Section 123

In any proceeding under section 122 it shall not be necessary, for the purpose of proving the list, roll, articles or agreement, under or by which any seaman has shipped, joined or engaged to serve on board any such vessel, to call any subscribing or attesting witness thereto, but such list, roll, articles or agreement, as aforesaid, may be proved as if there were no such subscribing or attesting witness.

A copy of any such list, roll, articles or agreement certified, under the hand of the consular officer of the foreign country to which such vessel belongs, to be a true copy, shall be received as prima facie evidence of the existence and contents thereof.

The certificate of the consular officer of the foreign country in which such list, roll, articles or agreement has been made as to the true spirit, effect and meaning thereof, according to the law of such foreign country shall, subject to all just exceptions, be received as prima facie evidence of the effect of such list, roll, articles or agreement in all matters not inconsistent with the language thereof respectively.[138