The Mermaid

HANFORD, District Judge.

The libelant’s demand for wages is resisted on the ground that, having shipped for a voyage from Port Blakely to Cape Nome, in the district of Alaska, he deserted from the vessel before she had reached her destination at Cape Nome, in violation of his shipping contract to serve as a common sailor on a voyage to Cape Nome and return to a port to be selected by the master. A seaman’s contract for service on a particular voyage or for a definite period of time is not valid unless he signs shipping articles as prescribed by section 4511, Rev. St. U. S. See Diochet v. The…