MERCANTILE  MARINE OFFICE	^75
are entitled to be re-imbursed for any sum properly chargeable
against deserters, and the balance, if any, is paid into the Exchequer
through the Board of Trade.
Joining the Navy.—If a seaman leaves his ship to enter the
Naval Service forthwith and is accepted for such service, he is not
deemed to be a deserter. The master shall deliver to him his effects
and pay any balance of wages to the naval officer who receives the
seaman, and who shall give the master a receipt for same. Should
the seaman be in debt to the ship, the owner can recover the amount
from the Accountant General of the Navy.
Distressed British Seamen.—British Consular officers and
other officers of His Majesty in foreign countries are empowered to
provide maintenance for distressed British seamen found abroad
and to put them on board a British ship bound to the United
Kingdom or to the British possession to which the seaman belongs.
But should a British ship in the port be in want of men to make
up its full complement, the Consul should, of course, endeavour
to ship the men back under " Articles " and not as distressed seamen.
The master of a British ship is bound by the Merchant Shipping
Act to take on board his ship any distressed British seamen, but
not necessarily more than one for every 50 tons burden, and to
provide them with proper accommodation and food.
The master must make a sworn declaration giving all particulars
of the men and the number of days they have been on board the
vessel, the full complement of the ship's crew must also be stated.
The owner is paid out of the Mercantile Marine Fund for every day
the distressed seamen have been on board, but only for those
distressed British seamen in excess of the normal complement of
the ship.
OFFICIAL  LOG.
The master is responsible for the Official Log being properly
kept. The draught and freeboard must be entered whenever leaving
port. A list of the entries required to be made is given at the
beginning of the log book.
Amongst these the principal are:—
Offences committed by any member of the crew, or conviction
by any legal tribunal.