§ 117. Advertising as agent, without written authorization; false or misleading information.

No person issuing, selling or offering to sell any passage ticket or any instrument giving or purporting to give any right, either absolutely or upon any condition or contingency, to a passage or conveyance upon any vessel, or a berth or stateroom in any vessel, shall hold himself out to be or advertise himself in any way as the agent of the owners or consignees of such vessel or line, unless he has received authority in writing therefor, specifying the name of the company, line or vessel for which he is authorized to act as agent and the city, town or village, together with the street, and the street number in which his office is kept for the sale of tickets, and unless such written authorization is conspicuously displayed in such office. Provided that this section shall not apply to the sale of passage tickets on board any such vessel or to the offices of the actual owners or consignees of such vessel. No person issuing, selling or offering to sell or holding himself out as being authorized to sell any such passage ticket or instrument giving or purporting to give any such right to passage or conveyance shall give or cause to be given any false or misleading information or shall print, publish, distribute or circulate or cause to be printed, published, distributed or circulated any false or misleading advertisement, circular, circular letter, pamphlet, card, handbill or other printed paper or notice in regard to said passage ticket or instrument or the passage or voyage to which it entitles or purports to entitle its owner, purchaser or holder or line over which, or the vessel for which such passage is sold or offered or as to his agency for such line or vessel. No person issuing, selling or offering to sell any passenger ticket for passage or conveyance aboard any vessel, including the owner or consignee of such vessel, his agents, servants, or employees, shall omit reference to the country of registry of such vessel from any advertisement, circular, circular letter, pamphlet, card, handbill or other printed paper or written notice, in regard to said passage ticket or instrument or the passage or voyage to which it entitles or purports to entitle its owner, purchaser or holder or line over which, or the vessel for which such passage is sold or offered or as to his agency for such line or vessel. Such reference shall be prominently displayed in all printed matter.