In the foreign trade the articles, which must be in government form, are required to be signed before a Shipping Commissioner. This, however, does not apply to trade between the United States and the British North American possessions and the West Indies, and Mexico. The nature of these articles is sufficiently familiar to require no comment. Generally speaking the articles must contain the following particulars:—
1. The nature and, as far as practicable, the duration of the intended voyage or engagement, and the port or country at which the voyage is to be terminated.
2. The number and description of the crew, specifying their respective employments.
3. The time at which each seaman is to be on board to begin work.
4. The capacity in which each seaman is to serve.
5. The amount of wages which each seaman is to receive.
6. A scale of the provisions which are to be furnished each seaman.
7. Any regulations as to conduct on board and as to fines, short allowances of provisions, or other lawful punishments for misconduct, which may be sanctioned by Congress or authorized by the Secretary of Commerce, not contrary to or not otherwise provided for by law, which the parties agree to adopt.
8. Any stipulations in reference to allotment of wages or other matters not contrary to law. In 1898 this provision was repealed so far as it relates to allotments in trade between the United States, Dominion of Canada, Newfoundland, the West Indies and Mexico, and the coasting trade of the United States, except between Atlantic and Pacific ports.
In the coasting trade the law merely requires that every master of a vessel of fifty tons or over, bound from a port in one State to a port in any other than a port in an adjoining State (with the exception of voyages from the Atlantic to Pacific ports, which are included under foreign trade) shall make an agreement in writing with his seamen declaring the voyage or term of time for which the seaman is shipped. This agreement may be signed before a Shipping Commissioner, but this is not compulsory. The agreement required in the coasting trade requires only the voyage, or term of time for which the seaman is shipped.