The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

VOL. XXXIII. CLEVELAND. FEBRUARY &. i19Ca. MEASURING FOREIGN VESSELS. On the subject of measurement of light and air spaces of foreign steam vessels Mr. Eugene Tyler Chamberlain, commissioner of navigation, has written a letter to the collector of customs at Boston which is self-explanatory. It is as follows: "Referring to your letter dated the 3d instant, this of- fice invites your attention and that of the customs officers measuring foreign vessels in the United States to the lack of uniformity found to exist at the principal ports in ascertaining the gross and net tonnage of foreign vessels whose recorded tonnage, as expressed in their certificates or registers, must be added to in the United States to bring the net tonnage to that on which tonnage tax legal- ly accrues. In the registers of many foreign vessels only so much of the light and air space is added to the gross tonnage and to the propelling power as will bring the volume of the propelling power above the 13 per cent of the gross tonnage required to entitle the vessel to a de- duction of 32 per cent of the gross tonnage. If there are such additions, however, the computations should be sub- stantially the same as if the vessel were measured under the regulations of the United States, which in Paragraph I, Article 89, of 1899, contemplate the measurement, sub- ject to certain limitations when authorized by this office, of the entire portion of the space above the crown of the engine room and above the tonnage deck, which is framed in for the machinery or for the admission of light and air and not required to be added to the gross tonnage. The regulations do not sanction the addition of a part only of such space or spaces. The addition of spaces, such as shelter deck, bridge, poop, deck space, etc., claimed to be open spaces but found to be closed, and available and used for cargo or stores, to the gross tonnage, often increases the latter to such an extent that the volume of the propelling power does not amount to 13 per cent of the gross tonnage without the addition of the light and air space omitted from the. register and propelling power spaces. In adding such light and air space, under the regula- tions cited, to arrive at the proper dutiable tonnage, com- putation should be made by admeasuring officers in the United States substantially in accordance with the fol- lowing example: The register of a certain foreign vessel shows tonnage as follows: Tons. Under -tonnace deck... 25: .- 10. ess 2,669.05 Chart house as a 4.48 Hareeaste 6 i ee 38.06 Renn Nouses © Fil ee ca 64.99 Excess: hatchways =... coy £25. ee 45:23 Light and aff. 20. i.c. beet eee 54.05 No. sc. Tons. GIOSS Vices eevee Pele 2,875.86 Deductions: Propelling power (32 per cent) ....... 920.28 CrEW > Sorts eb le 59.82 Master. lists Uo peti a 5.09 Chart room, <0. )Ge red eee 4.48 Boatswain's: Stores @:..00).¢7 3 28.75 1,018.42 Net) 00s Ses US ee oe 1,857.44 In this case, to arrive at the proper dutiable tonnage, computations are made by the measuring officer in the United States as follows: From foreign register, with requisite additions made in the United States: ae From British Register: Tons. Under tonnage deck 25.:.,. 2.5... lies) B000 08 Chart house ..c0. cee 4.48 Forecastle -.0. oy 38.06 Round «houses ....0.0 oo 64.99 Excess 'hatchways 24350055 bas 45.23 Light: and ain oj... ee 54.05 Bridge. (added)... 35555. Cee 230.25 Poop (added) 2.0.40) a 65.67 Additional light and air: (added) ........ 7. 36.05 GLOSS na ee ae 3,207.83 Deductions: Tons. Propelling power, plus 75 per cent ..... E792 Crew hohe ek 59.82 Master' ..a0.0.3 5 0 5.09 Chart "room <5 27a af Ae Boatswain's: stotes ..,.055,. 35.3 28.75 815.86 NCE. ie ee ie 2,305.07 Showing an addition to the net tonnage of 534.53 tons. Tons. The. actual propélling power ts «........., ee 320.03 Total light and: airspace 742..05 02 4 90.10 Total 2.163.005 Lh . 410.13 13 per cent of 3,207.83 (gross tonnage) .......... 417.01 ° Actual propelling power, light and air added ..... 410.13 Balance io. ee 6.88 Needed to entitle the vessel to a deduction of 32 per cent of the gross tonnage, which necessitates the use of Form B, or 175 per cent of the propelling power space. Light and air space need not be measured in the United States when the register shows there was no omission from the tonnage of the vessel. Masters should be required to present, on entering, any certificate of measurement granted at another American port. Objection has been made that it is difficult to secure a correct admeasure- ment of the boiler and engine rooms after all the ma- chinery has been set up, but the Bureau is advised that while the spaces: may be dirty and the process of ad- measuring intricate they can be admeasured.