Mr. Uhl to Mr. Grip.

Sir: Referring to your note of the 16th of July last, in relation to the reciprocal acceptance of certificates of admeasurement of vessels by the United States and Sweden, I have the honor to inclose herewith copy of a letter of the 29th ultimo from the Acting Secretary of the Treasury upon the subject.

Accept, etc.,

Edwin F. Uhl,
Acting Secretary.
[Inclosure.]

Mr. Wike to Mr. Gresham.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of July 28, transmitting copy of a note dated July 16, 1894, from the Swedish minister at this capital, announcing that by a decree of May 18, 1894, certain modifications have been introduced into the rules in force in Sweden with regard to the admeasurement of vessels, and requesting an exchange of notes defining modifications to be made in the arrangement of 1882 concerning the reciprocal acceptance of certificates of measurement by the United States and Sweden.

The minister states:

By a royal decision of the 18th of May last, certain modifications were introduced into the rules in force in Sweden with regard to the admeasurement of vessels, which rules were established by the royal ordinance of November 12, 1880. The new provisions were to take effect on July 1, 1894.

These modifications bear upon the following points:

(1)
The contents of the spaces for water ballast (tanks for water ballast) are not to be included in the total capacity of double-bottomed vessels.
2.
The total capacity is to be increased by the contents of the domes and skylights belonging to the engine which are above the deck, if the owner or captain of the vessel desires it, in order to secure a larger deduction for the motive apparatus in the appendix indicating the tonnage calculated according to the English rule or the Danube rule.
3.
The following spaces, which have hitherto not been deducted, are to be deducted from the gross tonnage:
(a)
Compartments set apart for the exclusive use of the captain.
(b)
Compartments specially reserved for the donkey boiler and engine, even when these are below the deck; these compartments were formerly deducted only when they were on deck.
(c)
Boatswain’s stores.
(d)
Compartment for the capstan.
(e)
Sail rooms; the deduction shall, however, not exceed 2½ per cent of the total capacity of the vessel.

The modifications made in the aforesaid royal ordinance of November 12, 1880, make no changes in the method now in use in Sweden for ascertaining the deduction to be made for the engine room; this deduction is still ascertained by the so-called German rule.

It appears that the only deductions permitted by the new Swedish ordinance which are not allowed by the laws of the United States are:

(b)
Compartments specially reserved for the donkey boiler and engine when below deck.
(c)
Boatswain’s stores.
(d)
Compartment for the capstan.
(e)
Sail rooms; the deduction shall, however, not exceed 2½ per cent of the total capacity of the vessel.

This Department perceives no objection to the continuance of the existing arrangement with Sweden for the acceptance of Swedish certificates of measurement, and to the net tonnage of Swedish vessels, as stated in their certificates of measurement, will be added without measurement the spaces above mentioned, as stated in such certificates, which may be deducted according to the laws of Sweden, but are not allowed by the laws of the United States, together with any deduction in excess of 5 per cent of gross tonnage for crew spaces.

This Department suggests that the Swedish Government continue to accept American certificates of measurement if provided with an appendix stating the measurement of the spaces above mentioned, or, if not so provided, that upon application of the master of an American vessel in a Swedish port those spaces may be measured and deduction be allowed to them.

Respectfully, yours,

S. Wike,
Acting Secretary.