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68 Grain Bill of Lading Settled The vexed question of grain shortage which has annoyed vessel owners for years has finally reached a_ settlement in a manner that is quite satisfactory to vessel owners and can probably be worked out also to the satisfaction of the grain shippers. The vessel hither- to has always been held liable for any shortage in the cargo and certainly dur- ing the past season there were many grievous shortages. In fact, some ves- sel owners had the most uncomfortable experience of carrying grain at ruinous rates and then going down into their own pockets besides for a substantial sum of money to cover shortage. These trips of course resulted in a direct loss to the vessel owner. Shortages were so frequent during the year as to be- come especially irksome. Vessel owners felt that something would have to be done and for the first time in their lives they presented a united front on the proposition. The Lake Carriers’ Association, the Association of Lake Lines and the Dominion Marine Associ- ation made common cause of it. Meet- ings were held in Cleveland, Buffalo and Detroit on the subject during the fall but it was not until the Detroit meeting, on Jan. 6, that a definite plan was outlined. Statistics proved that when shortages and overages were bal- anced the net shortage worked out somewhat less than a peck per 1,000 bushels carried. It was therefore de- cided that all grain charters accepted for vessels in the Lake Carriers’ Asso- ciation, the Association of Lake Lines and the Dominion Marine Association must contain a clause limiting the shortage to one-quarter bushel in. 1,000 bushels. No grain will hereafter be handled by vessels enrolled in these associations on any other basis. The arrangement has the merit of absolute, fairness as the grain shippers are not being deprived of anything that belongs to them. No claims whatever will be made for overruns by vessel owners. Freight will be collected on the actual outturn and the vessel owner will then allow ™% bushel shortage per 1,000 bushels. carried and pay the ship- per the market price for it out of freight money. The following clause has therefore been adopted to be used in place of the one hitherto in force: “The vessel shall make no claim for any overrun in the outturn of cargo and assumes no résponsibility for’ short- age but shall allow a fixed amount of 1% bushel per 1,000 bushels as tare to be deducted from the freight. All grain on board is to be delivered and freight is to be collected upon actual outturn. Where two or more shipments are carried in the same compartment of THE MARINE REVIEW the vessel, the shortage, if any, result- ing upon unloading the last of these shall be borne pro rata by the shippers.” The grain shippers are now working n a plan to operate under the new bill of lading which will probably re- sult in some form of insurance. As far as the vessel owners are concerned they regard the matter as definitely set- tled and it shows what can be done by organized effort. They have chafed under the old bill of lading for years while the remedy lay at all times in their own hands. Ore on Dock Dec. | Figures compiled by THE Marine Review from the returns sent in by the various dock companies show that ore receipts at Lake Erie ports during the season of 1914 were 25,402,655 tons, out of a total movement by lake of 32,021,897 tons. Lake Erie docks on Dec. 1 held a balance of 8,407,905 tons, this being the smallest balance for the past five years with the excep- tion of 1913, when 9,261,676 tons re- mained on dock. During 1913 the total shipment by lake was 49,070,478 tons, of which Lake Erie docks received 39,099,- February, 1915 1909, of 9,471,428 tons. The reserve of 8,407,905 tons is more than will be needed for winter consumption. Never in the history of the trade have 5,000,000 tons gone forward from dock to fur- nace during the winter season. Shipments to furnaces between May 1 and Dec. 1, 1914, aggregate 22,914,887 tons, compared with 35,747,800 tons in 1913, 33,421,251 tons in 1912, 23,011,- 274 tons in 1911, 29,724,938 tons in 1910, 30,030,559 tons in 1909, and 17,254,782 tons in 1908. The shipment to furnaces during the season of navigation, as referred to, are determined in this way: First, we have the amount of ore on Lake Erie docks as of May 1 last, 5,920,137 tons; add to this the receipts of the season just closed, 25,402,655 tons, the total is 31,322,812 tons; deduct the amount on dock Dec. 1, which is 8,407,905: tons, and we have 22,914,887 tons as the amount that was forwarded either direct or from dock to furnace yards. It is understood, of course, that the difference between the total output of 32,021,897 tons shipped from the Lake Superior mines during 1914 and the Saas oi ints noe rere ea ee ese ete aE ee EE IRON ORE RECEIPTS AT LAKE ERIE PORTS, GROSS TONS. 1914. 1913 1912. 1911. 1910. 1909. Way (xs toe ara egy eis Hem REA erm Or 773,711 1,084,215 1,411,278 493,345 1,225,202 1,374,224 Sandusky) ......0 26.0.5. -. Pe aC Nana TSAR Ser eegge ach 8S Neabsl Cat ial Sie righ nies as GUO eer aia ata ede DN 1,088 FRUrOM Cited e kis a wire kc res 617,363 687,485 540,586 223,947 197,951 243,082 TOA have opine wees ore 1,677,988 3,709,213 3,771,350 2,937,605 2,884,738 2,796,856 Cleweland cis ei ce 5,519,698 8,812,583 7,914,836 4,584,211 6,344,943 6,051,342 Pale port g viii cies eee lene a 1,558,134 2,037,126 1,810,381 666,365 - 1,516,434 1,734,277 Mehta pila yen sik e ie aeteiens 5,318,788 8,336,126 8,158,080 6,359,131 9,620,638 8,056,941 (GONMEANE. Wicca ane clave we 6,263,480 7,849,303 7,839,831 6,931,278 6,309,548 7,007,834 RL aris ols ta con RiaveR a als aes wee abe 60,991 713,904 547,067 289,400 942,592 1,235,057 Withalote ies aces ate pveecs 2,913,273 5,506,691 5,060,642 2,802,976 4,704,439 5,002,235 Wetroitee: nc wie enters ce ate aky 332,564 363,001 418,057 243,292 296,412 159,889 Port (Colborne: .2ie0. 3 Hees 166,665 vintiereeiae Pear i ee PS ee ee ear aaes Rone se Motale wae es ene aes sca acne 25,402,655 39,099,647 37,472,108 25,531,550 34,042,897 33,672,825. IRON ORE ON LAKE ERIE DOCKS, DEC. 1, GROSS TONS. 1914. 1913. 1912. 1911 1910 1909. EDOVEROK: ck starch wwaser a eigeane 580,600 349,047 549,473 661,382 433,215 332,456 ATIC US yer ee ea eee statde io tbeecs 2,471 2,4 2,472 2,471 , 17,728 39,557 FRUPON | o's is ss ars 5 oe wks 483,769 441,541 385,810 344,371 375,118 477,333 SORA ciate whe sicregeie aw cles 548,097 694,704 904,343 652,526 630,547 912,768 Cleveland. .....01....006-- 1,757,543 1,930,720 1,888,560 1,589,491 1,638,795 1,547,142 Painport 2% ce wave seine steee 06,124 478,014 565,920 636,566 39,970 867,640 Ashtabula aha teireeaste eee oie dace 2,749,315 3,202,807 3,350,553 3,295,862 3,287,816 2,594,359 Conneaut: 06 ele. oe isa 1,160,639 1,248,032 1,429,533 1,237,573 1,329,997 1,411,002 jy dea aea te RR Settee cen area Ay 84,467 594,613 661,330 636,274 792,011 788,046 Biaitalo fee epee a wane 234,880 319,726 340,261 413,353 452,783 501,125 MOvalnos wea tstemhe eessaticetete 8,407,905 9,261,676 10,080,798 9,469,869 9,797,980 9,471,428 647 tons and held a balance on Dec. 1, 1913, of 9,261,676 tons. During 1912 the total shipment by lake was 47,435,777 tons, of which Lake Erie docks received 37,472,108 tons, and held a balance on Dec. 1, 1912, of 10,- 080,798 tons. During 1911, the total shipment by lake was 32,130,411, of which Lake Erie docks received 25,531,- 550 tons and held a balance on Dec. 1, 1911, of 9,469,869 tons. During 1910, the total shipment by lake was 42,620,201 tons, of which Lake Erie docks re- ceived 34,042,897 tons and held a bal- ance on Dec. 1, 1910, of 9,797,980 tons. During 1909, the total shipment by lake was 41,683,873 tons, of which Lake Erie docks received 33,672,825 tons and held a balance on Dec. 1, receipts of 25,402,655 tons at Lake Erie ports is ore that went to places other than Lake Erie ports, such as fur- naces at Lake Michigan ports. The accompanying tables show re-" ceipts at Lake Erie ports and amounts on dock during the past three years. The New York and Porto Rico Steamship Co., New York, has given contract to the Newport News Ship Buildigg «&»,Dry.. Dock Ce. for a steamer to be a duplicate of the Lor- enzo, 347 by 46 by 25 feet and of 7,030 tons displacement. Richard M. Watt, naval constructor, has been ordered to the Norfolk navy yard as industrial manager.