1^4 TiMEHRI. 



fitted with floor plates and double bottoms tor water bal- 

 last. It is now ena6led by the last Merchant Shipping 

 A61 that if the space between the inner and outer 

 plating is not available for cargo, or stores, or fuel, the 

 depth is to be taken to the upper side of the inner plating 

 of double bottom, which is to be deemed to be the floor 

 timber. (Sea. 8i, M. S. Aa, 1894, and Schedule No. 2, 

 Rule i). There are further provisions for the measure- 

 ment of ships having cargo on board, and for ascertain- 

 ing the tonnage of open ships or vessels, but these are 

 seldom used. 



By Seaion 82 of the Merchant Shipping Aa, 1894, 

 the tonnage of a ship once ascertained is to be deemed 

 the tonnage of the ship, unless any alteration has been 

 made in the form or capacity of the ship, or unless the 

 tonnage has been erroneously computed, in either of 

 which cases the ship shall be re-measured and her ton- 

 nage determined and registered according to the tonnage 

 regulations of the Aa. It is well to observe with regard 

 to the last paragraph, that registration anew will not be 

 required, unless the ship has been lengthened or altered 

 into a barque, or the latter into a brig, &c., &c. ; a 

 new poop or deck house would be recorded on the 

 ship's register. As a means of testing approximately 

 the tonnage of small vessels, such as generally trade 

 between this port and the Pomeroon distria, previous to 

 registry with a view of ascertaining whether they are of 

 less or more than 15 tons, the followiug formula will be 

 found of use : — 



L X B X D X '45 



100 



[-approximate tonnage under deck. 



