housing them, may do so, subject to certain conditions. Warehouse receipts and expenditures for 1903 were: Receipts, £572 3s. 9d. ($2,784.55); expenditures in salaries, £370 ($1,800.60). All merchants or others having business with the warehouses are accorded equal privileges, regardless of nationality.

There are no regular facilities for the removal of goods to and from warehouses. One shilling (24 cents) per day is paid for such service.

JOHN T. WILLIAMS, Consul.

SIERRA LEONE, WEST AFRICA, September 1, 1904.

ZANZIBAR.

(From United States Consul Mitchell, Zanzibar.)

It is impossible to give dimensions of warehouses in Zanzibar, as they form part of the custom-house, and are not always used for the same purpose. They are owned by the customs authorities and conducted by them. Transit and unreclaimed goods are stored in them, also local produce, such as cloves, chillies, and copra, the property of the Government. A tariff of charges is inclosed. classes of goods are stored, except those barred by insurance companies and perishable commodities. Kerosene oil is stored in separate warehouses. Most of the kerosene in cases is imported by American firms. They also import large quantities of American unbleached cotton.

All

It is impossible to state the length of time goods remain in bond, there being no limit to the length of time a merchant is allowed to leave his goods in transit. All nationalities receive like treatment. Goods are discharged in lighters brought alongside the sea wall off the custom-house and discharged by four steam cranes. A fee is

charged by the customs officials covering wharfage, cranage, and warehouse rent for a given period. Shipping agents have a landing charge for the use of their lighters.

All public warehouses being the property of the Government, the customs officials have absolute control over them, and all reasonable care is taken to insure the safety of goods stored therein.

ZANZIBAR, July 19, 1904.

MASON MITCHELL, Consul.

a On file in the Bureau of Statistics, Department of Commerce and Labor.

OCEANIA.

AUSTRALIA.

MELBOURNE, VICTORIA.

(From United States Consul-General Bray, Melbourne, Victoria.)

There are four classes of bonded warehouses established at the port of Melbourne, Victoria, the first class or general warehouses being used by the public, the others being used only by the licensees or owners for the storage of their own goods, and not catering for general business. There is, in addition, the King's warehouse, the property of the Government, which is used mainly for the storage of unclaimed or seized goods. The general warehouses, of which there are ten, have, with the exception of one, been formed into an association which practically controls the business of the port. It is extremely difficult to procure information from this association in regard to dimensions of buildings, cost of construction, rates, etc. Its officers, when approached for particulars, would only furnish information of a general character. The average capacity of the establishments forming the association is 8,000 tons by measurement, and the cost was about $135,000. The capacity of the Government warehouse is 6,336 tons.

The warehouses are owned and conducted by limited companies and private individuals. A complete list is attached, showing the name by which each of the ten warehouses of the first class is known, the name of the licensee and the location, and also the same information for the seven private warehouses of class 2, for the seven machinery warehouses of class 3, and for the eight manufacturing warehouses of class 4.

Goods are stored for the convenience of merchants until the duty is paid or the goods exported. The licensee of the warehouse provides all labor, receives goods into his warehouse, stacks them, and delivers them to vehicles at his door, provides lights, scales, and measures, etc. (See section 92 of the customs act, hereto annexed.")

The average charge (rent) is about 4 pence (8 cents) per ton per week, and a further charge of 2 shillings (48 cents) per ton, known as "delivery," is made when the goods are delivered to the importer. Extra charges are made in the event of weighing, sampling, regauging, repacking, etc. A list of charges made by the associated warehouses is given herewith. These charges are generally collected when the goods are delivered to the importer. The charges

a On file in the Bureau of Statistics, Department of Commerce and Labor. Customs act of 1901 and the regulations of June, 1904, are on file in the Bureau of Statistics, Department of Commerce and Labor.

196

made by the Government warehouse are higher than those of other warehouses, and it is consequently used mainly for the storage of unclaimed and seized goods.

The proprietors of the warehouses refuse to furnish information as to their receipts and expenditures. For several years past the business has not been very remunerative, owing to many causes, chiefly commercial depression, small stocks held, and rapid steamer communication with other parts of the world. A general warehouse pays £200 ($973.30) per annum for license and the services of a customs officer known as a "locker." The overtime charge for the services of this officer is 2 shillings (48 cents) per hour. The amount received by the Government from the bonded warehouses at Melbourne during the year 1903 for license fees and fees for lockers' services, at 2 shillings (48 cents) per hour, was £5,532 ($26,922) for license fees and £260 ($1,265) for lockers; total, £5,792 ($28,187). The annual cost to the Government of the warehouse branch of the customs department was: For salaries, £8,364 ($40,703), and for contingencies, £90 ($438); total, £8,454 ($41,141).

The chief classes of goods stored are spirits, liquors, bitters, medical preparations, essences, wine, ale and beer (stout, lager), tobacco unmanufactured, tobacco manufactured, cigars, cigarettes, hops, candles, condensed milk, coffee, coffee essence, cocoa and chocolate, wheat, rice, salt, sugar, glucose, vinegar, matches, cement, plaster, flour, soft goods, drapery, etc.; hardware, ironmongery, etc.; machinery, provisions, etc. The length of time goods remain in bond varies so much that no rule can be given. If the goods are not cleared within three years they are sold under the provisions of the customs act unless rewarehoused. All nationalities are treated alike. Goods are removed to warehouses by carriers licensed under the customs act. Goods for export or removal from bond are similarly dealt with. The cost of removal is according to arrangement between the importer and the carrier.

The warehouses are secured by Government locks, except in special cases, such as timber yards. In most of the warehouses lockers are permanently stationed and the keys are kept in a safe in the customhouse overnight. During the day the lockers retain possession of the keys. As often as possible the warehouses are visited by the supervisor of the warehouse branch, whose duty it is to see that lockers are at their posts and attending to their duties, and also to inspect their books and inquire into any matters which he may consider to be essential to the protection of the revenue. Lockers regauge wines and spirits and weigh some low-duty goods subject to duty at fixed rates, check receipts into and deliveries from warehouses, and exercise a general supervision over goods stored therein and over all operations carried on in them. The lockers attend at the warehouses from 8.30 a. m. to 5 p. m. in winter, and in the summer from 8 a. m. to 5 p. m., and on Saturdays till 12 noon. No goods are delivered from warehouse by lockers except upon presentation of an order signed by an officer of the warehouse branch in the custom

house.

JOHN P. BRAY, Consul-General.

MELBOURNE, VICTORIA, August 23, 1904.

Rates for storage adopted by the Association of Bonded Warehouses at Melbourne.

a Indian tea to be stored for one week from day of entry; China tea for six weeks. Charge.on packages to be determined by boxes contained.

Rates for storage adopted by the Association of Bonded Warehouses at Melbourne-Continued.

These rates are subject to alteration at any time by the association.
Other charges are as follows:

82844∞

62206218

628

121

Wines and spirits-gauging for delivery, hogsheads, 24 cents; quarter casks, 18 cents; octaves, 12 cents; gauging for sale, hogsheads or quarter casks, 24 cents; octaves, 18 cents; sampling, 24 cents; repacking or rebonding hogsheads, quarter casks, or octaves, 60 cents; rebonding cases, 4 cents.

Beer-sampling, 6 cents.

Cigars and cigarettes-repacking, 60 cents; inspection, 24 cents; reweighing, 60 cents.

Unmanufactured tobacco-repacking, 60 cents; inspection, 24 cents; sampling, 24 cents; reweighing, 24 cents.

Drapery-repacking, 60 cents.

Hops-repacking or sampling cases, 36 cents; repacking or sampling bales, half bales, and packets, 24 cents.

Currants-weighing, 2 cents per case or half case.

BRISBANE, QUEENSLAND.

(From United States Consular Agent Weatherill, Brisbane, Queensland.)

There are twelve bonded warehouses in this district, ranging in capacity from 2,000 to 8,000 tons (measurement) each, and in cost from $40,000 to $50,000, according to size and material. The names of owners and the rates charged for storage are shown in the accompanying schedules. Patrons pay for insurance and cartage from bond. Charges for service rendered by the bond keeper include the expense of cartage to the warehouse from wharf, etc., and all handling, stowing, etc., in the warehouse.

Receipts fluctuate, according to quantity of goods stored, to such an extent that an estimate would possibly mislead. Expenditure consists of salary of customs locker, $973.30 per annum, and the wages of men employed by bond keeper, each about $9.73 per week.

a On file in the Bureau of Statistics, Department of Commerce and Labor.