Shipping Commissioner

An officer formerly appointed by the several circuit courts of the United States for each port of entry, which is also a port of ocean navigation, which may require the same. His duties are: To facilitate and superintend the engagement and discharge of seamen; to secure the presence on board of the men engaged at the proper times; to facilitate the making of apprenticeship to the sea service; and such other like duties as may be regiven the right to appoint them and to regulate their mode of conducting business in the shipping offices. In 1903 the office of shipping commissioner was transferred to the Department of Commerce and Labor. The master of a vessel making a coastwise voyage between Atlantic ports of the United States may act as shipping commissioner for the purpose of signing his own crew and the contract so signed is valid; The William H. Clifford, 165 Fed. 59.

An officer of the United States, appointed by the several circuit courts, within their respective jurisdictions, for each port of entry (the same being also a port of ocean navigation) which, in the judgment of such court, may require the same; his duties being to supervise the engagement and discharge of seamen; to see that men engaged as seamen report on board at the proper time; to facilitate the apprenticing of persons to the marine service ; and other similar duties, such as may be required by law. Rev. St. U. S. §§ 4501
— 4508 (U. S. Comp. St. 1901, pp. 3061-3067).

Defined under Shipping in Black's Law Dictionary.