Title 33 — Navigation and Navigable WatersRelease 119-73
§873 Extra compensation for instrument observers, recorders and other Federal employees for oceanographic, seismographic and magnetic observations
Title 33 › Chapter CHAPTER 17— - NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - GENERAL PROVISIONS › § 873
Summary
The Secretary of Commerce can pay extra money to crew members on ships when they are assigned to work as instrument observers or recorders, and to other Federal employees when they observe tides or currents or care for seismographs or magnetographs. The Secretary sets the pay rates, and these extra payments do not follow section 5533 of title 5.
Full Legal Text
Title 33, §873
Navigation and Navigable Waters — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
The Secretary of Commerce is authorized to pay extra compensation to members of crews of vessels when assigned duties as instrument observer or recorder, and to employees of other Federal agencies while observing tides or currents, or tending seismographs or magnetographs, at such rates as may be specified from time to time by him and without regard to section 5533 of title 5.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Codification “Section 5533 of title 5” substituted in text for “section 301 of the Dual Compensation Act [5 U.S.C. 3105]” on authority of Pub. L. 89–554, § 7(b), Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 631, the first section of which enacted Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.
Amendments
1964—Pub. L. 88–448 inserted “and without regard to section 301 of the Dual Compensation Act”. 1960—Pub. L. 86–397 substituted “Secretary of Commerce” for “Coast and Geodetic Survey” and “instrument observer or recorder” for “bombers or fathometer readers,” inserted reference to employees tending magnetographs, and authorized Secretary to establish rates of compensation.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 1964 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 88–448 effective on first day of first month which begins later than the ninetieth day following Aug. 19, 1964, see section 403 of Pub. L. 88–448.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
33 U.S.C. § 873
Title 33 — Navigation and Navigable Waters
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73