6 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



classificatiou and assessment, with some changes in rates of duty, and 

 all conduct an export and import business. The central office is at 

 San Juan. 



Offices now open are located as follows : San Juan, Mayaguez, Ponce, 

 Humacao, Aguadilla, Arroyo, Arecibo, Guauica. 



Custom-houses at the following places have recently been discontin- 

 ued, and were all of the second class except the last : Fajardo, Naguabo, 

 Oabo Eojo, Salinas, Guayanilla, Isabel Segunda (Vieques Island). 



On January 20, 1899, the President, through the War Department, 

 promulgated an order relating to the " Customs tariff and regulations 

 for Porto Eico." This order, which went into effect February 1, made 

 some changes in duties and regulations. Extracts are given as follows : 



Trade between ports of tlie Uuited States and all ports or places in Porto Rico, 

 and trade between ports or places in Porto Rico, shall be carried on in registered 

 vessels of the Uuited States and in no others. 



Any merchandise transported in violation of this regulation shall be subject to 

 forfeiture. 



For every passenger transported and landed in violation of this regulation the 

 transporting vessel shall be subject to a penalty of $200. 



This regulation shall not be construed to forbid the sailing of other than regis- 

 tered vessels of the United States with cargo and j)assengers between the United 

 States and ports or places in Porto Rico, or between ports or places in Porto Rico, 

 provided that none are landed, but are destined for some foreign port or place. 



This regulation shall not be construed to authorize any lower customs charges on 

 the cargoes of American vessels entering from the United States than are paid on 

 the cargoes of foreign vessels entering from foreign ports. 



Every vessel shall, on arrival, be placed under customs control until duly 

 discharged. 



Within 24 hours after the arrival of any vessel the master must, under a penalty 

 for failure of $1 per ton registry measurement, produce to the proper officer a mani- 

 fest of her cargo, with the marks, numbers, and description of the packages and 

 the names of the respective consignees, which manifest, if the vessel be from a port 

 in the United States, shall be certified by the collector of the port of sailing. 



No vessel shall be allowed to clear for another port until all her cargo shall be 

 landed or accounted for. 



All goods not duly entered for payment of duty within 10 days after their arrival in 

 port shall be landed and stored, the expense thereof to be charged against the goods. 



Prior to the depati-ture of any vessel from any of the ports herein designated the 

 master shall deposit with the proper officer a manifest of the outward cargo of such 

 vessel, specifying the marks and numbers of packages, a description of their con- 

 tents, with names of shippers and consignees, with a statement of the value of each 

 separate lot; also names of passengers and their destination. A clearance will 

 then be granted to the vessel. 



Vessels engaged in trade between the United States and Porto Rico are exempt 

 from tonnage dues. 



Duties from and after February 1, 1899, on fishery products are as follows per 

 100 kilograms:* 



Salt cod and stockfish $0. 50 



Herring, pickled, smoked, salted, or marinated 50 



Mackerel, pickled, smoked, salted, or marinated 1. 00 



Salmon, canned, smoked, salted, or marinated 5. 00 



Oysters of all kinds, and shellfish, dried or fresh .50 



*l kilogram =: 2.2 pounds avoirdupois. 



