Directory_and_Chronicle_1875 — Page 836

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PHILIPPINES.

The Philippine Islands contain an area of 52,647 English square miles, with a population, in 1873, of 4,319,269 souls, of whom about one-fourth are slaves. The islands, more than 500 in number, are divided into 27 provinces, 13 of which are on the isle of Luzon, 4 on the isle of Negros, 3 on Panay and 3 on the isle of Mindanao. The chief articles of produce of the Philippine Islands are sugar, hemp, and tobacco. The total exports to Great Britain in 1872 were of the value of £1,376,085, and the imports of British produce of £393,142. The chief article of export in 1872 was unrefined sugar, of the value of £734,946. Of the imports in 1872 the value of £207,245, or considerably more than one-half, was represented by cotton manufactures. The commercial intercourse between the Philippine Islands, as well as the rest of the Colonial Possessions of Spain, and the United Kingdom, has been steadily declining for a number of years.

Port Charge.-On foreign vessels, 2rs. per ton, and one-half on such as neither load nor unload cargo, besides fees amounting from $5 to $15, according to the size of vessels.

P.S.-On account of the Tariff of Import and Export Duties being under revision, it is omitted in this year's issue.

GENERAL ADMINISTRATION OF CUSTOMS OF THE PHILIPPINE

ISLANDS.

Customs Regulations to be observed by Masters, Supercargoes or Consignees of vessels arriving in Ports of the Philippine Islands, and penalties incurred for infringement thereof.

Rule I.-Masters of national or foreign vessels arriving at these islands from a foreign port will deliver their manifests to the visiting officer of the Customs on his arrival on board, under penalty of a fine of two hundred dollars. For all manifests not certified or attested to by the Spanish Consul of the port of their departure, a fine of one hundred dollars will be imposed; and if the manifests are not extended in conformity with the first Rule of the Royal Order of the 1st July, 1859, a fine of twenty-five dollars will be demanded.

Rule II.-The master or supercargo of every vessel is enjoined to be present at all the visits which may be made on board by the preventive service of the port, on entering or leaving, and on loading or discharging, and he must sign the document or certificate of such visit as well as the commander of the carbineers who makes the visit and his accompanying witnesses. Should it not be possible for such master or supercargo to go through this formality, it will devolve on the officer next in rank to act in his stead.

Rule III-Masters of vessels arriving from foreign ports with any cargo on board are allowed 30 hours at Manila, and 48 at Cavite, after the entrance visit, to send in to the collector of Customs a manifest in triplicate, written in Spanish on plain paper and of uniform size, containing the name of the master, that of the ship, the number of Spanish tons burthen, the place whence the ship cornes, a description by marks and numbers both in writing and in figures of each package of goods on board, the names of the consignees, the weight, measurement, and kind of goods stowed in bulk, their names, with every distinctness, those of the goods to remain in transit on board, and those to be discharged; specifying if possible the articles to be left in bond and those for consumption, the provisions, spare stores, armament, and coals, in case the vessel be a steamer, and, finally a note stating that the vessel does not carry any other goods, and that none of those manifested are prohibited from fear of contagion. After which the master will affix his signature making himself answerable to the Custom-house for the correctness of the manifest.

Rule IV.-If from stress of weather or other extraordinary cause, the master of a vessel may have been obliged, during the voyage, to throw overboard part of the cargo, a declaration to that effect must be made, and a specification will be required of the marks, numbers, and quantities, as far as possible, of the cargo so jettisoned, and