MERCHANT SHIPPING.
No. 10 of 1899.
611
knowing such seaman to have deserted, absconded or absented [s.9 contd.] himself from duty; or
(b) causes, induces or persuades, or attempts to cause, induce or persuade, any such seaman in any manner whatsoever to violate or to attempt to violate any agreement which he may have entered into to serve on board any such ship; or
(c) knowingly connives at the desertion, absconding or absence from duty of any such seaman,
shall be liable to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars, or to imprisonment for any term not exceeding six months.
Master may require master to search for suspected deserters, and to make declaration of search.
(4) The Harbour Master, before granting a port clearance Harbour to any ship, may, if he has reasonable grounds for believing that any deserter is concealed on board such ship, proceed on board thereof, and then and there require the master to institute due and diligent search for such deserter, and further, if he deems it necessary, require the master to make a statutory declaration that to the best of his knowledge and belief, after due and diligent search, no such deserter is concealed within or about his ship; and every master of a ship who refuses or unnecessarily delays to comply with such requisition shall be liable to a fine not exceeding two hundred dollars; and every master of a ship who makes any such statutory declaration containing any false statement shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
(5) Every seaman lawfully engaged, and every apprentice Offences to the sea service, who commits any of the following offences against discipline. within the waters of the Colony, shall be liable to be punished as follows:-
(a) if he deserts from his ship, he shall be guilty of the 57 & 58 Vict. offence of desertion, and be liable to forfeit all or any part of c. 60, s. 221. the effects which he leaves on board and of the wages which he has then earned and also to satisfy any excess of wages properly paid by the owner or master of the ship to any substitute engaged in his place at a higher rate of wages than the rate stipulated to be paid to him; and also he shall be liable to imprisonment for any term not exceeding twelve weeks;
(b) if he neglects, or refuses without reasonable cause, to join his ship or to proceed to sea in his ship, or is absent without leave at any time within twenty-four hours of the ship's