APPENDIX. No. 6. contributing towards the institution established in the district in which they are registered, without prejudice to any claim they may have acquired in that society. In conjunction with these institutions for the benefit of Seamen, it may be necessary to explain the principle regulating the registration of Seamen in Norway, as in its operation it always ensures an ample supply of Seamen, both for the navy as well as commercial marine, and exercises no inconsiderable influence on their characters generally, inasmuch as it checks that wandering and unsettled spirit peculiar to the British Seaman; and by obliging them to select a home in which they acquire an interest, it goes far to form quiet, moral, and sober men, and to check the development of that recklessness of character so frequently met with in our Seamen. The enclosed abstract of the regulations now in force with respect to the registration of Seamen will explain the system. ENCLOSURE 1.-Abstract of Regulations of the Seamen's Fund Society for the Town and District of Krageroe, for the Relief of Distressed Seamen, their Widows, and Children. СНАР. І. § 1. The object of the establishment of the Seamen's Fund Society is to assist and relieve distressed and aged Seamen, their widows, and children. § 2. The Fund is formed, a. From that proportion which, in conformity with the Royal rescript of the 23rd December, 1834, may be awarded from the Bragenæs' Fund. b. From the accumulated Fund arising from the contributions made between the years 1823 and 1834, hitherto under the superintendence of the Royal Marine Department. c. From voluntary contributions from the Seamen of the town of Krageroe. d. From fines and penalties arising from offences of Seamen, which from their character can be settled with money. e. By voluntary donations, which are thankfully received. §3. Claimants on the Society are those Seamen who, while in employment, regularly contributed towards it. § 4. The affairs of the Society are managed by a direction, consisting of five shipmasters, elected from those entitled to vote at the general meeting, which is to take place every February, after due notice to be given. Every year two or three go out by rotation; those who go out can be elected again, but they are not bound to serve until they have been out one twelvemonth. § 5. The direction is empowered to engage a cashier, who, if possible, should be the registrar's clerk; whose duty it is to receive all contributions and assets; superintend the payments, in conformity to the rules and the decision of the direction; and in the month of January, every year, render a regular and detailed account. § 6. It is the duty of the direction, a. To receive applications and proposals regarding the Fund; petitions for relief; to direct replies; and in case of need, call meetings. b. To see that the accounts are regularly and duly rendered; to have them audited by two auditors from voters in the Society, who are to audit the accounts gratuitously. c. To lay these accounts before the annual general meeting; when the directors will also have to propose such measures as they may deem necessary for the advancement of the interests of the Society, and keep minutes of all transactions. d. To report the name of all those Seamen who have been in employment during the year, who have not contributed to the Fund. e. To superintend and watch over the proper application of the Society's Funds. § 7. The directors elect from their own body annually a chairman and vice-chairman; and to form a quorum three directors must always be present. § 8. The Society must have the following legalized books:-a. A Minute Book, which must be signed by the directors every time they meet, and is laid before the general meeting. b. A Letter Book, in which all letters relating to the Society's affairs are copied. c. An Account Book, in which all receipts and payments are entered, and in which, in a part selected for the purpose, every master has to enter his own, and the contribution his crew may have made. d. A protocol, in which the name and position of all the contributors are entered; and in a separate part, the names of those who have been in employment, and not contributed to the Fund. § 9. The mariners of the town and district of Krageroe, who have founded the Society for the assistance and relief of those above mentioned, are members, and shall continue to be so as long as they subscribe to the rules and regulations for the contributions as are agreed upon; but to be entitled to vote, are only those who have regularly contributed every voyage they have made; at least for every voyage half a dollar. All cases of discontent are referred to the annual general meeting. CHAP. II.-Relating to Receipts and the Application of the Funds. § 10. As a general rule, relief or assistance is only afforded to contributors to the Funds, except in the cases mentioned in § 14. The amount is determined by the direction, either by the payment of a sum once for all, or by annual payments. The total amount of the grants made in any one year must not exceed two-thirds of the sum contributed during the same period. In cases where extraordinary circumstances make it necessary to exceed this rule, a general meeting must be called, and the case laid before them for their decision. § 11. In case relief should be solicited at a time when there are not the requisite number of directors at home to form a quorum, then those who are present can, after considering the case with the cashier, or the latter, upon his own responsibility, grant a sum not exceeding at one time 15 dollars; but he is, as soon as possible, to explain to the directors the case. § 12. The directors are to take care that the funds of the Society are placed out on secure mortgages, in conformity with the law for the appropriation of minors' property. The cashier is not to keep more than 30 dollars in hand at any time for meeting the current or petty expenses; all beyond that is to be placed immediately in the savings' bank of the district. § 13. Seamen or their relicts soliciting relief, must prove, to the satisfaction of the direction, their necessities and title to relief. § 14. Shipwrecked Seamen, being on their way home, and applying for relief from the Society, the directors, or in case of their absence, the cashier, can grant relief to each, in conformity to § 11, to the extent of one-fifth of a dollar per mile for the whole distance to the nearest town, if their numbers do not exceed six; and one-seventh of a dollar per mile if their number exceed that. In particular cases, even greater sums than the above may be granted. § 15. Seamen who on foreign voyages leave their vessels without permission of the master, lose the rights they may have obtained in the Society as contributors. ENCLOSURE 2.-Abstract of the Regulations now in force with respect to the Registration of § 1. All those inhabiting towns, or residing along the coast, at loading places and districts belonging to towns, who support themselves by piloting, or serving in ships, praams, yachts, boats, and other vessels of whatever denomination, as well as those employed in floating timber down the rivers, ship and boat builders, as well as all those engaged in the fisheries; and, lastly, all inhabitants of the coast, ranging under the jurisdiction of towns, shall, as well as their sons, be enrolled or registered in the Register of Seamen, and be liable to be called out for the naval service whenever needed. It is permitted, however, that the sons of inhabitants of towns who are registered, when called out to serve the State, to provide substitutes, either from Seamen who have already served their time out, or from those who are not in the Register. Only such Seamen as are registered are allowed to hire themselves on board of vessels bound on foreign voyages, or to engage in the sea fisheries, and no others can be employed as pilots, except those who have been registered. Every one who is registered in the Seamen's Register may hire himself on board of any vessel, and for any voyage, but he must first obtain a ticket or pass from the registrar, which is to be granted to him without demur, or the exaction of any fee or payment to the registrar. The Seaman, on hiring himself, must deposit the ticket with the captain of the vessel. All tickets are to be regularly entered in a protocol, and whenever a Sailor changes his residence from one register district to another, notice thereof is to be given to the registrar, so that his name may be transferred from the books of the one to those of the other. In the event of a Seaman hiring himself on board a foreign vessel, he is bound to procure the security of a resident inhabitant that he will return within two years; and should he not return within the prescribed time, or afford in writing sufficient reason for his absence, his guarantee shall forfeit the penalty of 30 rix dollars, which sum shall go to the Seamen's Fund of the district. Seamen, if abroad, when recalled, by proclamation or otherwise, are bound to return, whether their leave of absence has expired or not, and on arrival at the first port in the country, announce to the registrar of the district their name and the district from whence they sailed; and although they may have left the country without a pass or permission, the fine they have incurred for leaving the district without a ticket shall not be enforced, but he shall be entitled to reasonable travelling expenses, besides, from the day of his return, the allowance granted on such occasions, until the day he becomes rated or ordered out, when an Account or Tally Book shall be given to each man, in which is to be stated the date when rated, the wages he is to receive, and the amount he may have taken up; he will also be entitled to receive wages, diet money, and travelling expenses, until his arrival on board the man-of-war to which he has been appointed. Every man will receive a cot, a horsehair mattrass, one pair of sheets, a blanket, and a knapsack. In all cases where men distinguish themselves by good conduct, courage, and ability, they may expect to be promoted. As soon as the voyage is finished for which they were called out, each man shall be entitled to be returned to the district to which he belongs, either by being dispatched in a vessel for that purpose, or the allowance fixed on such occasions granted to him, according to the distance he may have to go; as soon as he reaches his destination the registrar is bound to furnish him with his "Seaman's Patent Register Ticket." In cases where the same individual may chance to have been called out two years following, he will be entitled to receive 64 skillings per week during the winter months, should he not get into employment on his return. Men who are registered in the Seamen's Register are exempt from military service (land service), but all those who have not before their twentieth year served on board some vessel, or in the fisheries, or in boats, shall, as soon as they have completed their twentieth year, be entitled to military service, and called out to the usual periodical exercises. As no one who is not registered in the Seamen's Register is allowed to hire himself for foreign voyages, neither is any one, except those who are registered, allowed to prosecute the deep-sea fishery. All masters are therefore strictly forbidden to engage men who cannot show their register as well as permission of leave. In cases where this rule is deviated from, the master exposes himself to be fined in the sum of 50 dollars for every man engaged, half of which is to go to the Seamen's Fund, and the remainder to the poor of the district. All registered Seamen are exempted from taxes and all municipal duties, inasmuch as they are not levied upon houses and grounds, but personal taxes of every kind they are exempt from. In cases where the sons of citizens or of officials wish to follow the sea, they can be registered as volunteers, and exempt from being called out to serve as Seamen in men-of-war; but they must prove, after they have been at sea for seven years, that they have passed their mate's examination, in default of which they become liable to be called upon to serve as common Seamen, provided they still follow the sea. If they have passed their mate's examination they are then to be registered as mates, and cannot be called upon to serve the State in a lower capacity. When registered Seamen cannot find employment at sea they are privileged to support themselves by following any trade or art, without it being considered an infringement of the special freedoms possessed by towns, or, in fact, of any corporation privileges. Their wives, likewise, while they are absent at sea, may follow the same trade upon payment of half the usual taxes the trade they carry on is subject to. As instances have occurred that masters, after having engaged men for a voyage, have, without sufficient reason, discharged them again and taken others, after the vessel has been loaded or ballasted, it is ordered that such masters, or their owners, in these cases shall be liable to the payment of one month's pay, half of which shall go to the man discharged, and the other half to the Seamen's Fund. APPENDIX. No. 6. K APPENDIX. No. 6. It is the special duty of the registrar to advise and to afford the Seamen every lawful assistance they may require. Should the master prefer grounds of complaint as reasons for discharging the men, then the case is to be referred to the regular Courts, and, if recommended by the registrar, free of expense to the Seamen. Should a Seaman wish to remove from one district to another he is not to be prevented; but in such cases the registrar of the district he leaves must sign his certificate or Seaman's patent, and notify the same to the registrar of the district the Seaman proposes to remove to. In cases where the Seamen are to be called out for the service of the State, the number required is to be divided over every district in the country, in proportion to the number of Seamen registered in each; for this purpose the registrars of the several districts are to send a specification of the number registered to the Commissary-General, classified in the following manner:Number who have completed 16 years, and are not over 36 years. Number over 36 and not 50, who still follow the sea. Number who have attained 50, and who are still on the extra register. Those who are above 16 years are again subdivided, according to their merits, into four classes, viz. Able-bodied; Half able-bodied. Accustomed to the sea; and Unaccustomed to the sea; and it should be further noted how many of these have farms, have aged parents to support, or are unserviceable. As soon as the Commissary-General has obtained these particulars, he is to send a tabular extract to the Admiralty, who will in return apprize the Commissary-General of the number required of each class, as well as the number of carpenters and other mechanics; he will thereon apportion to each district the number the registrar has to furnish from his district. As soon as the registrar is in possession of these particulars he is to summons all those who are in the immediate district, above 16 years of age, to meet at a central spot; and a session is to be formed, composed of the Amtmand, the registrar, and a magistrate, who are to preside. When there are more of any particular class than are required, after those who may have established legitimate grounds for exemption have been excluded, they are to draw lots in the following manner :—a number of papers, equal to the number of men required of that class, are to have written on them "Drawn for the service of the State;" a number of blanks, equal to the number of men present, are then to be put in with the others, mixed, and then each successively draws. This must always take place publicly, and under the special superintendence of the session. Before the drawing commences the question is first put, whether there are any present who wish to enter without drawing. Should any volunteers offer, they are to be entered as such in the list transmitted to the Admiralty. After the drawing is completed it may still be allowed for any to exchange; but notice thereof must be given within an hour, and the substitute must be of the same class and rank as to seamanship. Should any Seaman absent himself from the meeting without a satisfactory or legitimate reason, it will be assumed that he is a volunteer, and he will be rated accordingly. Should any one be prevented by sickness or other lawful hindrance from appearing in person at the meeting some one will draw for him. In all cases of sickness or other lawful disqualification, a surgeon, appointed for the occasion, must be present to examine the party claiming exemption; and in case the grounds are legitimate, grant a certificate to that effect. Should a false certificate be granted, the party giving it shall be liable to a penalty of 50 dollars, which is to be divided between the poor of the district and the Seamen's Fund. Should this offence be repeated, the party offending is to be fined double that amount, and if in the service of the State, to be dismissed; and the party procuring this certificate shall be condemned to serve double the time usually fixed when thus called out. No one can be erased from the register except with the consent of the sessions, when a certificate of release must be granted. In order to facilitate the registering of Seamen, the magistrates in towns shall present to the regis trar every January a correct list of the names of all the registered Seamen, as well as their children, residing within his jurisdiction, or on the grounds belonging to the port; as well as a statement of those that have left or arrived, and of children born or dead during the period; and in order to exercise the necessary control in towns, the town is to be divided into districts and sub-districts, under the superintendence of district men, who shall keep special registers of all those residing within their districts, and of the changes that take place, which are handed to the magistrate, or in the country to the sheriff, and from them to the registrar. In the country the clergymen are bound at the expiration of every December to send to the commissary a register of the children born and deaths that have taken place during the past year, as well as of those who have moved in or out of the district, so that the register may be corrected accordingly. In connexion with what has been said with respect to the hiring of Seamen for the commercial marine, the following rules must be observed. Every master, before he leaves the port, shall draw up two lists of the names of the Seamen he has hired, from their tickets which he takes charge of, and opposite their names the wages they are to receive, as well as the advance that may have been given to them; at the same time he is to give to each a separate account or tally-book, in which a copy of the agreement is to be attached, and wherein entries are to be made of all the Seamen may receive from the master. These lists and account-books are to be exhibited to the registrar, or, when he is not present, to the comptroller of the customs from which the vessel clears, by whom they are to be attested, and the payments made at the commencement and close of the voyage acknowledged in the presence of the officer. The master must at the same time be accompanied by the men, that the agreement and lists may be compared. The registrar or officer must then carefully examine the register-tickets of the men, and if found correct he is then to sign the lists, retaining one in his own possession, and returning the other to the master. In every case where this has been done by the comptroller of the customs or any subaltern officer, monthly lists, conformable to those made out by the master, are to be forwarded to the registrar of the district. In the same manner, on the arrival of every vessel from abroad, the master should regularly appear with his crew before the registrar or comptroller, or other officer, who in like manner will attest the lists, if found correct. If the vessel is to be laid up, or a change of crew takes place, the master is bound not only to account to and for each man, but he returns the register-tickets of each Seaman to the registrar. And in every case no vessel is to be cleared from any custom-house in the kingdom before the master has exhibited the list, signed by the registrar or other properly authorized officer. In case the master should neglect to get these lists attested, or exhibit a wrong list, he shall for the first offence forfeit 20 dollars; the second, double, and third, besides paying double that amount, lose his right to sail as master. In case of a master altering or falsifying a list, for the first offence he forfeits 60 dollars, for the second double that amount, and loses his right to sail as master. These fines go half to the poor of the district, and half to the Seamen's Fund. In the event of the master not being able satisfactorily to account for every man, and he declares that they have either died or deserted, this must be confirmed by the oaths of the crew made before a magistrate. If it can be proved that the master, by any act of misconduct of his own, has compelled men to desert, he shall, according to circumstances, be fined for every man from 50 to 100 dollars. In case of any registrar or officer attesting any wrong or false list, he is to be dismissed the service. Every individual that is registered is bound, as soon as he has completed his 16th year, to present himself before the registrar, when he will receive his register-ticket, and he will have to take his oath of allegiance. If any one wishes to proceed to sea before he has attained his 16th year, his ticket is not to be withheld, provided his parents or guardians wish it granted. When any seaman has received permission to retire off the register, his ticket is to be returned to the registrar. All those who have attained the age of 50, and still follow the sea, are to be transferred to the Extra Register, and can only be called out on extraordinary occasions. Any one wishing to engage in the Merchant Service, when not immediately called upon to serve the State, is not to be prevented, but permission duly granted by the registrar. APPENDIX. — No. 6. MY LORD, From Consul- General Crowe. Christiana, August 20, 1847. As the subject of the Commercial Marine Regulations, Navigation Laws, Seamen's Fund, and questions relating to trade and navigation, is at this moment and likely to continue for years an absorbing and important subject for the consideration of Her Majesty's Government, I take the liberty of humbly suggesting for your Lordship's consideration a question, the utility of which forcibly occurred to me while examining the Merchant Seamen's Laws and Regulations of Norway and Sweden, for the purpose of replying to your Lordship's despatch of the 28th of May last, relating to the Merchant Seamen's Fund in England, whether it would not greatly aid the deliberations of Her Majesty's Government if the laws and regulations relating to the Commercial Marine, Registration of Seamen, and commerce generally, of Scandinavia, Prussia, and Russia, were translated, and a digest or parallel drawn up of the several laws now in force in those countries. The commercial marine of the three Scandinavian powers, and of Prussia and Russia, are assuming an important position among commercial nations; the laws and systems generally regulating the same are based upon just and equitable principles, calculated alike to raise the character of their marine, facilitate commercial intercourse with foreign nations, and form a numerous and able body of seamen, who are becoming serious and formidable rivals to our commercial marine. Should your Lordship deem the suggestions I have ventured to offer worthy of consideration, and the subject of sufficient importance to be carried out, I should feel highly honoured to be entrusted with your Lordship's commands. I am thoroughly conversant with the languages of Scandinavia, as well as with the German and Russian, and trust I am otherwise competent to superintend a work of the character proposed. Something similar, but embracing a wider range, has been for some time in progress at the French Consulate here, by order of the French Government; and a secretary has been appointed, with a salary of 5000 francs a-year, and all the laws relating to trade and navigation are in course of translation. HOLLAND. Amsterdam, July 16, 1847. I cannot discover that the merchant Seamen of Holland enjoy any particular protection from the Netherland Government, there being no fund whatever appropriated by the authorities for the relief of old and infirm Seamen, nor any asylum to which they may look forward in future. There is, however, an institution (though not exactly answering to the Merchant Seamen's Fund in England) which has been productive of considerable good to seafaring men; this is a society called the "Zeemans Hoop," supported by voluntary donations and yearly subscriptions, governed by its own laws and regulations, and neither under the control of the Government nor in the enjoyment of any pecuniary aid from it. I take the liberty to enclose an abstract from the rules of this society, wherein may be seen the terms on which merchant Seamen are admitted, and the benefit and advantage they derive from being members. Of course it is a matter of option with the Seamen whether they may think proper to become members or not; and those mentioned in the first three classes specified in the abstract enclosed, are more generally found to be members than those of the fourth class; for unfortunately this society is not regarded in the best light, nor its advantages sufficiently known to or appreciated by the ordinary merchant Seamen. APPENDIX. No. 6. ENCLOSURE-Abstract from the Rules and Regulations of the Society called "Zeemans Hoop" (Seaman's Hope). Article 1. The chief aim of the Seaman's club, called "Zeemans Hoop," is to promote the prosperity of the Netherland mercantile navigation in general, and in particular to provide for old and infirm Sailors, their widows, orphans, &c. It was established in the year 1823. This club is supported by donations and subscriptions. Article 10. The subscriptions are divided into four classes : 1st class. Captains and commanders of vessels in general. 2nd 3rd 4th Mates, doctors, and Seamen that receive more than 50 francs wages per mouth. Article 13. Subscriptions can be entered for one voyage or for life. Article 19. All Seamen who wish to subscribe for one voyage must pay 5 per cent. of their wages, except unmarried people of the 3rd and 4th classes, who pay 24. Article 35. All Seamen who are under 40 years of age, mentioned in Article 8, can subscribe towards the Seaman's funds. Article 40. A general subscriber pays an entry-money and a yearly contribution. Article 73. Those who have a right to be relieved out of the funds are widows, children, maimed, old, poor, or who are unable to work through sickness. Article 80. Besides that mentioned in Article 74, the widow shall receive for each child— This shall be paid till the boys are 14 and the girls 16 years of age. Article 83. When a subscriber, being a widower and leaving children, on their attaining the age 14 or 16 years, they shall receive, in addition to the sums mentioned in Article 80, for the of Article 90. Maimed Seamen shall get the same as mentioned in Article 74. Article 92. The subsidy given to old and sick Seamen shall be regulated by the Committee of the Seaman's funds. Amsterdam, July 16, 1847. (Signed) JAMES ANNEsley. |