1885.] THE TIMBER TRADE OF MEM EL. 131 



that they are some sleepers short when they come to deliver 

 their cargo ; for there is an old custom at this port that all timber 

 should be delivered to the mate of the vessel at the timber-yard, 

 bills of lading being signed based upon his receipt. The more 

 costly goods are transported in lighters, but for beams and sleepers 

 this would be too expensive. They are therefore bound together in 

 rafts and floated down the river to the ship, a distance of from one 

 to two miles. Beams generally arrive in safety, but sleepers cannot 

 be firmly secured ; and whenever there is some wind or a stron^ 

 current, the rafts get loose and some sleepers drift away, and cannot 

 be recovered without danger to the remainder. The clause generally 

 contained in the charter-party, " to be delivered on board," is 

 vitiated by the words " as customary " being added, and so masters 

 are compelled to receive delivery at the timber-yard. Merchants 

 here insist upon this being the custom of the port ; and masters 

 have alw^ays submitted to it, partly, no doubt, because they find the 

 arrangement not wholly without advantage, since by that means 

 they can obtain the e.xact lengths and qualities which they at the 

 moment require. If, on the other hand, merchants were to send 

 timber to the vessel, the quantity sent would be either too great to 

 be properly secured alongside, or too small, in which latter case the 

 ship would have to lose time in waiting for additional cargo. To 

 guard against being made responsible for short delivery, masters 

 note protest, but the merchants refuse to accept a copy of a 

 document so marked : but they object also to any remark referrinf>" 

 to it being made on the bills of lading, insisting upon having them 

 signed in accordance with the mate's receipt. They can force 

 masters to give clean bills of lading by withholding their declara- 

 tion of goods shipped, such declaration being required by the 

 custom-house before they will grant clearing. Complaints have 

 been made by steamship owners with reference to the above matter, 

 but all my efforts to procure a change have been fruitless ; and I 

 cannot recommend an appeal to a court of law, since I consider that 

 the issue would be doubtful, while the expenses would be great, 

 and the object to be obtained trifling. 



Oah. Staves. — Early in spring a few sales were made at £180 per 

 mille for crown-pipe staves, with first break at £30 less; but during 

 summer the price declined to £140, the less suitable sorts being 

 almost unsaleable. In autumn the demand was somewhat better, 

 owing to the smaller supply coming down the river. 



Crooked oak, as used for ribs of vessels, which in former years 

 was found in this market, is not obtainable at present, shipbuilding 

 having entirely ceased here. 



Oak Bccums. — Business in this article is becoming very difficult. 



