By the law of the United States, in all foreign voyages, and in all coasting voyages to other than an adjoining state, there must be an agreement in writing, or in print, with every seaman on board the ship, (excepting only apprentices and servants of the master or owner,) declaring the voyage, and term or terms of time, for which such seaman is hired.[133] This contract is called the _shipping-articles_, and all the crew, including the master and officers, usually sign the same paper; it not being requisite that there should be a separate paper for each man. If there is not such a contract signed, each seaman could, by the old law, recover the highest rate of wages that had been given on similar voyages, at the port where he shipped, within three months next before the time of shipment.[134] By the law of 1840, he may, in such case, leave the vessel at any time, and demand the highest rate of wages given to any seaman during the voyage, or the rate agreed upon at the time of his shipment.[135] A seaman not signing the articles, is not bound by any of the regulations, nor subject to the penalties of the statutes;[136] but he is, notwithstanding, bound by the rules and liable to the forfeitures imposed by the general maritime law.[137] [133] Act 1790, ch. 56, §1. [134] Act 1790, ch. 56, §1. [135] Act 1840, ch. 23, §10. [136] Act 1790, ch. 56, §1. [137] 1 Pet. Ad. 212. These shipping-articles are legal evidence, and bind all parties whose names are annexed to them, both as to wages, the nature and length of the voyage, and the duties to be performed.[138] Accordingly, seamen have certain rights secured to them with reference to these papers. In the first place, the master must obtain a copy of the articles, certified to by the collector of the port from which the vessel sails, to take with him upon the voyage. This must be a fair and true copy, without erasures or interlineations. If there are any such erasures or interlineations, they will be presumed to be fraudulent, and will be set aside, unless they are satisfactorily explained in a manner consistent with innocent purposes, and with the provisions of laws which guard the rights of mariners. These articles must be produced by the master before any consul or commercial agent to whom a seaman may have submitted a complaint.[139] [138] 3 Mason, 161. Act 1840, ch. 23, §3. [139] Act 1840, ch. 23, §2, 19.