- Supercargo
Supercargo is a term in maritime law (adapted from the Spanish "sobrecargo", one over or in charge of a cargo) that refers to a person employed on board a vessel by the owner of
cargo carried on theship . The duties of a supercargo include managing the cargo owner's trade, selling the merchandise at theport s to which the vessel is sailing, and buying and receiving goods to be carried on the return voyage.He or she has control of the cargo unless limited by his contract or other agreement. Because a supercargo sails from port to port with the vessel to which he is attached, he differs from a factor, who has a fixed place of residence at a port or other trading place.
upercargo in History
In
1818 ,Jean Laffite appointedJao de la Porta supercargo for theKarankawa Indian trade. [http://beta.traveltex.com/tx_cul_je.asp?SN=1904746&LS=0]In literature
*Supercargo is a character in
Ralph Ellison 's "Invisible Man ". He is described as a large African-American male who works as anorderly . Supercargo watches over African AmericanWorld War I veterans who were traumatized by the stresses of war.
*InRobert Louis Stevenson 's "Treasure Island ",Long John Silver refers to the main character as having 'slept like a supercargo.'
*InAlexandre Dumas, père 's "The Count of Monte Cristo ", Danglars is supercargo of the ship of which Edmond becomes captain.----
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