for the Australasian frozen meat trade. A lay-bye for large steamers with wharfage and railway connections provided for the berthage of steamers discharging at the store. Oil tanks: The Consolidated Petroleum Company, Ltd., have, at Eccles, five tanks, capacity 22,000 tons (6,160,000 gallons), the Anglo-American Oil Co., Ltd., have 8 tanks, capacity 11,348 tons (3,177,500 gallons), the Liverpool Storage Co., Ltd., 6 tanks, capacity 10,000 tons (2,800,000 gallons), the Manchester Corporation 2 tanks, capacity 4,016 tons (1,124,480 gallons), with wharves adjoining the Ship Canal at Mode Wheel, and the Pure Oil Co., the Homelight Oil Co., Ltd., and the General Oil Storage Co., Ltd., have 5 tanks in Trafford Park, which is alongside the Canal, with an aggregate capacity of 23,344 (6,496,432 gallons). The total tankage capacity at, or adjacent to, the Docks is 70,708 tons (19,758,412 gallons). Oil is conveyed to each of the above depots through pipes direct from vessel to tank, whence it can be reloaded into carts, barges, or railway wagons. Adjoining the Manchester Docks are the Ship Canal Pontoons and Dry Docks Co.'s Works at Mode Wheel, fitted for ship repairing throughout, with a graving dock 480 by 65ft, and a floating pontoon which will raise vessels 300ft long and up to 2,500 reg. tons; also a floating pontoon and repairing yard at Ellesmere Port. Smelting Works: The Smelting Corporation, Ltd., have erected large smelting works at Stanlow Wharf, near Ellesmere Port, with a deep water lay-bye for oceangoing vessels. Large vessels can berth at Warrington lay-bye, which is 300ft long, 26ft depth alongside, and is provided with hydraulic transporter for loading and discharging and railway connections, &c. The Haydock Shipping Wharf (belonging to Messrs. Richard Evans & Co., Ltd., of Haydock) at Acton Grange, near Warrington, is 340ft long, 40ft wide, with 22ft of water alongside. The United Alkali Company have two wharves alongside their "Wiggs Works" at Old Quay, Runcorn, each 600ft long, with depth of water 26ft and 12ft respectively. The Co-operative Wholesale Society have in connection with their soap and candle works at Irlam a wharf 3coft long with 26ft depth of water alongside.

discharged

Ships' Dues. Vessels trading to the Canal up to Runcorn swing bridge will pay ship dues as for Section A of Canal; beyond Runcorn to Latchford Locks as for Section B); between Latchford Locks and Manchester as for Section C, as per schedule of ship dues shown on next page. Sailing vessels ordered to Manchester, and whose lower masts, after striking topmasts, would not pass under the fixed ridges 75ft high, will be discl below bridges, the cargo being lightered to Manchester (in of floated timber rafted) without extra cost to the merchant beyond what he would have paid if the vessel had proceeded to Manchester. Vessels discharging below bridges will be charged full ship dues as for Section A. Vessels having paid dues on their inward voyage as from the most distant port of lading, and loading cargoes outward, will not be charged dues on their outward voyage when the dues chargeable as for the most distant port of destination do not exceed the amount paid for inward dues, but, should the outward dues exceed the inward, the difference in excess will then be charged. Ship dues will be collected on the vessel's net registered tonnage and deck space occupied by deck cargo, except in respect of deck cargo carried by vessels trading between places in the United Kingdom, or between the United Kingdom and ports in Europe between the river Elbe and Brest, which will not be charged for. The Canal tolls and wharfage, which will be collected upon the cargo, are payable by the owners of the cargo (for particulars see separate schedule of merchants' charges).

Rent Charges.-Rent of one penny per net registered ton per weck is chargeable on cargo vessels remaining in the Canal after the expiration of the period allowed in above table. Should vessels remain in the Canal beyond six months from date of entry, double these rates will be charged.

Differential Ship Dues. - (1) Vessels arriving in the Canal with cargoes not less than one-half of which shall consist of all or any of the following articles, and discharging the whole of

any such cargoes in the Canal, will be charged charged only one-half of

The

the ship dues specified in the above schedule, whether they leave the Canal in ballast, or load cargoes in any section, consisting exclusively of all or any of the articles named in clause 2. articles above referred to are: Bauxites, blende ore or black jack, copper ore, copper precipitate, copper pyrites, copper regulus, esparto grass, green fruit, guano, iron ore, iron pyrites, lead ore, magnesite ore, manganese, manganese ore, manganiferous iron ore, phosphate, phosphate rock, sulphur ore, sulphur pyrites. (2) Vessels arriving in the Canal in ballast or with cargoes not less than one-half of which shall consist of all or any of the articles named in clause 1, and discharging the whole of any such cargoes in the Canal, and loading cargoes in the Canal consisting exclusively of all or any of the following articles, will be charged one-half of the ship dues specified in above schedule: Bricks, coal, coal briquettes, purple ore briquettes, coke, pig-iron, iron ore, phosphate, pitch, salt, salt cake, slag, steel rails. (3) Vessels coming to Section C of the Canal in ballast, or laden, should they on their way to Section C call at any point in Sections A or B to discharge or load cargo, will be liable for ship dues applicable to those sections, but such vessels when on the way to Section C will be allowed to take in bunker coal in Sections A or B, paying ship dues as for Section C only. (4) Vessels having first discharged in Section C not less than one-half of total cargo, brought inward for discharge in the Canal, and calling at any point in Sections A or Bon way outward to discharge balance of cargo (such. balance not having been transhipped in any part of the Canal before reaching point of discharge), or to load there, will in either case be charged ship dues as for Section Conly. (5) Ves-els having first loaded in Section C not less than one-half of the total cargo they take out of the Canal, and caling at any point in Sections A or B to load, will be charged ship dues as for Section Conly. (6) Vessels entering the Canal in ballast and proceeding to Section C and loading not less than one-h If of total cargo taken on board in the Canal, and loading remainder of cargo in Sections A or B, will be charged ship dues as for Section C only. (7) Vessels trading exclusively on the River Mersey, and entering the Canal through any of the estuary locks loaded with transhipment cargo for outward sea-going vessel, or if such vessels load such cargo from import sea-going vessels in the Canal for lighterage to places either within or outside the Canal (on the Mersey), will not be charged ship dues. (8) Vessels, including yachts, launches, small steamers, and any other craft not cargo carrying (exclusive of tugs, licensed by the Company, attending on vessels), using the Canal from point to point, will, in lieu of ship dues, be liable for lockage toll, as follows: -For passing through any lock, 5/ per lock each way, in addition to Canal toll on passengers carried. Minimum charge for lockage LI Is. Upon payment of lockage charge such vessels may remain in the Canal seven clear days, after which rent will be charged as specified above. Toll on passengers, d per mile per passenger. Upper Mersey Dues: The Upper Mersey Commissioners have power to charge dues on vessels loading or discharging in the Runcorn and Weston Point Docks, or at Ellesmere Port, but vessels loading or discharging in the Canal (except at Ellesmere Port) are not charged these dues when they enter and leave vid Eastham Locks only. Appropriated berths with shed accommodation at the Manchester Docks are allocated on reasonable terms to lines running regular services.

Transhipment goods are hauled from alongside ship to other vessels in any part of the docks at a charge of 6d per ton (single articles over 5 tons and not exceeding 10 tons each 9d per ton), minimum charge as for I ton per truck, which does not include responsibility for loading, stowing, checking, counting, custody, or condition of goods, but the Company will accept the usual liability of carriers at the rate of 1/6 per ton (no single article to exceed 10 tons in weight), with a minimum of 2/6 per truck, but both rates are exclusive of Canal toll or charges for any labour that may be incurred in loading or unloading. A requisition on the Company's printed form for haulage must be filled up and lodged at the dock office previous to the service being required, and the rate to be charged inserted to indicate whether the goods are to be hauled or conveyed by the Company as carriers.

Pilotage. The Company are the Pilotage authority, and empowered to collect charges for pilotage on the Canal. Pilotage outside the Canal is collected by the pilots. On the Canal it is not compulsory, but when a Pilot is employed he must be the holder of a Pilotage Licence issued by the Company, and must not, without the Company's consent, claim more or less payment than the following scale: An initial rate per vessel entering or leaving loaded according to net registered tonnage, namely: 300 tons and under, 10/; 600 tons and under 20/3 1,200 tons and under 30; all over, 1,200 tons, 40/. In addition to the above, a rate of 1/ per mile or portion of a mile will be charged for the distance navigated upon the Canal, except when vessels arrive or leave in ballast, when the full initial fee and half mileage rates are chargeable, but when piloted from one point of the Canal to another, halt the initial fee and the full mileage rate are charged. Extra services. When for the convenience of the owners, a vessel on her passage up or down the Canal, calls at Partington, Acton Grange, Runcorn, Ellesmere Port, or other place, for bunkering or any other purpose, and proceeds on her journey within two hours thereafter, a charge shall be made by the pilot of 5/, but when detained for a day or part of a day, in excess of two hours, a charge of 10/ per day of 24 hours or part of a day be made for detention, commencing from the time of the berthing of the vessel, provided such charge of 10 per day dres not, as a total charge, exceed one-half of the initial fee set out in No. 16 of the Company's Pilotage Bye-Laws. If a vessel is detained beyond 24 hours at any one point of call, she shall he treated as moving from point to point in the Canal. For any special services undefined herein, the charge shall be as agreed between the pilot and the ship's master at the time rendered. The master's signature on the pilot's certificate of services is accepted by the Company as binding upon the master, owner, or ship's agent to pay the charges named thereon.

Towage. Stoppage of steamers at Partington to take in coal will not be considered as breaking the direct voyage Manchester to Eastham. Charges for Tug Assistance to Steamers and for Towage of Sailing Vessels on the Canal:-Frons Eastham or any point in Sections A or B direct to Section C, or vice versa, £5; from

Eastham or any point direct to any point in Sections A or B. or vice versa, £3; from Manchester Docks direct to any point in Section C, or vice versa, also from one point to another in that Section or Latchford Locks, £3; waiting at Eastham, per tide, £2; shifting from point to point in the Manchester Docks when not detained for more than one hour, £1 10s. After first hour 10/- per tug per hour will be charged. Detention, 10/- per tug per hour or part of an hour. Free Towage of Sailing Ship :Sailing vessels with cargoes for Section C are provided with one tug free of charge when proceeding direct up the Canal from Eastham to Section C of the Canal, or returning thence direct to Eastham. If a second tug is required it will be supplied at the rates given in schedule. Sailing vessels with cargoes of timber, grain, &c., destined for Manchester, which after lowering top gallant masts and/or top mast could not pass under the fixed bridges, and in consequence have to discharge below bridges, will be treated in the same manner as if they were proceeding to Manchester direct, and will be supplied with one tug free from Eastham Locks to place of discharge, and back again direct to Eastham. Sailing vessels which have gone direct to Manchester, and after discharging there proceed to Sections A or B to load within the Canal, will be charged towage as per scale, but after having loaded will he towed direct from loading berth to Eastham Locks free of charge. Sailing vessels entering the Canal light or in ballast, to load cargoes not exceeding 240 tons, 2d per net reg. ton up, and 3d per ton upon cargo loaded, down. Sailing vessels with cargoes not exceeding 240 tons, when proceeding direct from Eastham Locks to any point in Sections A or B for discharge within the Canal, or when proceeding from point to paint on the Canal or Manchester Docks, will be charged 3d per ton upon the cargo, with a minimum charge as for when light; when light, 2d per net reg. ton. Detention, 10/- per hour. (1) The Company's printed form of towage requisition must be signed by the master of the vessel, and deposited either at the Dock Office, Manchester, the Company's Office at Runcorn, or at the Liverpool Call Office, 18, Chapel-street, at least twelve hours before the tug is required, and not later than 5 p.m. (2) Upon receipt of the signed towage requisition the Company will endeavour to supply towage power at the time required, but cannot guarantee to have tugs always at liberty, and will not be responsible for delay from any cause. (3) When tugs are in attendance at the time ordered and ship is not ready to proceed, a charge will be made for the time occupied in waiting if the tugs remain, or an equivalent charge if the tugs are ordered off to other employment. Conditions under which the Manchester Ship Canal Company supply tugs:-(1) The Company are not to be responsible or liable for damage or injury to any ship, vessel, or craft, or the persons or goods on board any ship, vessel, or craft of which the Company may undertake the towage or docking in the river Mersey and the Manchester Ship Canal, or which may be piloted to or from any place in the river Mersey and the Ship Canal, or for any loss sustained or liability incurred by any one by reason of such damage or injury, or for any loss or liability incurred in consequence of any such ship, vessel, or craft colliding with or otherwise damaging any other vessel or thing, or for any loss or liability of any kind whatsoever arising from the towing, docking, or piloting, whatever may be the cause