10. SHIP'S PAPERS. Being ready to commence the voyage, the master must obtain immediately the necessary clearances from the custom-house of the cargo in the ship, and pay the port and other necessary charges. The documents which the master must have and keep on board, for protecting and proving the property of the ship and cargo, are those required either by the law of particular countries or by the law of nations for neutral ships in time of war. These are generally, in time of peace, the certificate of registry; and, in time of war, the bill of sale, properly authenticated, to prove the neutrality of the vessel, and a certificate of origin as to the legality of the transportation of the goods; the shipping articles of the crew; any charter-party there may happen to be; all bills of lading; and the official and sea log-books. If the vessel happens to start from a place where a contagious disorder prevails, she must also have a bill of health, certifying that, at the time of departure, none of the crew were infected with the disorder.† * it In addition to what papers the vessel should carry, may be well to add that if master or owner does or permits to be done any matter or thing, or carries any papers or documents, with intent to conceal the British character of such ship from any person entitled by British law to inquire into the same, or to assume a foreign character, or with intent to deceive any such person so entitled to inquire, such ship will be forfeited to the Crown; and the master, if he commits or is privy to the commission of the offence, will be guilty of a misdemeanour.‡ 11. LOG-BOOKS. Two different forms of log-book must be kept on board of all British ships. These are: First-The ordinary ship's * M'Culloch's Dictionary. Article Ship's Papers. Ibid. Section 103, Merchant Shipping Act, 1854. log-book. This should contain a minute account of every event of importance occurring during the voyage, with its time and place of occurrence; that is to say, the latitude and longitude when it happens at sea, and the name of the place, if in port. Second-The official log-book. This may be either united with or kept separate from the ordinary log-book, but must be in the form prescribed by the Board of Trade. Official log-books may be procured in Great Britain and the British Colonies of the official shipping masters, or of stationers at the outports. In cases where a proper official log-book cannot be obtained, as will frequently happen in foreign ports, the master should procure an ordinary blank book of as near the required size as possible (13 by 11 inches), and rule it in the form given below, being careful to write in the heading of each column, so that the several entries required may be made and contained in their proper places. The first page of the official log-book should embrace the following form with corresponding entries. Official Log-book, for either Foreign-going or Home Then should follow an Index for entries to be made, headed thus:— Index to Entries in Official Log-book. ENTRIES 1. Conviction of any Member of Crew and Punishment......... 2. Offence committed by Member of Crew for which it is intended to prosecute or to enforce a forfeiture or to exact a fine, together with such statement concerning the reading over such entry, and concerning the reply (if any) made to the charge as herein-before required 3. Offence for which punishment has been inflicted on board, and the punishment inflicted 4. Statement of the conduct, character, and qualifications of each Member of Crew......... 5. Illness or injury that has happened to any Member of Crew, the nature thereof, and the medical treatment adopted (if any) .......... Reference to any Pages in which the various Entries appear Index to Entries in Official Log-book. ENTRIES Reference to any Pages in which the various Entries appear 10. Amount of Wages due to any Seaman who has entered Her Majesty's Service during the voyage 11. Wages due to any Seaman or Apprentice who has died during the voyage, and the gross amount of all deductions to be made therefrom........ 12. Sale of the Effects of any Seaman or Apprentice who has died during the voyage, including a statement of each article sold and of the sum received for it 13. Collision with any other ship, and the circumstances under which the same occurred...... 14. Order of Naval Court 15. Survey of Provisions and Water.......... Next in order will come: List of Crew and Report of Character. Christian and Surname at length of each Member of Crew, and Capacity in which engaged Report of Character.* For For If there is any Entry in the Log relating in any way to the Crew, the Page or Pages in the Log where the Entry is to be found should be written in this column opposite the Man's Name * V. G. for 'Very Good,' G. Good,' M. 'Middling,' and I. 'Indifferent.' The Master may also insert particulars of ability or conduct; thus, 'Helm' good or 'Sobriety' indifferent. If he declines giving any opinion he must so state opposite the man's name. Then will occur the regular entries of occurrences during the voyage, as follows: : Although we have suggested that the ordinary or ship's log and the official log need not be kept apart (provided the blanks in the official log be duly filled up), still it is best they should always be entirely separate, not only for reasons which must be obvious, but also because where they are so kept distinct, and the official log has been found to be properly kept, nothing in the Merchant Shipping Act, 1854, will apply to the vessel's ordinary log.* In the official log-book the master will have to make, or cause to be made, entries of the following matters: 1st.-Every legal conviction of any member of his crew, and the punishment inflicted. This should embrace the cause of arrest and a short report of the proceedings, with the result. When a member of the crew has been left behind, in *Section 280. |