20 THE CUBA REVIEW 
Brits oF LapING 
Two copies of each set of bills of lading are required by the Consulate; the original 
is certified and returned, and a copy not negotiable is kept on file. 
Bills of lading, duly signed by the Consul, must be presented in the Custom House, 
with the consular invoices. 
Bills of lading for short shipped goods must also be signed by the Cuban Consul. 
A duplicate copy of bills of lading may be obtained, without charge, should the origi- 
nal be lost. 
Bills of lading covering merchandise with a value of less than $5.00 need not be cer- 
tified. 
SHIPMENTS OF AUTOMOBILES 
Besides the names of shipper and consignee, name of vessel, mark and numbers, 
gross and net weights, ete., the following particulars will also be required on invoices 
covering shipments of automobiles to Cuba: maker and name of car, year’s model, number 
of the motor, number of cylinders, H. P. type of car, and number of passengers. 
Automobiles owned by tourists and used by them abroad may be entered free of duty, 
provided their reexportation within thirty days is guaranteed by a bond of twice the duty 
on automobiles; the period may at the discretion of the customs officials, be extended an 
additional thirty days. Consular invoices are required for these shipments. The auto- 
mobiles so imported must not be used for gainful purposes in Cuba. 
MERCHANDISE AND ADVERTISING MATTER HAVING NO COMMERCIAL VALUE 
Net weight should be given on Consular invoices covering merchandise and adver- 
tising matter, and a statement made that the articles have no commercial value. Esti- 
mated valuation must be stated. 
INVoIcEes FOR Goops SENT By Matt (*) 
Invoices of merchandise sent by mail must be certified by the Cuban Consul. — 
Goops SHORT SHIPPED 
In those cases where a shipper has had an invoice certified at the Consulate, and it 
later results that the steamship company has “shut out” the entire shipment or 
part of same, the shipper must see that the steamship company marks on the bills of 
lading alongside of those goods which were “shut out,” “Short Shipped.”? The consular 
invoice need not be recertified, but it is well to notify the consignee to the effect that the 
goods are to go forward on whatever steamer the case may be, and not by the steamer 
that appears on the consular invoice, and he will therefore make his entry in the Custom 
House under the correct name of the steamer. 
SAMPLES 
Samples of felt, wall paper, and fabrics, will be admitted in Cuba free of duty, under 
the following conditions: 
That they do not exceed 40 centimeters in length, measured in the warp or length of 
the piece, even when such samples take up the entire width of the piece. The width 
shall, for fabrics, be determined by the list, and for felts and wall paper, by the narrow 
border which has not passed through the press. 
Samples not having these indications shall be admitted free of duty only when they 
do not exceed 40 centimeters in any dimension. 
In order to avoid abuse, the samples declared for free entry must have cuts 20 centi- 
meters apart in their width, so as to render them unfit for any other purpose. 
Samples of hosiery rendered unfit for use by cuts 20 centimeters apart. 
Samples of fabrics; when not presented with cuts 20 centimeters apart, this require- 
ment may be fulfilled at the time of entry, in order that they may be admitted free of duty. 
(*) Shipments by mail to Cuba should not weigh over 4 lbs. and 6 ounces. A Customs Declaration is 
required by the Post Office, attached to each parcel. 
