INVOICE.

Q.-When goods come on board what document comes with them?

A.-An invoice, which is often called a boat note.

Q.-How many invoices usually come off, and what becomes

of them?

A.-Two: the master signs one and gives it back, and files the other.

Q.-What is meant by an invoice for shipping purposes?
A.-An account of goods sold or consigned.

Q.-What particulars does it contain?

A.-A description of goods with marks and numbers; also the prime cost, and all charges; also the name of the ship, of the master, export merchant, and of the consignee.

Q. What are the charges?

A.-Freight, insurance, entry bond duty, dock charges, lighterage, commission, stamps, &c.

Q.-What is the use of the invoice ?

A.-It enables the consignee to put a proper value on the cargo.

Copies are usually sent to the ship so that there may be no delay in entering the cargo at the Custom House, where they are required for assessing duties.

MANIFEST.

Q.-What is a manifest?

A.-A document dated and signed by the master, containing ship's name, port of registry, registered tonnage, the master's name, particulars as to the cargo on board, such as the marks, numbers, and quantity of the different articles as cargo, the names of the shippers and consignees, port of loading and discharge, list of stores, crew and passengers, &c.; in fact, full particulars relating to the ship, the cargo, the crew, and the passengers (if any).

Q.-Where do you obtain the items for making up the manifest? A. From the bills of lading.

Q.-What is done with the manifest?

A.-It must be handed over to the Custom House on the arrival of the ship at the port of destination.

LLOYD'S AGENTS.

Q.-If a vessel puts into a port in distress, is the master bound to employ Lloyd's Agent?

A.-No; the master himself is agent for all concerned.

Q.-Under what circumstances can the authority of the master be dispensed with?

A. When he neglects his duty or abandons his charge, and his conduct is such as to cause the existing authorities to deprive him of the command (which can only be done with the consent of the consignee of the cargo), the authority of the master can be dispensed with.

PROTESTS, SURVEYS, &c.

Q.-In case the merchant's correspondent at port of loading should refuse or not be able to furnish a cargo, what would you do under such circumstances?

A.-Lay out my lay days, having previously given written notice of being ready to load.

If arrived at a port of loading and cannot find the merchant or consignee, be sure to advertise and keep copies of the papers, and put notices up at the Exchange and Custom House or any other public place.

Q.-Is it proper to wait the demurrage days under such circumstances?

A.-Not unless requested to do so.

Q.-What do you next do?

A.-Protest against the merchant for non-fulfilment of charter party, and send the protest home to enable the owner to recover damages.

Q.-What would you then do with the ship?

A.-I am then at liberty to return in ballast to my chartered port of discharge, and have a right to my full freight; but it is better to seek a freight in another direction, and claim the deficiency of freight from the merchant.

Q.-If on the expiry of the lay days the cargo be not fully unladen, how would you act?

A.-Protest against the merchant or shipper, so that the ship may thereafter lay on demurrage. Similar protests ought to be taken at the expiry of the demurrage days.

Q.-Suppose you put into port with decks swept and bulwarks gone, &c., what would you do?

A.-Report myself to the port authorities and to my Consul, and note a protest.

Q.-If on arrival at port you suspect your ship or cargo to be damaged, in consequence of bad weather experienced during the passage, what is the first thing you would do?

A.-Note a protest "against wind and weather," as the term is. Q. What is meant by noting a protest?

A.-Going to a notary; or, if in a foreign port, to the British Consul, and giving the particulars of the voyage, the storms and gales encountered, as entered in the log book, protesting that any damage that may have happened was caused by winds, bad weather, &c., stating that you anticipate damage to the ship or cargo, or both, and he makes a note to that effect.

Q.-Within what time must you note a protest?
A. Within twenty-four hours of arrival in port.

Q.—What is the next thing you do when you have perishable cargo on board, or anticipate damage to have occurred either to ship or cargo?

A.--Call a survey on it.

Q. While opening the hatches, before bulk is broken, what precaution should be taken?

A.-It may be necessary to hold a survey in order to ascertain whether the hatches have been properly battened down and secured.

Q.-Whom would you call as surveyors ?

A.-In surveying a ship, two shipmasters, or, in their absence, any two qualified persons; in surveying a cargo, merchants acquainted with the nature of, but not interested in, the cargo should be called as surveyors.*

Q.-Suppose damage to have occurred to the ship, what do you first ask of the surveyors ?

A.-A written report or certificate as to the particulars of the damage.

Q. What would you do with the certificate they gave you? A.-Send a duplicate to the owners.

Q.-Before surveying the cargo is anything to be done, if so, what?

*In the principal ports of Australia there are licensed surveyors who must be employed.

A. Yes; a survey should be previously made upon stowage and dunnage of the cargo on board.

Q. What should the surveyors of a cargo be able to certify, in order to save a claim being made on the ship for damage?

A.—That the ship is properly dunnaged and stowed, and that the hatches are well battened.

If the damage be of any extent it will be your first duty to have a survey of the ship and cargo made by competent and fitly qualified persons. For that purpose it may be necessary to unload and warehouse the cargo, and the expenses of so doing are matter of general average. You ought to forward copies of the surveys and protest to your owners and the shippers, and if you can hear from them in a reasonable time, you ought to await their instructions. Perhaps the surveyors may report that the cargo, or at least part of it, should be sold; but this recommendation, you will adopt or not, just as you, acting as an honest man, consider it proper or necessary, and the best that can be done in the circumstances, for the benefit of all concerned.

Q.-Upon whom does the expense of this survey fall?

A. This survey being done for the protection of the shipowner, the expenses fall upon him.

Q. What should the survey report of a cargo particularize? A.-The survey report of a cargo must particularize the goods damaged, mentioning their marks, numbers, &c. Specify the nature of the damage, and the cash market price of the goods were they in a sound state; the master of the vessel also ought to be called to attend the survey upon them, and to certify, in writing, the nature and cause of the damage.

Q. What must the surveyors be able to certify, so as to enable the shipper to make a claim upon the underwriters?

A. They must certify the goods to be damaged by sea water. Q. When the repairs of the ship have been completed, what do?

do you

A. Call the surveyors to inspect the vessel, and give a written report or certificate, as to the repairs which have been executed. Q. What further steps will you take to protect the ship? A.-Extend the protest.

Q. What is meant by extending a protest?

A.-Going to the same notary with your log-book, and other documents relating to the damage, &c., and he draws up or extends in legal form these particulars.

Q.-After the cargo is discharged they condemn your ship, what will you do?

A-Charter another vessel and forward the goods on, or it would be better to communicate with my owners and merchants for instructions.

Q.-In this case would the full freight be due to the owners, whatever freight you might pay to the other ship?

A. Yes.

do?

Q.-You cannot get another ship, what would you A.-If a perishable cargo, sell it; if not, warehouse it. Telegraph or write home to my owner, informing him what I had done.

Q.-Suppose you are up the Black Sea and chartered home for a full and complete cargo of grain; you commence to load and receive a quantity of grain, the merchant informs you that he is unable to furnish a full and complete cargo, what will you do?

A.-Call a survey and have the space measured off. If the merchant agrees to pay freight for the difference of cargo, I would sign clean bills of lading; if not I would protest.

Q.-In extending a protest what must you be very careful about?

A. To see that nothing is put into it that cannot be proved by the ship's log.

Q.-If you were in a steamer and had gone in with machinery damaged, whom would you call on the survey?

A.-A shipmaster and an engineer.

Q.-Suppose you had no money to pay for the repairs of your ship, what would you do to procure it?

A.-Telegraph or write to my owners, if I could do so.

Q.-Suppose you are too far off to do so in a reasonable time,

what would you try next?

A. To raise the money by a bill upon my owners.

Q.-You cannot succeed in raising money in that way?
A.-I would try to get it on a bottomry bond.

BOTTOMRY, &c.

Q. What is a bottomry bond?

A.-A contract whereby a ship is pledged in security of money advanced for the purposes of her voyage.

Q.-Under what circumstances is a master authorised to borrow on bottomry.

A. When he cannot procure money on his own credit, or by drafts on his owner, and has no other means of obtaining money on the credit of the property.