Guard official to whom 

 the duties of shipping commissioner have been delegated there. Such 

 consular officer shall, in any such case, indoree and certify upon the 

 agreement with the crew the particulars with respect to such delivery 

 and payment. 



Third. If the consular officer does not require such payment and 

 delivery to be made to him, the master shall take charge of the effects, 

 money, and wages, and shall, within forty-eight hours after his arrival 

 at his port of destination in the United States, deliver and pay the 

 same to the Coast Guard official to whom the duties of shipping com- 

 missioner have been delegated there. 



