that it is not stuffed with rushes, cork shavings, or other shavings, or loose granulated cork, or other loose material, and does not require inflation before use.

All life-buoys shall be fitted with beckets securely seized, and not less than two of them shall be fitted with life-lines 15 fathoms in length.

(11) POSITION OF LIFE-BUOYS and Life-BeltS.-All life-buoys and life-belts shall be so placed as to be readily accessible to all persons on board, and so that their position may be known to those for whom they are intended.

(12) WATER-TIGHT COMPARTMENTS.-When ships of any class are divided into efficient water-tight compartments to the satisfaction of the Board of Trade, they shall only be required to carry additional boats, rafts, and buoyant apparatus of one-half of the capacity required by these Rules, but the exemption shall not extend to life-jackets or similar approved articles of equal buoyancy suitable to be worn on the person.

APPENDIX.

The Table referred to in the foregoing Rules, showing the Minimum Number of Boats to be placed under Davits and their Minimum Cubic Contents.

Note.-Where in ships already fitted the required cubic contents of boats placed under davits is provided, although by a smaller number of boats than the minimum required by this table, such ships shall be regarded as complying with the rules as to boats to be carried under davits.

In the case of vessels under 200 tons gross tonnage, the capacity of any boat to be supplied should rot be less than 125 cubic feet. If, however, in any case this rule be found to be impracticable, a discretion may then be exercised by the Board of Trade.

In cases where a small vessel is unable to carry more than one boat, a discretion may be exercised by the Board of Trade, but whenever one boat only is carried there must be proper provision to enable it to be placed readily in the water on either side of the ship.

CUSTOMS REGULATIONS AND CLEARANCE OF

SHIPS.

If inward cargo he reported for exportation, a copy of report must be delivered to searcher under penalty.

Ships' Content.-This document containing particulars as to cargo and voyage with declaration attached must be delivered to Collector before clearance outwards.

Victualling Bill.-When duly signed by Collector or other proper Officer of Customs shall be the clearance and authority for departure of ship. Master of vessel outwards, in which goods are to be taken from United Kingdom to parts beyond the sea, must, before taking any goods on board, deliver to the Collector the inward clearance and enter outwards. Ships clearing foreign, putting back to United Kingdom in distress or otherwise. Penalty provided against excessive deficiency in stores, having regard to the length of time between departure and return. Penalty on departing without being cleared, £100.

Clearing in Ballast.-Ships not having any goods on board except stores borne upon the Victualling Bill, may be cleared in ballast. Vessels carrying passengers, and vessels laden with chalk to extent of more than one-third of their registered tonnage are chargeable with light dues.

Documents to be produced at Clearance.-For a British ship :-The register with the master's name endorsed thereon. The outward lights receipt. The AA certificate if engaged in foreign trade or CC certificate if in the home trade. NOTE.-Colonial ships are subject to the same laws as those of the United Kingdom, excepting when bound to their own colony where the voyage is to terminate, in which case such ships can proceed without certificated master and officers. For a foreign ship:-The measurement certificate, excepting for vessels belonging to countries which have adopted the British system of measurement. NOTE.-The measurement certificate is only valid for three years from the date thereof. On the product on of these documents the clearance label is signed and returned to master.

Vessel carrying Passengers.—If proceeding to ports out of Europe, Mediterranean ports excepted, duplicate Passenger Lists must be furnished. Masters of British sailing ships carrying passengers must make the declaration that the vessel is furnished with the necessary number of boats under the Merchant Shipping Act. Boat declaration not required from British passenger steamers, but production of Passenger Certificate necessary.

Ships under Passengers' Act must in addition have a bond executed in duplicate before the Clearing Officer by master and owner or charterer. Outward Pilotage. -For foreign vessels going beyond Brest the receipt for outward pilotage must be produced.

Bills of Health are issued at the clearing seat when required. Coasting Trade Defined. - All trade by sea from any one part of the United Kingdom to another shall be deemed to be coasting

trade. Penalty for coasting ship deviating from coasting voyage unless forced by unavoidable circumstances. Goods brought coastwise may be entered outwards without landing if not liable to duty. Cargo Books must be kept by masters in the coasting trade under penalty. Transire and duplicate containing the necessary particulars signed by the master shall, in the coasting trade, before departure of vessel be delivered to the collector, who retains the duplicate and returns the original duly signed by him. This account shall be the outward clearance of the ship and the transire or pass for the goods therein.

Transires of Foreign Vessels.—Before issue of transire the agent applying for same is to produce a declaration made by the master showing the vessel's nationality.

CATTLE TRADE REGULATIONS.

THE TRANSATLANTIC CATTLE VESSELS ORDER, 1891, BY THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

The Board of Agriculture, by virtue and in exercise of the powers in them vested under the Board of Agriculture Act, 1889, and the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Acts, 1878 to 1890, and of every other power enabling them in this behalf, do order, and it is hereby ordered as follows:

Short Title: (1) This order may be cited as the Transatlantic Cattle Vessels Order, 1891.

Commencement: (2) This order shall commence to take effect on the 1st day of January, 1892.

Interpretation: (3) In this order "cattle" means bulls, cows, oxen, heifers, and calves. "Master" includes a person having

the charge or command of a vessel.

Application of Order: (4) This order shall apply to all vessels in or on which cattle are conveyed across the Atlantic Ocean to any port or place in Great Britain.

Parts of Vessels to be used: (5) (i.) Cattle shall not be carried on more than three decks; (ii.) cattle shall not be carried on any hatch above a compartment where other cattle are carried; (iii.) cattle shall not be carried in any part of the vessel where, in the ordinary course of navigation, they would interfere with the efficient working of the boats necessary for the persons on board.

Pens and Fittings: (6) (i.) Every part of the vessel used for cattle shall be divided into pens; (i.) the stanchions of each pen shall be securely fastened to the deck by means of iron sockets or otherwise, and the materials used in the construction of the pens, whether of timber or iron, shall be of a substantial character, and of sufficient strength and so adjusted as to withstand the action of the weather, and to resist the weight of the cattle thrown against them; (iii) each pen shall be provided with proper battens to prevent the cattle from slipping, and which shall be securely fastened to the deck by angle iron plates or otherwise; (iv.) cattle shall be protected from the weather by proper and suitable shelter.

Space (7) Not more than four cattle shall be carried in one pen, except where small store cattle are carried, in which case not more than five cattle shall be carried in one pen. Sufficient space shall be allotted in every pen to enable the cattle to properly feed and rest during the voyage.

Passage Ways: (8) Between every two rows of cattle, and in front of every single row of cattle, there shall be a passage way, the minimum width of which, in any part of the vessel, shall not be less than one foot and six inches free of obstruction.

Ventilation: (9) All enclosed portions of the vessels used for cattle shall be sufficiently ventilated (in addition to any ventilation obtained by means of the hatchways) by cowls or other proper means for the admission of fresh air, and the removal of foul air.

Light (10) Proper and suitable arrangements shall be made to provide at all times adequate light for the proper tending of cattle. Food and Water: (11) The cattle, while on board, shall be provided with a sufficient amount of water, and proper accommodation shall be provided on board for the stowage of food, so that the same shall not be unduly exposed to the weather or sea.

Mode of Securing Cattle: (12) Every head of cattle shall be securely tied by the head so as to stand athwartships.

Attendance: (13) Every consignment of cattle shall be in charge of a responsible foreman, who shall have under him competent assistants numbering, with himself, one for every twenty-five head of cattle, and proper and suitable accommodation for those persons shall be provided.

Injured Animals: (14) In the case of cattle suffering from broken limbs or other serious injuries during the voyage, the mas'er of the vessel shall cause such cattle to be forthwith slaughtered.

Offences: (15) If anything is done, or omitted to be done, in contravention of this order, the owner and the charterer and the master of the vessel, in which the same is done or omitted to be done, shall each according to and in respect of his own acts or omissions be deemed guilty of an offence against the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act, 1878.

Article 116 of the Animals Order o) 1886 not to apply: (16) Article 116 (Fittings of Vessels) of the Animals Order of 1886 shall not apply to any vessel to which for the time being this, order applies.

In witness whereof the Board of Agriculture have hereunto set their Official Seal this 31st day of August, 1891.

RULES MADE BY THE BOARD OF TRADE FOR THE INSPECTION OF PROVISIONS AND WATER

UNDER

"THE MERCHANT SHIPPING ACT, 1894."

(Section 206.)

Came into operation 1st June, 1893.

1. These rules apply to all ships trading or going from any port of the United Kingdom thr. ugh the Suez Canal, or round the Cape of Good Hope or Cape Horn.

2. The officer to conduct an inspection of ship's stores under the Merchant Shipping Act shall be an officer appointed by the Board of Trade for this purpose.

3. All the different varieties of stores provided or carried in the ship which are referred to in Section 3 of the above-mentioned Act, as well as the supply of water, are subject to inspection.

4. New stores shall be inspected before shipment, whenever practicable, or alongside the ship in which they are to be used; but, if necessary, they may be inspected on board the ship, or they may in certain cases be inspected in some place provided or approved by the Board of Trade for that purpose, as may be decided by the Inspector acting under the instructions of the Board of Trade.

5. All surplus stores left over from a previous voyage are to be inspected, and the contents of all the casks of wet provisions amongst such surplus stores are to be turned out. Such stores are to be inspected on board or alongside the ship, or in such other place as may be provided or approved by the Board of Trade for that purpose, as may be decided by the Inspector acting under the instructions of the Board of Trade.

6. Stores carried in the ship in which they are to be used from one port to another port in the United Kingdom, or sent from one port to a ship at another port, which have passed the Board of Trade Inspector at the first port, as described in a form of advice (P.W. 8) signed by the Inspector who examined them, need not be re-examined; provided always that the official wire and seal remain intact, and that the Inspector is satisfied that the packages have not been tampered with.

7. All notices for inspection of stores to take place at the port where the ship is lying must be made to the Inspector of that port, or in such other manner as may from time to time be determined by the Board of Trade, by the owner or agent of the ship, on the appropriate form (P. & W. 1), which must be filled in and delivered to the Inspector at least 48 hours prior to the time at which it is desired that the stores should be inspected.

8. Notice for inspection of stores to be sent coastwise to another port in the United Kingdom from which the vessel is to take her final departure, or in the case of stores intended to be sent to a ship at some other port in the United Kingdom, may be made by the firm supplying such stores direct to the Inspector at the port where such stores may be. The notice must be given 48 hours previously on the prescribed form.

9. Prior to inspection, a complete list of all stores must be made to the Inspectors.

10. Stores will be inspected at any time during daylight, after 10 a. m. up to 5 p.m.

11. The shipowner, master, and officers of a ship, shall give the Inspector every facility for inspecting the stores and water on board of such ship, and shall, if required, have all the stores contained in casks brought on deck for inspection.

12. Beef shall consist only of briskets, flanks, and plates of fine heavy grade, freshly cured, free from taint, and thoroughly sweet, packed in good sound casks, re-capped, and re-pickled with pickle of full strength, all to the satisfaction of the Inspector.

13. Pork shall be of assorted pieces in fair proportion, of fine grade, freshly cured, free from taint, and thoroughly sweet, packed in good sound casks, re-capped, and re-pickled with pickle of full strength, all to the satisfaction of the Inspector.

14. Preserved meats shall be cf fine grade, but may be of any variety, and may be mixed with a fair proportion of vegetables, the whole to be properly preserved and packed in good strong tins, the tins being painted or otherwise protected from rust, all to the satis