184
has been levied for the past 36 years and to state that dis-
"Excellency is advised that this
has been done in strict accordance
with the law under which the
seaman
fee in question is properly payable in respect of every seaman shipped, whatever may be the
Nationality of the vessel
board of which he engages to
serve.
The object of the Ordinance
under which this
fee was originally imposed was the prevention of desertion and "the better regulation of
Merchant seamen in this
Colony
and with the same
object in view, when Ordinance 6
of 1852 was repealed, the section
referring to the discharge of seamen was re-enacted by Chapter & section
16 of Ordinance 8 of 1849.
The Harbour Master informs His Excellency that the system complained of by you has been found to be very useful as tending
in a
great measure to check desertion from vessels in this port. The fees received by
the Harbour Master are paid
by him into the Colonial Treasury
I have to...
154) With Marsh
Colonial Secretary.