Primage 10 per cent...

Example of a Freight Note used in the Coal Trade.

When a boat chartered for coal has discharged her cargo in London a freight account is rendered to the owners in the above form, they being credited with the amount of freight, and debited with the usual charges borne by them.

Metage means the cost of weighing the coal out of the ship, which is usually 2d. per ton, half of it is paid by the owners and half by the merchant.

Cash to captain is the money advanced by the merchant to the captain on account of the freight.

Signalling is a charge made for signalling to the collier station at Tilbury that the boat has arrived.

FREIGHT RECEIPT.

After payment of the freight, the freight note is receipted by the shipbroker, and it then becomes a freight receipt, and is usually filed away as such.

BILLS OF LADING.

A bill of lading, as will be seen from the example given, is a receipt for goods which have been shipped on board a vessel, and an undertaking to deliver them at a certain place, to the shipper's order, or to the order of a named assignee. If the shipper be the charterer of the vessel, the freight is usually named in the charter party; but if the ship is a general one-that is, taking a general cargo of goods on account of various shippers, the freight to be paid is usually stated on the bills of lading, which are either endorsed "Freight Paid" or "Freight Forward" as the case may be.

It sometimes happens that a charterer of a vessel, or a part of her, will sub-let a portion of his freight to another, in which case, if he make a profit or a loss by the underletting, the rate of freight mentioned on the bill of lading will necessarily differ from that stated on the charter party.

SHIPPED in good order and condition by

Example of a Bill of Lading.

on board the Steam Ship

via the Suez Canal, with

and to take

whereof is master for this present voyage
lying in the port of London, and bound for
liberty to discharge and receive goods and passengers at
in coal or other necessary supplies at any intermediate port or ports, to sail with or without
pilots, and to tow and assist vessels in all situations of distress.

being marked and numbered as per margin; and to be
delivered, subject to the exceptions and conditions hereinafter mentioned, in the like good
aforesaid Port of
order and condition from the ship's tackles (where the ship's responsibility shall cease,) at the
or so near thereto as she may safely get, unto

or to his or their assigns. Freight for the said goods and primage (if any) to be paid by the
shippers in LONDON, on delivery of the Bills of Lading, in cash without deduction, ship lost
or not lost. Average as accustomed.

The following are the exceptions and conditions above referred to :-
Weight, measure, quality, contents, and value unknown.

The Act of God; the King's Enemies; pirates; robbers by land or sea; restraint of princes,
rulers or people; loss or damage from machinery, boilers or steam, or from explosion,
heat, or fire on board in hulk or craft, or on shore; jettison; barratry; any act, neglect,
or default whatsoever, of Pilots, Master, or crew in the management or navigation of the
ship; and all and every the dangers and accidents of the seas, rivers and canal, and
navigation of whatever nature or kind are excepted.

The ship is not liable for insufficient packing, or reasonable wear and tear of packages; for
inaccuracies, obliteration, or absence of marks, numbers, address or description of goods
shipped; leakage; breakage; loss or damage by dust from coaling on the voyage; sweat;
rust; decay. Fines and expenses and losses by detention of ship or cargo, caused by
incorrect marking, or by incomplete or incorrect description of contents or weight, or of
any other particulars required by the authorities at the port of discharge, upon either the
packages or bills of lading, shall be borne by the owners of the goods.

(Continued.)

Example of a Bill of Lading (continued)—

The Steamer, while detained at any port for the purpose of coaling, is at liberty to discharge and receive goods and passengers.

The Owners of this Steamer will not be accountable for Gold, Silver, Bullion, Specie, Jewel-
lery, Precious Stones, or Precious Metals, or beyond the amount of One Hundred Pounds
for any one package, unless the bills of lading are signed for such goods, and the value
declared therein.

If medicinal fluids, or any other goods of an inflammable, damaging or dangerous nature are
shipped without being previously declared and arranged for, they are liable, upon dis-
covery, to be thrown overboard, and the loss will fall upon the Shippers or owners of such
fluids or goods.

The goods are to be discharged from the ship as soon as public intimation is given that she is
ready to unload, and if not thereupon removed without delay by the consignee, the master
or agent is to be at liberty to land the same, or, if necessary, to discharge into hulk,
lazaretto, or hired lighters at the risk and expense of the owners of the goods.

In case of quarantine, the goods may be discharged into quarantine depot, hulk, or other
vessel, as required for the ship's despatch. Quarantine expenses upon the goods of what-
ever nature and kind, shall be borne by the owners of the goods.

In case of the blockade or interdict of the port of discharge, or if the entering of or discharg-
ing in the port shall be considered by the master unsafe by reason of war or disturbances,
the master may land the goods at the nearest safe and convenient port, at the expense
and risk of the owners of the goods; and the ship's responsibility shall cease when the
goods are so discharged into proper and safe keeping; the master giving immediate notice
of the same to the consignees of the goods, so far as they can be ascertained.
The master or agent shall have a lien on the goods for payments made, or liabilities incurred
in respect of any charges stipulated herein to be borne by the owners of the goods.

In case any part of the within goods cannot be found during the Ship's stay at the port of
destination, they are when found to be sent back by first Steamer at the Ship's risk and
expense, and subject to any proved claim for loss of market.

The Ship shall not be liable for incorrect delivery unless each packet shall have been distinctly marked by the Shippers before shipment with the name of the port of destination.

IN WITNESS whereof the Master or Agent of the said Ship has signed

Bills

of Lading, exclusive of the Master's copy, all of this tenor and date, one of which being accomplished, the others to stand void.

Dated at London

18