384.—(1) Whenever a question arises before a court whether the wages of any skipper seaman or apprentice of a fishing boat are forfeited for desertion, it shall be sufficient for the person insisting on the forfeiture to show that the skipper seaman or apprentice was duly engaged and belonged to the boat, and left the boat before the completion of the voyage or engagement.

(2) The desertion shall thereupon, so far as relates to any forfeiture of wages, be deemed to be proved, unless the skipper seaman or apprentice can produce a proper certificate of discharge, or can otherwise show to the satisfaction of the court that he was not guilty of desertion.