7. Authority of Owner.—
As between the owner and the master, the former is supreme. The relation is one of agency or employment and the master must obey. The owner has the legal right to take his ship from the custody and control of the master, at any time, and in whatever place. He may remove him at pleasure, and without assigning any cause, subject only to the ordinary responsibility for breach of contract if a contract be broken. This is because the owner is very deeply concerned in who is master of his ship and is so highly chargeable with his conduct that it is deemed proper that he should be permitted to dismiss him at any time. The relation is a confidential one and can not be forced to continue when confidence ceases.