The spaces exempted from measurement under the Suez rules as amended in 1904 are the following:

1. Spaces in the double bottom. Also, the spaces between the frames and the floor beams are not measured.

2. That part of a bridge or of a combined bridge and poop that is in way of the light and air and framed-in funnel spaces above the engine and boiler rooms. As is shown by figure 18 accompanying Appendix XIII, the present Suez rules exempt the bridge space, in the first or lowest tier of superstructures from side to side of the ship for the length of the framed-in funnel spaces and the light and air casings, but not beyond the limits of the forward and aft bulkheads of the engine and boiler room. In order to be exempted this bridge space must be closed-in under the Suez rules and open under the rules of the country of the vessel's registry. In the superstructures above the first tier, the spaces framed-in around the funnels and the space within the light and air casings, being open, are not measured; but the bridge spaces alongside the framed-in funnels and the light and air casings are measured. The space within the entire light and air casing and framed-in funnels above the first tier of erections, if any, upon the upper deck is exempt unless the shipowner desires to forego some other specified exemptions and to have some of the exempted light and air and funnel spaces measured into the engine and boiler room for deduction under the Danube rule.1

3. The space within the poop for one-tenth of the length of the ship measured from the inner side of the sternpost and the space within the forecastle for one-eighth of the length of the ship measured from the inside of the stem, provided the poop and forecastle are not connected with the bridge. This exemption is granted only when the spaces are open under the national rules of the country of the ship's registry, but closed-in under the Suez rules.

4. All superstructures not permanently inclosed, under the Suez rules. Of the spaces under the "shelter" deck, only those between permanent opposite openings in the side plating of the ship are exempted.

5. Companionways except such portions of them as may be used as a smoking room, and the ladders and stairways located in exempted spaces.

6. The space occupied by hatchways up to one-half of 1 per cent of the ship's gross tonnage exclusive of the hatchways.

7. The space occupied by domes and skylights.

8. The space occupied by cargo carried upon the open deck, i. e., by deck loads, is not measured.

The tonnage certificate that is issued by the British Board of Trade to 'vessels measured in accordance with the Suez rules is reproduced in Form 3. The certificate states what spaces are included in gross tonnage and what spaces are deducted therefrom to determine the net tonnage.

Vessels are measured for the Suez Canal Co. by the appropriate authorities in the several commercial nations. In Great Britain the Moorsom system is applied to the measured spaces strictly in accordance with the general measurement rules of the Suez Canal Co. In Germany and France, however, the Moorsom system is applied in the measurement of vessels for Suez Canal certificates, the same as the Moorsom system is applied in measuring vessels for French or German registry. The results are not quite the same in the several countries, but the differences are so slight that the Suez Canal Co. accepts the result without correction. This is done in order to simplify the administrative work.

The history of the difficulties encountered by the Suez Canal Co. in maintaining uniform practice as to the inclusion of spaces for, or their exemption from, measurement is recited in Appendix XI. Since 1904 the company has made no change in its rules affecting the gross tonnage other than to make the concession that superstructures erected, and used solely, for the safety of navigation may be exempted from measurement, unless such spaces are included in the vessel's tonnage under the national rules of the country in which the ship is registered.

1 For explanation of the application of the Danube rule see pp. 74. Also consult Appendix XIII.

GERMANY'S GROSS MEASUREMENT RULES.

The rules in force in Germany for the measurement of vessels were established by the imperial statute of January 5, 1872. Previous to that time different German States had dissimilar rules, and none of them had the Moorsom system of measurement that was adopted by the imperial law of 1872. The provisions of the act of 1872 have been modified from time to time. The law as it now stands stipulates that gross tonnage shall "include the spaces located under the uppermost deck of the ship and the permanent superstructures on or above the uppermost deck." Otherwise stated the German law provides for the measurement and inclusion in gross tonnage of: (1) The spaces under the tonnage deck and between the tonnage and upper decks; (2) "the space occupied by all covered and inclosed superstructures permanently erected on or above the first deck which are inclosed by substantial bulkheads and coverings suitable for the stowage of freight or merchandise or for quarters or other accommodations of the crew and passengers;" and (3) hatches in excess of one-half of 1 per cent of the gross tonnage.

The German rules exempt from measurement the same spaces that are excluded from measurement in England. The provisions of the law as to the exemption of spaces in superstructures are as follows:

1. All covered and inclosed spaces which are used exclusively for the operation of the auxiliary machinery, and also the pilot house for the protection of the men at the steering wheel, provided these spaces are not larger than necessary for the purpose specified.

2. Any structure necessary on short voyages for the protection of deck passengers against storm and waves, if the measurement board is authorized by the Bureau of Registry to exempt it. 3. The kitchen (galley) and the place for the distilling apparatus, provided they are not larger than actually necessary for the preparing of meals, at the same time affording sufficient shelter to the machinist while distilling water for the passengers and the crew.

4. Toilets for the officers and crew of the ship, provided they do not exceed the proper number and size.

5. On ships designed for the transportation of passengers, a toilet for every 50 persons can be omitted from the calculation provided the total number exempted does not exceed twelve. In addition to the above spaces, the German rules exempt from measurement:

6. Double-bottom water ballast tanks and spaces between the frames and floor beams. 7. Companionways located between decks; ladders and stairways in exempted spaces; domes and skylights.

8. Hatches up to one-half of 1 per cent of the gross tonnage exclusive of hatchways.

9. Light and air spaces over the engine and boiler rooms are exempted, above the upper deck, unless this space needs to be added to the cubical contents of the engine and boiler rooms to bring the power space up to that percentage of the gross tonnage of the vessel that will permit the application of the Board of Trade percentage rule controlling deductions for power spaces. The interpretation which the German measurement authorities now give to open and inclosed spaces is practically the same as the definition given those terms by the Board of Trade in Great Britain.

The technical directions issued by the German Government (see Appendix VII) to its surveyors of ships as to the measurement of closed-in and open spaces under the shelter deck and in superstructures are more detailed and specific than the instructions given by the Board of Trade to British surveyors; but the German rules seem to be applied in such a way as to produce practically the same results as are secured by the British surveyors in applying their rules. In one particular the German rules are more lenient toward shipping than are the British rules. Deck cargoes are not measured in Germany as they are in Great Britain. In neither country are deck loads included in the registered tonnage; but in Great Britain the space occupied by deck cargo is measured and added to the tonnage upon which light dues and other port charges are levied.

At the end of Appendix VI reprints will be found of the three forms of German measurement certificates the certificates issued for decked vessels, for open vessels, and for vessels measured

by the abbreviated method. Each certificate states what spaces are included in gross tonnage and what spaces shall be deducted therefrom in the calculation of net tonnage. The certificate issued to decked vessels is the one most frequently used. It is printed here as form 4.

1. Length of vessel from the rear face of the prowpost to the rear face of sternpost on the uppermost permanent deck (in vessels with patent rudder, measure to middle of rudder post)..

2. Greatest beam of vessel between outer surfaces of planking or of the wales...

3. Depth of hold from lower surface of the upper permanent deck to the upper surface of lower transoms next to the keelson, or to upper surface of the inner iron double bottom, if there is one, at middle of length as found in 1....

4. Greatest length of engine room, including any permanent coal bunkers, between the limiting bulkheads extending from side to side..

Meters.

Cubic meters.

Cubic meters.

Registered tons.

In accordance with the ship measurement ordinance of March 1, 1895, this measurement certificate is made out from the measurement completed on day of 19.., by the measurement board

NOTE.-The following constructions on or above the upper deck are considered open spaces, and are, therefore, not included in the above measurements of gross and net tonnage:

AMERICAN GROSS TONNAGE RULES.

In 1864, by the law approved May 6, the United States adopted the Moorsom system of measuring vessels to determine their gross tonnage. The measurement system then adopted by the United States was practically the same as Great Britain had established by the Merchant Shipping Act of 1854. The act of 1864, however, made provision only for the determination of gross tonnage, which until 1882 was the tonnage upon which tonnage taxes and other ship charges were levied at American ports.

The spaces included in measurement and the spaces exempted therefrom by the law of 1864, as interpreted by the measurement authorities in the United States, were the same as the spaces measured and exempted under the rules of the British Board of Trade prior to the modification of those rules made necessary by the decision of the House of Lords in the Bear case in 1875. Large spaces which the Board of Trade rules consider open and thus not subject to measurement are properly included in measurement and gross tonnage under the American regulations.

The act of May 6, 1864, was amended by a law passed February 28, 1865, which provided that— No part of any ship or vessel shall be measured or registered for tonnage that is used for cabins or staterooms and constructed entirely above the first deck, which is not a deck to the hull.

The Customs Regulations of the United States (see Appendix II, p. —, to this volume) state that this amendment

Was designed merely to exclude cabins and staterooms above the "promenade" deck of the steamers of the seacoast and lakes, or above a "boiler" deck as used on the western rivers. It does not have the effect to exempt from admeasurement any closed-in place, even if so situated, if used for cargo or stores.

Although the amendment of February 28, 1865, was enacted with reference to coastwise, lake, and river steamers, it was also applied to ocean steamers. Thus in the case of modern passenger steamers which have several tiers of passenger accommodations above the upper deck only the first tier is measured. This rule regarding upper tiers of superstructures prevails in no other country and is without justification.

The measurement rules of the United States provide in general that the gross tonnage of a vessel shall include "the entire internal cubical capacity" ascertained by the Moorsom system in a manner prescribed by statute. Specifically stated, the spaces included in the measurement, and thus in the gross tonnage, are the following:

1. The entire space under the tonnage deck and between the tonnage and upper decks. 2. The space occupied by hatchways in excess of one-half of 1 per cent of the vessel's gross tonnage exclusive of the tonnage of hatchways.

3. Any "break, poop, or any other permanently closed-in space on the upper deck available for cargo or stores or for the berthing or accommodation of passengers or crew." What constitutes a closed-in space is defined in the manner explained above. Moreover, the law of 1865 provides that the passenger accommodations in the tiers of superstructures over the first tier above the upper deck shall be exempted from measurement.

The gross tonnage rules of the United States exempt the following spaces from measurement: 1. Double bottom water ballast spaces not available for cargo, stores, or fuel and the spaces between the frames and the floor beams.

2. Spaces under the shelter deck and in the poop, forecastle, and bridge, when not permanently closed in.

3. Passenger accommodations in tiers of superstructures over the first tier above the upper deck.

4. Hatchways up to one-half of 1 per cent of the vessel's gross tonnage.

5. Galleys, bakeries, toilets, and bathhouses above decks.

6. Spaces above decks occupied by the ship's machinery or for the working of the vessel. 7. Light and air and funnel space over the engine and boiler room to the extent that such space is above the upper deck or the "shelter deck" when that is taken as the uppermost fulllength deck, except when special request is made by the shipowner to have the space measured. 8. Domes and skylights, companionways (except portion used as smoking room), and ladders and stairways located in exempted spaces.

9. Open spaces occupied by deck loads are not measured under the American rules.

The inclusion in or exemption from measurement of particular superstructures depends, under the American rules, upon the judgment of the individuals who measure the ship as to whether the spaces are closed-in or open. The practice of admeasurers has not been entirely uniform. The definition of closed-in spaces, as given in the customs regulations and as formulated by the surveyor of the port of New York, were stated above. In general, the American treatment of the shelter-deck spaces is the same as that given such spaces by the Suez Canal Co. The American regulations, however, do not provide that when a shelter deck has once been used for cargo it shall always thereafter be considered a closed-in space; but if an American admeasurer finds that dry cargo is carried in any space he takes that fact as evidence that the space is closed-in. The Suez and American practice in this regard, as has been explained, differs from that of Great Britain and Germany, where the character of the openings and the devices for closing the openings, rather than the use made of the spaces, determine whether the admeasurers shall consider the spaces as open or closed-in.

Form 5 reproduces the American certificate of admeasurement issued under the authority of the Bureau of Navigation, in the Department of Commerce. The certificate indicates in general what spaces are included in measurement, and thus in gross tonnage, and states what spaces shall be deducted therefrom in calculating net tonnage.

To be signed by the master, owner, or other person who may attend the admeasurement for the vessel.

of Customs.

191-.