File No. 763.72112/1534
The Consul General at London ( Skinner ) to the Secretary of State
[Received 3.40 p. m.]
Department’s 2d. Admiralty marshal’s rule is:
On arrival any vessel with contraband or seized under order March 11 master required to discharge cargo ordered placed in prize court and if discharge innocent cargo is necessary expenses of warehousing and reshipment of innocent cargo as well as all dues must be paid by ship. Payment may be made under protest. Should master refuse to discharge collector should make arrangements to discharge it.
In addition to costs of discharging ship must pay local wharf dues owing to private or semiprivate corporations, pilotage and all charges to which ships are subject in ordinary trade and clearance refused until settlement effected. When ships merely arrested at Kirkwall it is understood no charges imposed but when goods are ordered disembarked rule quoted applies.
In case Antilla, ship was detained February 24 to April 27 and paid boiler water £25, Dundee tonnage rates, shore dues, and pilotage £161, reloading cargo £106, lighthouse dues £37. Total bill, exclusive of demurrage, £282. Case of Neches, master refused to pay and Government did not insist. Case of Seaconnet, collector gave clearance in error without collecting costs which Government proposes to collect and in most cases does collect. Furthermore all neutral goods when released are subject to payment heavy storage charges, the British Government assumes no part of burden.