33 USC § 873 - Extra compensation for instrument observers, recorders and other Federal employees for oceanographic, seismographic and magnetic observations

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t33/s873"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "33 USC § 873 - Extra compensation for instrument observers, recorders and other Federal employees for oceanographic, seismographic and magnetic observations"
title_number: 33
title_name: "NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS"
section_number: "873"
section_name: "Extra compensation for instrument observers, recorders and other Federal employees for oceanographic, seismographic and magnetic observations"
chapter_number: 17
chapter_name: "NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION"
subchapter_number: "I"
subchapter_name: "GENERAL PROVISIONS"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(July 22, 1947, ch. 286, § 2, 61 Stat. 400; Pub. L. 86–397, § 1, Mar. 28, 1960, 74 Stat. 11; Pub. L. 88–448, title IV, § 401(l), Aug. 19, 1964, 78 Stat. 491.)"
---


# § 873. Extra compensation for instrument observers, recorders and other Federal employees for oceanographic, seismographic and magnetic observations

section 5533 of title 5

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 .

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**Source Credit**: (July 22, 1947, ch. 286, § 2, 61 Stat. 400; Pub. L. 86–397, § 1, Mar. 28, 1960, 74 Stat. 11; Pub. L. 88–448, title IV, § 401(*l*), Aug. 19, 1964, 78 Stat. 491.)

## Editorial Notes

### Codification

“” substituted in text for “section 301 of the Dual Compensation Act []” on authority of , , , the first section of which enacted Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

### Amendments

1964— inserted “and without regard to section 301 of the Dual Compensation Act”.

1960— 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 Amendment

Amendment by  effective on first day of first month which begins later than the ninetieth day following , see .