Page:History of merchant shipping and ancient commerce (Volume 3).djvu/18

Americans—Aberdeen "clippers"—Shipowners demand the enforcement
on foreign nations of reciprocity—Return of prosperity to the
Shipowners—Act of 1850 for the improvement of the condition of
seamen—Valuable services of Mr. T. H. Farrer—Chief conditions of
the Act of 1850—Certificates of examination—Appointment of local
marine boards, and their duties—Further provisions of the Act of
1850—Institution of Naval Courts abroad—Special inspectors to be
appointed by the Board of Trade, if need be—Act of 1851, regulating
Merchant Seaman's Fund, &c.—Merchant Shipping Act, 1854—New
measurement of ships—Registration of ships—The "Rule,of the Sea"—Pilots
and pilotage—Existing Mercantile Marine Fund—Wrecks—Limitation
of the liability of Shipowners—Various miscellaneous
provisions—Act of 1855 287-321


CHAPTER XII.

Parliamentary inquiry, 1854-5, on Passenger ships—Heavy losses at
sea previously, and especially in 1854—Emigration system—Frauds
practised on emigrants—Runners and crimps—Remedies proposed—Average
price, then, of passages—Emigration officer—Medical inspection—American
emigration law—Dietary, then, required—Disgraceful
state of emigrant ships at that time—Act of 1852—Resolution of
New York Legislature, 1854—Evidence as to iron cargoes—Various
attempts at improvement—Legislation in the United States, 1855—Uniformity
of action impossible—English Passenger Act, 1855—Attempt
to check issue of fraudulent tickets—General improvements—Merchant
Shipping Act discussed—Extent of owner's liability—Unnecessary
outcry of the Shipowners—Question of limited liability—Value
of life—Powers given to the Board of Trade—Mode of procedure
in inquiries about loss of life—Further complaints of the
Shipowners, who think too much discretion has been given to the
Emigration officer—Though slightly modified since, the principle of
the Passenger Act remains the same—the "Rule of the road at sea"—Examination
now required for engineers as well as masters of
steam vessels—Injurious action of the crimps—Savings-banks for seamen
instituted, and, somewhat later, money-order offices 322-351


CHAPTER XIII.

Scarcity of shipping at the commencement of the Crimean War—Repeal
of the manning clause—Government refuses to issue letters
of marque—Great increase of ship-building and high freights—Reaction—Transport
service (notes)—Depression in the United
States—The Great Republic—Disastrous years of 1857 and 1858—*