[Inclosure.]
Mr. Wike to Mr.
Gresham.
Treasury Department,
Office of the Secretary,
Washington, September 29,
1894.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith
for your information a copy of a circular of this date, relative to
the admeasurement of Norwegian vessels, etc.
It is suggested that the attention of the minister of Norway and
Sweden be invited to the action taken by this Department in the
matter.
Respectfully, yours,
S. Wike,
Acting Secretary.
[Subinclosure.]
Admeasurement of Norwegian vessels.
Treasury Department, Bureau of Navigation,
Washington, D. C., September 24, 1894.
To Collectors of Customs:
Department circular No. 92, of June 30, 1894, concerning the
admeasurement of Norwegian vessels, is modified in the following
particulars:
The Norwegian Government, by a decree issued August 24, 1894, will
accept American certificates of tonnage containing an appendix
stating the measurement of spaces where they may be deducted under
the new Norwegian rules, but may not be deducted under the laws of
the United States, as follows:
navigation spaces.
- (1)
- Any spaces set apart exclusively for keeping charts,
instruments, signal apparatus, and signal lights, etc.,
necessary for navigation.
- (2)
- Spaces for the anchor capstan, the steering apparatus, and the
donkey engine and machinery, if arranged to work the vessel’s
pump.
- (3)
- Spaces set apart exclusively for boatswain’s stores.
- (4)
- Spaces set apart for storage of sails.
- Provided that the deduction for each of the spaces enumerated
in 3 and 4 not to exceed 2½ per cent of the vessel’s gross
tonnage.
- (5)
- Any excess of crew space over 5 per cent of gross tonnage,
including therein mess rooms, bathrooms, and water-closets of
reasonable size for use of officers or crew, cook’s galley, and
distilling galley.
Upon application by the master of any American sailing vessel about
to proceed to a Norwegian port you are authorized to measure the
spaces enumerated, and attach the results of such measurement to the
certificate in an appendix, duly signed.
Upon application by the master of any American steam vessel about to
proceed to a Norwegian port you will be further instructed.
You will accept without readmeasurement Norwegian certificates issued
previous to September 14, 1893.
Yon will accept without readmeasurement Norwegian certificates of
sailing vessels issued subsequent to September 14, 1893, adding to
their net tonnage the measurement contained therein of spaces above
enumerated which are permitted by the laws of Norway, but not
permitted by the laws of the United States, and any excess over 5
per cent of gross tonnage allowed for crew spaces.
You will accept without readmeasurement the certificate of gross
tonnage of Norwegian steam vessels issued subsequent to September
14, 1893, and the measurement of crew spaces, provided the same does
not exceed 5 per cent of the gross tonnage. As the Norwegian law
governing the deduction for propelling power is substantially
different from the law of the United States, you will measure the
engine, boiler spaces, etc., according to the laws of the United
States, and ascertain net tonnage as prescribed by law.
Eugene T. Chamberlain,
Commissioner.
Approved:
S. Wike,
Acting Secretary.
