Directory_and_Chronicle_1879 — Page 742

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REGULATIONS REGULATIONS UNDER WHICH BRITISH TRADE IS

TO BE CONDUCTED IN JAPAN.

REGULATION I.-Within forty-eight hours (Sunday excepted) after the arrival of a British ship in a Japanese port, the captain or commander shall exhibit to the Japanese Custom-house authorities the receipt of the British Consul, showing that he has deposited all the ship's papers, the ship's bills of lading, &c., at the British Consulate, and he shall then make an entry of his ship, by giving a written paper, stating the name of the ship, and the name of the port from which she comes, her tonnage, the name of her captain or commander, the names of her passengers (if any), and the number of her crew, which paper shall be certified by the captain or commander to be a true statement, and shall be signed by him: he shall, at the same time, deposit a written manifest of his cargo, setting forth the marks and numbers of the packages, and their contents, as they are described in his bills of lading, with the names of the persons or person to whom they are consigned. A list of the stores of the ship shall be added to the manifest. The captain or commander shall certify the manifest to be a true account of all the cargo and stores on board the ship, and shall sign his name to the same.

If any error is discovered in the manifest, it may be corrected within twenty-four bours (Sunday excepted) without the payment of any fees, but for any alteration or post entry to the manifest made after that time, a fee of fifteen dollars shall be paid.

All goods not entered on the manifest shall pay double duties on being landed. Any captain or commander that shall neglect to enter his vessel at the Japanese Custom-house within the time prescribed by this regulation, shall pay a penalty of sixty dollars for each day that he shall so neglect to enter his ship.

REGULATION II -The Japanese Government shall have the right to place Custom. house officers on board of any ship in their ports (men-of-war excepted). All Custom-house officers shall be treated with civility, and such reasonable accommoda- tion shall be allotted to them as the ship affords.

No goods shall be unladen from any ship between the hours of sunset and sunrise, except by special permission of the Custom-house authorities, and the hatchway, and all other places of entrance into that part of the ship where the cargo is stowed, inay be secured by Japanese officers between the hours of sunset and sunrise, by fixing seals, locks, or other fastening; and if any person shall, without due permission, open any entrance that has been affixed by the Japanese Custom-house officers, every person so offending shall pay a fine of sixty dollars for each offence.

Any goods that shall be discharged from any ship, without having been duly entered at the Japanese Custom-house as hereinafter provided, shall be liable to seizure and confiscation.

Packages of goods made up with an intent to defraud the revenue of Japan, concealing therein articles of value which are not set forth in the invoice, shall be forfeited.

If any British ship shall smuggle, or attempt to smuggle goods, at any of the non-opened harbours of Japan, all such goods shall be forfeited to the Japanese Government, and the ship shall pay a fine of one thousand dollars for each offence.

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 barbour 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, and British vessels 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;