The captain or mate of every such steam-vessel carrying passengers upon the main-deck shall assign to all deck-passengers, when taking passage, the space on deck they may occupy during the voyage, and such space shall not thereafter be occupied by freight nor overcrowded by other persons, nor shall freight be stowed about the boilers or machinery, in such a manner as to obstruct or prevent the engineer from readily attending to his duties. (R. S., 4485.)

For every violation of the provisions of the two preceding sections the owners of the vessel shall be punished by a fine of three hundred dollars. (R. S., 4486.)

CHAPTER X
PASSENGER ACT OF 1882

The laws governing the carriage of passengers, explosives, live stock, etc., on vessels of the American Merchant Marine are as follows:

  1. Accommodations.
  2. Light and air.
  3. Provisions.
  4. Medical attendance.
  5. Discipline and cleanliness.
  6. Privacy of passengers.
  7. Explosives; cattle.
  8. Boarding vessel; passenger list.
  9. Death of passenger.
  10. Inspection.
  11. Penalties.

Accommodations.

It shall not be lawful for the master of any vessel whereon steerage passengers have been taken at any port or place in a foreign country or dominion (ports and places in foreign territory contiguous to the United States excepted) to bring such vessel and passengers to or take from any port or place in the United States unless the compartments, spaces, and accommodations hereinafter mentioned have been provided, allotted, maintained, and used for and by such passengers during the entire voyage, unobstructed by cargo, stores, or goods. The master of a vessel coming to a port or place in the United States in violation of any of the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor; and if the number of steerage passengers carried or brought in the vessel, or in any compartment, space, poop, or deck house thereof, is greater than the number allowed to be carried or brought therein, respectively, as hereinafter prescribed, the said master shall be fined fifty dollars for each and every such passenger in excess of the proper number, and may also be imprisoned not exceeding six months.

First. In computing the number of passengers carried or brought in any vessel, children under one year of age shall not be included, and two children between one and eight years of age shall be counted as one passenger; and any person brought in such vessel who shall have been, during the voyage, taken from any other vessel wrecked or in distress on the high seas, or have been picked up at sea from any boat, raft, or otherwise, shall not be included in such computation.

Second. The expression "steerage passenger" means all passengers except cabin passengers, and persons shall not be deemed cabin passengers unless the space allotted to their exclusive use is in the proportion of at least thirty-six clear superficial feet to each passenger.