Shipping Commissioners Act of 1872

The Shipping Commissioners Act of 1872 was a United States law dealing with American mariners serving in the United States Merchant Marine.

Among other things, the act:
 * was passed to combat crimps.
 * required that a sailor had to sign on to a ship in the presence of a federal shipping commissioner.
 * required that a seaman be paid off in person.

The presence of a shipping commissioner was intended to ensure the sailor wasn't "forcibly or unknowingly signed on by a crimp."

The legislation was modeled on England’s Merchant Shipping Act of 1854.