It is 250 feet long and 70 feet wide, inside measurement. Vessels with 300 feet keel, drawing 20 feet, can be taken up. Its gross lifting weight is 3,000 tons. The charge for docking a vessel is 90 cents per ton for a vessel of 500 tons, and 10 cents per ton additional for each 100 tons for the first day. For the next five days, 25 cents per ton, and for every day after the first six days, 20 cents per ton. Vessels under 500 tons, as per agreement with the company's agent. There is also a repairingslip, upon which vessels are taken at the same rates. The services of ship carpenters, sail-makers, riggers, and workmen can always be secured at reasonable wages. PORT CHARGES AND COMMISSIONS. The port charges of vessels of the burden of 62 tons, loading or unloading more than one ton of goods, are subject to different scales of charges. Cargoes exceeding one ton and less than one-fourth of vessel's burden pay 21 cents per ton; exceeding one ton and less than one-half of vessel's burden, 38 cents per ton. The reduction on vessels that unload part cargoes is calculated on the carrying capacity of such vessels, and not on the register tonnage. A vessel of 200 tons register is considered as 375 tons measurement of 40 cubic feet, or 300 tons dead weight of 2,240 pounds to the ton, according to the class of cargo landed or shipped. A fraction of 25 tons is considered one ton for vessels of the burden of more than 20 tons. Vessels loading coal are subject to the same port charges as with other cargoes. Vessels discharging less than one-fourth cargo of coal pay 13 cents per ton; one-fourth and less than one-half, 22 cents; and a full cargo, 32 cents. Vessels loading or unloading full cargoes of merchandise pay 56 cents per ton. Vessels entering and clearing in ballast pay 44 cents per ton. 6 In addition to the foregoing, a fixed fee is collected: From schooners, 30 cents; from brigs, $1.25; from barks or ships, $2.50. Steamers pay 48 cents per ton tonnage-dues on amount of cargo received or delivered, and 8 cents harbor-master's fee when entering the port as regular line of steamers. Vessels in distress are free from all port charges. The custom of the port requires all goods to be discharged on each merchant's wharf at vessel's expense. Steamers, however, exact that cargoes shall be taken from alongside, which causes an expense of delivery equal to eight cents per barrel." Cargoes of coal are hoisted and shoveled at 25 cents per ton. Water costs from 1 to 2 cents per wine-gallon alongside of vessel. Stone ballast costs from 75 cents to $1 per ton of 2,240 pounds. Pointing lumber cargoes 15 cents per 1,000 feet. Pilotage is not compulsory, but vessels taking a pilot pay by draught of water. The charge inward for vessels drawing 10 feet or less is $4; for 12 feet, $6; and for each additional 2 feet or fraction, $2. The charges outward range from $1 to $12. At night double rates are charged. Regular lines of steamers pay half rates. The customary charges on sale of dry goods, except by special agreement, are: duty, 14 per cent.; storage, per cent. per mouth; commis. sion and guarantee, 12 per cent. Sales are usually made at 9 months' credit. The charges on sale of provisions from the United States are: duty, 14 per cent.; storage, 2 per cent.; labor and cooperage, commission, and guarantee, 5 per cent. Provisions and flour are sold at from two to four months' credit. The charges on vessels entering in distress, unloading, and landing cargo are: duty, 14 per cent.; storage, 2 per cent.; disbursements, 5 per cent. and an agency fee of $100. On auction sales of damaged goods, hull or material, 5 per cent. Eleven per cent. is added to auction sales in computing calculations of duty. RATES OF EXCHANGE. American gold ranges from 1 to 2 per cent. premium, and American silver from 1 to 3 per cent. discount. Doubloons are worth $16 each, except Spanish, which are worth from 2 to 24 per cent. premium. Sov. ereigns are worth $4.90 and English silver 24 cents to the shilling. Five francs silver are worth 96 cents, and gold francs 19 cents. Exchange on New York is from 2 per cent. to 6 per cent. premium; on London, from $4.85 to $5.10; on Paris, from 4.95 to 5.10 francs; on Hamburg, 3.96 to 4.10, in marks; Copenhagen, 8 per cent. to 13 per cent., in crowns. QUARANTINE AND HOSPITAL CHARGES. The health of the island is good. Since 1867 no cases of yellow fever have been reported, and but very few cases of small-pox. Strict quar antine regulations are enforced. All vessels are required to be provided with clean bills of health, and those arriving from Brazil, Buenos Ayres, Central America, Jamaica, Cuba, Cayenne, Porto Rico, West coast of Africa, and New York are visited by the health-officer and are relegated to quarantine. The fee charged by the health officer for such visits is, for every steamer or square-rigged vessel $5, and for every schooner $3. After 6 p. m. and before 6 a. m. double the foregoing fee is charged. When necessary to send sailors to the hospital, the charge is $5 per day. Masters and mates can obtain private rooms in the hos pital at $3 per day, and contract for medical attendance. For general accommodation in the quarantine station a charge of from $1 to $2.50 per day is made for each person; children under ten years of age are charged half rates. The sick lodged and attended in the lazaretto are required to pay $3 per day. In the absence of a special agreement, the doctor charges $1 per day and $5 for each extra visit. The drainage of the town is excellent, and it is kept well policed. PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS. Notwithstanding the stagnation of business and indications of decay the governor, apparently, has hopes for the future. He is spending money quite freely in public improvements. A building was purchased by the government some months ago at a cost of $10,000, and is styled "college." A professor was brought out from Denmark at a salary of $3,500 per annum, and the institution duly opened. About twenty-five scholars of both sexes and colors, ranging from seven to thirteen years of age, are in regular attendance. The revenues derived from all sources amount to about $200,000 yearly. The expenditures seldom exceed the receipts. CRIME AND ITS PUNISHMENT. The upper court for the Danish West Indies is held at St. Croix, to which appeals may be carried. Appeals from the decisions of this court may be carried to the supreme court at Copenhagen when the amount in controversy is over $64. No real or personal property is exempted from seizure and sale for debt. Creditors may cause debtors to be confined in cases where the indebtedness amounts to $25. Criminals of both sexes who are sentenced to hard labor are principally used in the construction of public works. Those guilty of minor offenses are whipped. THE MILITARY. The military department consists of three commissioned officers and eighty-four non-commissioned officers and privates. They are sent from Denmark and maintained at the expense of the colony. I append herewith three returns; the first showing the imports, the second the navigation, and the third the imports and exports to and from the United States. V. V. SMITH. Statement showing the imports into St. Thomas for the year ending March 31, 1877. Statement showing the imports into St. Thomas, &c.—Continued. NOTE FROM THE CONSULAR REPORT PRECEDING THIS TABLE.-There being no record kept by the cus toms of exports, I am unable to give a detailed statement of the same. As most articles are imported with a view of exporting again, the value of exports must be nearly the same as the value of imports. Statement showing the navigation at the port of St. Thomas during the year ending June 30 |