}
2
the movements of the vessel. In fact, the Charter for a fixed payment acquired not only full control, but exemption from the native fees given him by the flag. My first impulse was to discountenance altogether the chartering of British launches to Chinese, but on reflection it appeared to me that the launches would merely be transferred to persons of other nationalities less scrupulous, and that these launches act as some check on the rapacity of the Chinese officials, who cannot tax them as they do native craft, and so secure to British trade some advantage in cheaper freights. By adopting more stringent Regulations in dealing with launches, the difficulty might probably be avoided. With this object I have drawn up and now inclose for your consideration an amended form of Certificate of British Registry, a specimen of the form hitherto in use, and a set of proposed local Regulations. These last may appear drastic, but to evolve order out of the present chaos and to prevent discredit falling on the British flag I consider them necessary and ask your favourable consideration of them. You can, no doubt, appreciate the difficulty, nay, impossibility, of making sure that persons declaring themselves the owners of launches are actually and bond fide what they describe themselves.
the
Complaints having been made by the Imperial Maritime Customs as to the bad state of repair of many of the British launches, which complaints were confirmed by some of His Majesty's naval officers, I have secured more efficient surveys by appointing Mr. G. W. Appleby, the Customs engineer and surveyor, sole surveyor of these launches, as he is already of the native craft. They have since shown a marked improvement.
I have, &c. (Signed)
R. W. MANSFIELD.
3
Inclosure 3 in No. 1.
ORIGINAL Form of Certificate of British Registry in use in Canton.
Name of vessel.....
Where and when built.
How propelled.
Length over all..
Main breadth.
Tonnage.......
Name, residence, and occupation of owner
Dated at Canton this........ .....day of.........
190......
This Certificate of Registry is issued in terms of the Maritime Order in Council of 1874, under sanction of His Britannic Majesty's Minister, dated Peking, February 3, 1986.
His Britannic Majesty's Consul-General.
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
AMENDED Form of Certificate of British Registry in Canton.
Name of vessel......
Where and when built..
Length over all......
Main breadth.
Tonnage........
Name, residence, and occupation of owner
Name and shore address of master.
Name and shore address of engineer...
Number of crew
Arms and ammunition carried.
Dated at Canton this..........
..day of..
... 190......
Inclosure 4 in No. 1,
Proposed Local Canton Rules for British Steam Launches,
NO Charter of a steam-launch flying the British flag will be recognized unless registered at His Britannic Majesty's Consulate-General, and it is distinctly under- stood that the owners will be held solely responsible, irrespective of any agreement which he may have made with a charterer, that all existing Rules and Regulations are duly observed.
2. Every change of captain, engineer, or member of crew must be registered at the Consulate-General.
3. Any British launch found outside a Treaty port without her Certificate of British Registry will render herself liable to the penalties specified in No. 5 of these Rules, unless her owner can give an explanation of its absence to the satisfaction of His Britannic Majesty's Consul-General.
4. British launches are bound when required by the officers of His Majesty's ships, officers of the Imperial Maritime Customs, or Chinese officials in charge of li-kin or native customs stations to exhibit their Certificates of British Registry.
5. Owners of British launches may, at the discretion of His Britannic Majesty's Consul-General, be required to deposit a sum of 500 dollars to 1,500 dollars in accordance with the size of the launch, as a guarantee that all existing Rules and Regulations will be observed and that there shall be no misuse of the flag.
The following shall be the scale of deposit :-
Launches under 30 tons
y{ }}~J} JJ
of 60-80
11
+7
over 80
::::
*
Dollars.
500
800
1,000
1,500
Date of last survey..................................
This Certificate of Registry is issued to a British subject under the sanction of His Britannic Majesty's Minister, dated Peking, February 3, 1886.
Breaches of these Regulations will be punished by forfeiture in whole or in part of the above deposits at the discretion of His Britannic Majesty's Consul- General.
141