ARRAMEUR

1 definition found

From Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) [bouvier]:

  ARRAMEUR, maritime law. The name of an ancient officer of a port, whose
  business was to load and unload vessels.
       2. In the Laws of Oleron, art 11, (published in English in the App. to
  1 Pet. Adm. R. xxv.) some account of arrameurs will be found in these words:
  "There were formerly, in several ports of Guyenne, certain officers called
  arrameurs, or stowers, who were master-carpenters by profession, and were


  paid by the merchants, who loaded the ship. Their business was to dispose
  right, and Stow closely, all goods in casks, bales, boxes, bundles or
  otherwise to balance both sides, to fill up the vacant spaces, and manage
  every thing to the best advantage. It was riot but that the greatest part of
  the ship's crew understood this as well as these stowers but they would not
  meddle with it, nor undertake it, to avoid falling under the merchant's
  displeasure, or being accountable for any ill accident that might.happen by
  that means. There were also sacquiers, who were very ancient officers, as
  may be seen in the 14th book of the Theodosian code, Unica de Saccariis
  Portus Romae, lib. 14. Their business was to load and unload vessels loaded
  with salt, corn, or fish, to prevent the ship's crew defrauding the merchant
  by false tale, or cheating him of his merchandise otherwise." See Sacquier;
  Stevedore.