In the United States, also, and especially at New York, efforts have been made to stop the frauds heretofore committed by this class on emigrants. In that city, an establishment, under the control of the Commissioners for Emigration, has been set on foot at Castle Garden, to protect emigrants from runners, and from those who sell them fraudulent or false inland passage-tickets. In consequence of a representation from the United States Government, whereby it appeared that, the suppression in the States, of frauds connected with the sale of inland tickets had led to a system of selling the same description of tickets in Europe or on board emigrant ships, an official notice of this fact was given to emigrants, cautioning them that the safest course was not to purchase an inland ticket in England, but to defer making arrangements for the passage up the country, till their arrival at the port of debarkation. This notice, however, applied to the United States only; and it was stated, explicitly, that the through tickets given by the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada to emigrants proceeding to the St. Lawrence were not open to suspicion, and were, besides, of great benefit to the emigrant.
General improvements.
Among the improvements in ships carried out by the Emigration Commissioners, we should mention that they have introduced, of late years, a more suitable dietary for young children, with the making of fresh bread, two or three times a week, for the passengers. This change has been also authorized in private ships. Several new systems of ventilation have, also, been tried. In a sailing passenger ship, especially during the calms which prevail on the Line, their proper ventilation will always prove a matter of greater difficulty than is the case with a steamer, whose own motion is sufficient to create a current of air. Further experience on this point is, however, necessary, though very considerable improvements have recently been made.
Merchant Shipping Act discussed.
As great fault was found by the central committee of the General Shipowners’ Society with the 504th section of the Merchant Shipping Act (Part IX.), which lays down the measure of the owners’ liability, it may be desirable to state the nature of the complaints. This section of the Act provides:—
Extent of owners’ liability.
1st. Where any loss of life or personal injury is caused to any person being carried in such ship:
2nd. Where any damage or loss is caused to any goods, merchandise, or other things whatsoever on board any such ship:
3rd. Where any loss of life or personal injury is, by reason of the improper navigation of such sea-going ship as aforesaid, caused to any person carried in any other ship or boat:
4th. Where any loss or damage is, by reason of any such improper navigation of such sea-going ships as aforesaid, caused by any other ship or boat, or to any goods, merchandise, or other things whatsoever on board any other ship or boat: No owner shall, in such cases where the events occur without his knowledge or privity, be answerable in damages to an extent beyond the value of his ship and the freight due, or to grow due, in respect of such ship during the voyage which, at the time of the happening of such event, as aforesaid, is in prosecution or contracted for, subject to the following proviso, that is to say: that, in no case, where any liability, as aforesaid, is incurred in respect of loss of life or personal injury to the passenger, shall the value of such ship and the freight thereof be taken to be less than 15l. per registered ton.