Page:History of merchant shipping and ancient commerce (Volume 3).djvu/638



9. To the increase in the amount of detention money.

10. To the rights of passengers in case of the wreck or destruction of a passenger ship before the commencement of the voyage.

11. To contract tickets for cabin passengers in "passenger ships," and a summary remedy before magistrates for enforcing the contract.

12. To emigrant runners.

13. To agents of licensed passage brokers.

The material alterations introduced into the Act of 1855 by the amending Act of 1863 may be classed under the seven following heads:—

1. The number of passengers necessary to bring a ship within the operation of the law is increased from two to three ''statute adults for every 100 tons, and from 30 to 50 passengers'' in all.

2. The exemption heretofore enjoyed by certain mail steamers is withdrawn.

3. The tonnage check on the number of passengers to be carried is abolished, leaving the space check only to operate.

4. Cabin passengers are to be included in the lists to be furnished to the officers of Customs, and such passengers are now entitled to a return of half their passage money in case they are prevented by an emigration officer from undertaking their voyage on account of the state of their health.

5. Under certain restrictions the carriage of a limited number of horses, cattle, and dogs in passenger ships is allowed.

6. In case of wreck or damage to the ship the same regulations are extended to passengers whose passages have been provided for them by others, as were applicable under the Act of 1855 to passengers who had contracted for their own passages.

7. The bond to be given by the master and another surety to the Crown is increased from 200l. to 500l. in the case of ships of which neither the owner nor charterers reside in the United Kingdom, and the obligors are made liable for expenses incurred in rescuing and forwarding shipwrecked passengers.