What is "shipping articles"

Shipping \Ship"ping\, n.

1. The act of one who, or of that which, ships; as, the shipping of flour to Liverpool.

2. The collective body of ships in one place, or belonging to one port, country, etc.; vessels, generally; tonnage.

3. Navigation. ``God send 'em good shipping.''
   --Shak.

   Shipping articles, articles of agreement between the captain of a vessel and the seamen on board, in respect to the amount of wages, length of time for which they are shipping, etc.
   --Bouvier.

   To take shipping, to embark; to take ship. [Obs.]
   --John vi. 2

4. 
   --Shak.

n. a contract between crew and captain of a ship [syn: articles of agreement]