680 NICHOLLS'S SEAMANSHIP AND NAUTICAL KNOWLEDGE
apprentices1 indentures, etc. The A A. has to be produced at the
Custom House for clearance outwards.
Advance Notes.—The Merchant Shipping Act provides that a
seaman may, conditionally on his going to sea in pursuance of his
agreement, receive an advance note for a sum not exceeding the
amount of one month's wages. Note that this is different to an
" allotment " note. The seaman cannot clam an advance note if
the master desires to withhold it.
Allotment Notes.—A seaman may claim an allotment note
of any part (not exceeding one-half) of his wages in favour either of
a near relative or a savings bank. The Superintendent or other
officer before whom the seaman is engaged, shall, after the seaman
has signed the agreement, inquire if he wishes to have an allotment
note ; and, if he does, shall insert such fact in the agreement with
the crew, and it shall be deemed to have been agreed to by the
master.
The master has the option of advancing cash and granting
shore leave in a foreign port, and should a seaman want to send home
part of his wages and the master decides to grant him facilities for
doing so, then the master may give him a note on the owners for the
amount, enter it in the man's account of wages, and get his receipt
for it. *
Average.—There are two kinds of average, " Particular " and
"General."
Particular Average represents an accidental loss arising
from some peril insured against, such as loss of masts or spars
through stress of weather, damage to hull or machinery through
fire, collision, or stranding, etc.
Particular average losses are borne by the parties on whom
they fall; that is, there is no general contribution by all concerned.
In the case of an accident affecting the ship only, the cargo owners
do not contribute, and vice versa.
^Particular average losses are not recoverable from the under^
writers unless they amount to 3 per cent, on the value insured.
Shipowners, however, usually cover small damage up to 3 per cent.
by insuring in Mutual Clubs and Protection Associations, the
members' contributions being collected by '* calls " on the ship-