constructed. It should therefore comply with the provisions of the merchant shipping act of 1867 as regards light, ventilation, etc., and there should be permanently cut in a beam within the space and cut in or painted on or over the doorway or hatchway the words: "Certified for the accommodation of the master."

(bii) Helm, capstain, and anchor gear spaces. When situated above the upper deck these spaces are not included in the measurement under the merchant shipping act of 1854, and therefore will not be deductions under this act. When situated below the upper deck such spaces are to be deducted from the tonnage. The chart room and boatswains' store space are added to the tonnage under the 1854 aet, and are therefore to be deducted under this act wherever situated. It is to be noted that the provisions as to the space being efficiently constructed and reasonable in extent apply to all these spaces. Each space deducted from the tonnage should be marked similarly to the sail room, its proper designation being stated.

(biii) Donkey-engine and boiler space. If situated within the boundary of the engine-room, and if the machinery is used in connection with the main machinery for propelling the vessel, the space forms part of the actual engine-room, and therefore should not be the subject of a separate allowance. When the donkey-boiler is in a house above the upper deck it is not subject to measurement in the gross tonnage under the act of 1854, and therefore must not be deducted under the act of 1889. In all other cases the donkey-boiler space is to be allowed as a deduction from the tonnage, if reasonable in extent and properly and efficiently constructed. It must be marked similarly to the sail room, etc.

Section 4 of the act is intended to secure that when the crew space on deck which has been exempted from measurement under the 1854 act, either by Isabella case or otherwise, is added under the act, and the gross tonnage is thereby so increased that an actual engine-room which was over 13 per cent. of the old gross tonnage is under 13 per cent. of the new gross tonnage, the existing allowance of 32 per cent. of the old gross tonnage shall, notwithstanding, be preserved intact.

In vessels of cellular construction the water-ballast space has hitherto been exempt from measurement. Section 5 of the act extends that exemption, under certain conditions, to all vessels having double bottoms for water ballast, however constructed. Where such double bottoms do not extend the whole or nearly the whole length of the ship, where the top of the double bottom is not in a continuous and fair fore-and-aft line, or where there are other irregularities in the upper surface of the double bottom, the surveyor is to submit the case to the board for instructions; and he is required in each case to satisfy himself that the space within the double bottom for water ballast is not available for the carriage of cargo, stores, or fuel.

Changes in the law have also been made by Germany. A translation of a memorandum regarding said law, obtained from the German Government for the use of this office, is appended hereto:

Statement showing the most important points in which the provisions of the ordinance of June 20, 1888, relative to the admeasurement of vessels differ from those of the ordinance on the same subject of July 5, 1872.

[Ordinance relative to the admeasurement of vessels, dated July 5, 1872.]

The measurement of length is divided into a number of equal parts, to wit: Any length up to 15 meters is divided into 4 equal parts; a length of from 15 to 37 meters into 6 equal parts; a length of from 37 to 55 meters into 8 egual parts; a length of from 55 to 69 meters into 10 equal parts; a length exceeding 69 meters into 12 equal parts. [Ordinance relative to the admeasurement of vessels, dated June 20, 1888.]

Any length up to 15 meters is divided into 4 equal parts; any length up to 35 meters is divided into 6 equal parts; any length up to 55 meters is divided into 8 equal parts; any length up to 75 meters is divided into 10 equal parts; any length up to 95 meters is divided into 12 equal parts; any length up to 115 meters is divided into 14 equal parts; any length exceeding 115 meters is divided into 16 equal parts.

Consequently in any vessel whose length exceeds 95 meters, more cross-sections are now measured than there were according to the old rule.

The rule for measuring the depth of cross-sections in vessels built in the usual manner, with frames (spanten), has been adopted without alteration among the new rules for admeasurement.

In vessels with double bottoms, however, the determination of the lower point of the depth is no longer made to depend upon any particular style of construction of the double bottom (such as the Bracket system), but upon whether the double bottom, owing to the extent of its length, is to be considered as a ligamental part (verbandtheil) of the vessel. Hence, in vessels provided with a double bottom connected with a "konstruction," the length of which double bottom is equal to more than one-half of the length of the measurement deck, the lower point of the depth of each crosssection that comes within the enceinte of the double bottom is ascertained at the deepest place of the upper surface of the inner double bottom.

This rule is not observed when the space between the double bottom is used for stowing away cargo. In such cases the lower point of the depth is in the upper surface of the outer double bottom and of the layer of cement that covers it.

The rules contain a provision which was not found in the former rules, and which has reference to a suitable further determination of the bodily contents of the inner space of the vessel below measurement deck of steam-vessels whose spaces for machinery boilers, etc., are limited by firm cross-bulkheads (feste querschotte).

According to this provision, the three divisions of space that are formed by the firm cross-bulkheads which limit the space for machinery may be measured each by itself; the sum of their contents gives the contents of the entire space below the measurement deck.

In measuring the gross contents the following are included: (a) The contents of all spaces that are covered and closed or provided with arrangements for closing, on or above the upper deck, when such spaces can be used for keeping goods or for the lodging or convenience of the passengers and crew, including the captain. (b) The contents of fixtures intended for the navigation and service of the vessel or for the admission of light and air to the space occupied by the machinery, or for increasing the efficiency of the machinery. (c) The contents of all load-hatchways (ladeluken), on or above the upper deck, that are directly connected with the load-space (laderaum), so far as these contents exceed the limits in paragraph 13 A. с.

The following are not included in the measurement of the gross contents: (a) Spaces that are open on one or more sides. (b) Separate hoods over the passages leading to the cabins, to the spaces occupied by the crew, to the space occupied by the machinery and boilers, and in falling lights (einfallende lichts) of all kinds, provided that these spaces can not be used for stowing cargo or for the lodging and convenience of the passengers and crew.

Spaces for the use of the crew, from which a deduction from the gross contents is allowed are specially mentioned.

For the amount of the deduction that is allowable the above limits are established; in the case of the vessels whose gross contents do not exceed 3,000 cbm., these limits have been extended, while for vessels whose gross contents exceed 3,000 cbm., the old rule remains in force.

The above limits have also been adopted for deductions of spaces on or above the upper deck that are used for the navigation and service of the vessel. According to the old rule, no deduction for such spaces was allowable, since they were not measured as part of the gross contents.

The provision in paragraph 17, according to which the deductions for the spaces occupied by machinery and coal could, at the request of the owner of the vessel (the rules in paragraph 14 B and 15 being excepted) be determined according to the principles observed in Great Britain, was not included among the rules of July 5, 1872.

The depth of each cross-section is measured between two points, the upper one of which is at a distance of one-third of the convexity of the deck-beams (deck balkenbucht) below the measurement-deck, and the lower one is in the upper surface of the rising floor-timber (boden urange) on the inside of the passage between the wales (fullungsgang).

To the above rule, which is contained in paragraph 7, the following additions were made, by a decree of July 7, 1883, in conformity with the method in use in Great Britain, as regards vessels with double bottoms, according to the Bracket system.

(a) In vessels which are built throughout their entire length according to the

1

Bracket system, when it is desired to find the depth of a cross-section, the distance between two points is measured, the upper one of which is at a distance of onethird of the convexity of the deck-beams below the measurement-deck, and the lower one in the inner surface of the platform of the bracket.

(b) In vessels which are only in part built according to the Bracket system, the depth of space in places where there are frames (spanten) is to be found in the manner stated in paragraph 7 of the ordinance relative to the admeasurement of vessels. In places, however, where there is a double bottom the lower point which limits the depth is considered as being in the inner surface of the platform of the bracket.

If the space inclosed by the double bottoms is so arranged that it can not be exclusively used for the reception of water ballast, but may also be used for stowing away cargo, bard ballast, coal, etc., and also if the vessel is built, either in whole or in part, according to the Bracket system, but is not provided with a firm double bottom, the rule given in paragraph 7 of the ordinance relative to the admeasurement of vessels must always be followed in finding depths of space.

The rule in paragraph 11, according to which cabins, round-houses, deck-houses, forecastles, or other fixtures on the upper deck were also to be measured when they were used for keeping goods or provisions, or for the lodging or convenience of the passengers or crew, including the captain, was explained by the decree of June 3, 1873, as meaning that the following spaces in fixtures were to be entirely excluded: (a) Such hatchways, hoods, passages for light (lichtluken), partitions over hatchways, or passages to go down into the cabins or spaces below decks as are intended neither for keeping goods or provisions nor for the lodging nor permanent abode of passengers or persons belonging to the crew.

(b) Spaces that are open or not closed on one or more sides. (c) Spaces that are used solely for navigating the vessel or for keeping implements used for that purpose.

(d) Spaces that may be used as galleys or as privies for passengers or the crew, provided that their number and size do not exceed what is usual, and that there is no ground for the supposition that they are to be used as lodging places for persons or as receptacles for goods or provisions.

In all vessels the contents of the spaces exclusively devoted to the use of the crew, according to their size as found by measurement, but at most up to the twentieth part of the gross contents of the vessel, subtracted from the latter.

The changes in the rules of foreign countries are somewhat perplexing, and it is difficult to keep track of them in order to comply with our regulations relating to the admeasurement and addition of the amount of deductions and omissions made under the foreign laws and not authorized by the admeasurement laws of the United States. Some further legislation upon the subject may be found necessary should it be requisite to put steam-vessels of the United States on as favorable terms as are accorded to foreign vessels in foreign ports.

The act of August 5, 1882, does not expressly provide for the admeasurement of spaces deducted or omitted under foreign laws, but which are required to be added by our laws. It might be well to provide that

Whenever it shall appear that the tonnage of any foreign ship, measured by the rules of the country to which she belongs, materially differs from that which would be her tonnage if measured under the rules of the United States, she may be readmeasured in accordance with the acts of Congress governing the matter, notwithstanding any regulations exempting vessels of the country to which she belongs from admeasurement.

The levying of tonnage dues on the gross tonnage of all vessels would obviate some difficulties, and is recommended.

The business of the Bureau has been fully kept up during the year, and the wisdom of consolidating its work, as provided for in the act of 1884 creating the office, is fully demonstrated.

My thanks are due for good service in the performance of the duties of the office, to the Deputy Commissioner, Mr. T. B. Sanders.

Respectfully, yours,

Hon. WILLIAM WINDOM,

Secretary of the Treasury.

C. B. MORTON,

Commissioner.

116, 914.72

12,086.08

1,163.66

257, 051.27

1,369.81

120.62

226.09

1,325. 14