Consuls

Agents appointed by the government to reside in seaport towns of foreign countries, and whose duty it is to guard the commercial interests of their nation. Consuls are authorized to receive the protests of masters; to administer on the estates of citizens dying within the limits of their consulates who have left no legal representative; to provide for destitute seamen of their own country and to send them home at government expense; to reclaim deserters from and to discountenance insubordination on board vessels flying the flag of their country; to discharge seamen for cause, and to investigate charges of irregularities preferred against the officers of a vessel by the crew, and to afford the latter protection, etc.

A Consul-General has jurisdiction over several consulates. Aids to consuls are Consular Agents, Deputy Consuls, and Vice-Consuls.