U.S. Passenger Act of August 2, 1882

This act, which receives little mention in maritime history or literature, quite dramatically altered the conditions under which vessels could carry passengers to the United States, paricularily steerage passengers. Throughout the body of tbe act a word is used that I had never before heard or seen used in this way. After consulting several dictionaries without finding any sensible definition, I found one published in the 1930's that made very good sense. I will give you a couple of phrases from the act: "--- and persons shall not be deemed cabin passengers unless the space alloted to their exclusive use is in the proportion of at least thirty-six clear superficial feet for each passenger." Another: "The space in any place appropriated to the use of steerage passengers in which they sleep shall not be less than eighteen superficial feet in the case of the lowest passenger deck and fifteen superficial feet in the case of a passenger deck." I am sure that the provisions of this act had a great deal to do with many, if not most, foreign flag vessels standing toward Quebec rather than New York in the 1880's and 90's. Would anyone like to know more about it?