Directory_and_Chronicle_1868 — Page 464

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REGULATIONS FOR BRITISH TRADE WITH JAPAN.

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Vessels needing repairs may land their cargo for that purpose, without the payment of duty. All goods so landed shall remain in charge of the Japanese authorities, and all just charges for storage, labour, and supervision, shall be paid thereon. But if any portion of such cargo be sold, the regular duties shall be paid on the portion so disposed of.

Cargo may be transhipped to another vessel in the same harbor without payment of duty, but all transhipment shall be made under the supervision of Japanese officers, and after satisfactory proof has been given to the Custom-house authorities of the bona fide nature of the transaction, and also under a permit to be granted for that purpose by such authorities.

The importation of opium being prohibited, any British vessel coming to Japan for the purposes of trade, and having more than three catties' weight of opium on board, the surplus quantity may be seized and destroyed by the Japanese authorities; and any persons smuggling, or attempting to smuggle opium, shall be liable to pay a fine of fifteen dollars for each catty of opium so smuggled or attempted to be smuggled.

REGULATION III.-The owner, or consignee of any goods who desires to land them, shall make an entry of the same at the Japanese Custom-house. The entry shall be in writing, and shall set forth the name of the person making the entry, and the name of the ship in which the goods were imported, and the marks, numbers, packages, and the contents thereof, with the value of each package, extended separately in one amount, and at the bottom of the entry shall be placed the aggregate value of all the goods contained in the entry. On each entry, the owner or consignee shall certify in writing that the entry then presented exhibits the actual cost of the goods, and that nothing has been concealed whereby the Customs of Japan would be defrauded, and the owner or consignee shall sign his name to such certificate.

The original invoice or invoices of the goods so entered shall be presented to the Custom-house authorities, and shall remain in their possession until they have examined the goods contained in the entry.

The Japanese officers may examine any or all the packages so entered, and for this purpose may take them to the Custom-house; but such be without expence to the importer or injury to the goods; and, after examination, the Japanese shall restore the goods to their original condition in the packages (so far as may be practicable), and such examination shall be made without any unreasonable delay.

If any owner or importer discovers that his goods have been damaged on the voyage of importation before such goods have been delivered to him, he may notify the Custom- house authorities of such damage, and he may have the damaged goods appraised by two or more competent and disinterested persons, who after the due examination, shall make a certification, setting forth the amount per cent of damage on each separate package, describing it by its mark and number, which certificate shall be signed by the appraisers, in presence of the Custom-house authorities, and the importer may attach the certificate to his entry, and make a corresponding deduction from it. But this shall not prevent the Custom-house authorities from appraising the goods in the manner provided in Article XV. of the Treaty to which these Regulations are appended.

After the duties have been paid, the owner shall receive a permit, authorizing the delivery to him of the goods, whether the same are at the Custom-house or on ship-board.. All goods intended to be exported shall be entered at the Japanese Custom-house- before they are placed on ship-board. The entry shall be in writing, and shall state the name of the ship by which the goods are to be exported, with the marks and number of the packages, and the quantity, description, and value of their contents. The exporter shall certify, in writing, that the entry is a true account of all goods contained therein, and shall sign his name thereto.

Any goods that are put on board of a ship for exportation before they have been entered at the Custom-house, and all packages which contain prohibited articles, shall be forfeited to the Japanese Government.

No entry at the Custom-house shall be required for supplies for the use of the ships.. their crews, and passengers, nor for the clothing, &c., of passengers.

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