The master of every vessel bound from a port in the United States to any foreign port other than vessels engaged in trade between the United States and the British North American possessions, or the West India Islands, or the republic of Mexico, or of any vessel of the burden of seventy-five tons or upward, bound from a port on the Atlantic to a port on the Pacific, or vice versa, shall, before he proceeds oh such voyage, make an agreement, in writing or in print, with every seaman whom he carries to sea as one of the crew, in the manner hereinafter mentioned; and every such agreement shall be, as near as may be, in the form given in the table Marked A, in the schedule annexed to this Title [R. S., 4501-4613], and shall be dated at the time of the first signature thereof, and shall be signed by the master before any seaman signs the same, and shall contain the following particulars: _First._ The nature and, as far as practicable, the duration of the intended voyage or engagement, and the port or country at which the voyage is to terminate. _Second._ The number and description of the crew, specifying their respective employments. _Third._ The time at which each seaman is to be on board, to begin work. _Fourth._ The capacity in which each seaman is to serve. _Fifth._ The amount of wages which each seaman is to receive. _Sixth._ A scale of the provisions which are to be furnished to each seaman. _Seventh._ Any regulations as to conduct on board and as to fines, short allowances of provisions, or other lawful punishments for misconduct, which may be sanctioned by Congress or authorized by the Secretary of Commerce and Labor not contrary to or not otherwise provided for by law, which the parties agree to adopt. _Eighth._ Any stipulations in reference to allotment of wages, or other matters not contrary to law. [Repealed so far as relates to allotments in trade between the United States, Dominion of Canada, Newfoundland, the West Indies and Mexico, and coasting trade of the United States, except between Atlantic and Pacific ports, by sec. 25 of Act of December 21, 1898.] (R. S., 4511; Mar. 3, 1897; sec. 19; Feb. 14, 1903; sec. 10; June 26, 1884; sec. 10; Dec. 21, 1898; sec. 25.) The following rules shall be observed with respect to agreements: _First._ Every agreement except such as are otherwise specially provided for, shall be signed by each seaman in the presence of a shipping-commissioner. _Second._ When the crew is first engaged the agreement shall be signed in duplicate, and one part shall be retained by the shipping- commissioner, and the other part shall contain a special place or form for the description and signatures of persons engaged subsequently to the first departure of the ship, and shall be delivered to the master.