(1) The master, owner or agent of every ship shall pay to every seaman his wages within four days after the seaman's discharge, and the seaman shall at the time of his discharge be entitled to be paid on account a sum equal to one-fourth part of the balance due to him.
     (2) If a master, owner or agent fails without reasonable cause to make payment at that time, he shall pay to the seaman such sum not exceeding the amount of two day's pay for each of the days commencing from the day of discharge, during which payment is delayed as the shipping master may in each case decide, but the sum so payable shall not exceed ten days' double pay.
     (3) Any sum payable under this section may be recovered as wages.