224 LAWS GOVERNING MARINE INSPECTION 



themselves either to be his widow or children, or to be entitled to the 

 effects of the deceased under his will, or under any statute, or at com- 

 mon law, or to be entitled to procure probate, or take out letters of 

 administration or confirmation, althougli no probate or letters of ad- 

 ministration or confirmation have been taken out, and shall be thereby 

 discharged from all further liability in respect of the money and effects 

 so paid and delivered; or may, if it thinks fit so to do, require probate, 

 or letters of administration or confirmation, to be taken out, and there- 

 upon pay and deliver the said money and effects to the legal personal 

 representatives of the deceased ; and if such money and effects exceed 

 in value the sum of $1,500, then, subject to deduction for expenses, 

 the court shall pay and deliver the same to the legal personal repre- 

 sentatives of the deceased. (As amended Sept. 22, 1959, Pub. L. 86- 

 364, §§1,2, 73 Stat. 646.) 



Unclaimed wages and effects 



46 U.S.C. 628 (R.S. 4545) 



A district court, in its discretion, may at any time direct the sale 

 of the whole or any part of the effects of a deceased seaman or appren- 

 tice, which it has received, and shall hold the proceeds of such sale as 

 the wages of deceased seamen are held. When no claim to the wages 

 or effects or proceeds of the sale of the effects of a deceased seaman or 

 apprentice, received by a district court, is substantiated within six 

 years after the receipt thereof by the court, it shall be in the absolute 

 discretion of the court, if any subsequent claim is made, either to allow 

 or refuse the same. Such courts shall, from time to time, pay any 

 moneys arising from the unclaimed wages and effects of deceased sea- 

 men, which in their opinion it is not necessary to retain for the purpose 

 of satisfying claims, into the Treasury of the United States, and such 

 moneys shall form a fund for, and be appropriated to, the relief of sick 

 and disabled and destitute seamen belonging to the United States 

 merchant marine service. (E.S. § 4545; Mar. 3, 1897, ch. 389, § 7, 29 

 Stat. 689 ; Mar. 3, 1911, ch. 231, 36 Stat. 1167.) 



Disposal of forfeitures 



46 U.S.C. 706 (R.S. 4604) 



All clothes, effects, and wages which, under the provisions of title 

 53 of the Revised Statutes, are forfeited for desertion, shall be applied, 

 in the first instance, in payment of the expenses occasioned by such 

 desertion, to the master or owner of the vessel from which the deser- 

 tion has taken place, and the balance, if any, shall be paid by the master 

 or owner to any Coast Guard official to whom the duties of shipping 

 commissioner have been delegated resident at the port at which the 

 voyage of such vessel terminates; and such Coast Guard official shall 

 account for and pay over such balance to the judge of the district court 

 within one month after such Coast Guard official receives the same, to 

 be disposed of by him in the same manner as is prescribed for the dis- 

 posal of the money, effects, and wages of deceased seamen. "WHienever 

 any master or owner neglects or refuses to pay over to such Coast 

 Guard official such balance, he shall be liable to a penalty of double 



