Department of State,
Washington, October 3,
1894.
[Inclosure.]
Mr. Wike to Mr.
Gresham.
Treasury Department,
Office of the Secretary,
Washington, September 29,
1894.
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.
