Legal Term: BARRATRY

Definition: maritime law, crimes. A fraudulent act of the master or mariners, committed contrary to their duty as such, to the prejudice of the owners of the ship. Emer. tom. 1, p. 366, Merlin, Repert. h. t., Roccus, h. t., 2 Marsh. Insur. 515, 8 East, R. 138, 139. As to what will amount to barratry, see Abbott on Shipp. 167, n. 1, 2 Wash. C. C. R. 61, 9 East, R. 126, 1 Str. 581, 2 Ld. Raym. 1349, 1 Term R. 127, 6 Id. 379, 8 Id. 320, 2 Cain. R. 67, 222, 3 Cain. R. 1, 1 John. R. 229, 8 John. R. 209, n. 2d edit., 5 Day. R. 1, 11 John. R. 40, 13 John. R, 451, 2 Binn. R. 274, 2 Dall. R. 137, 8 Cran. R. 39, 3 Wheat. R. 168, 4 Dall. R. 294, 1 Yeates, 114.

2. The act of Congress of April, 30, 1790, s. 8, 1 Storys Laws U. S. 84, punishes with death as piracy, "any captain or mariner of any ship or other vessel who shall piratically and feloniously run away with such ship or vessel, or any goods or merchandize to the value of fifty dollars, or yield up such ship or vessel to any pirate or if any such seamen shall lay violent hands upon his commander, thereby to binder or prevent his fighting in defence of his ship, or goods, committed to his trust, or shall make a revolt in the said ship."

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