120

WAREHOUSES  IN  FOREIGN  COUNTRIES.

to  the  sheds  alongside  are  from  6d.  (12  cents)  to  8d.  (16  cents)  per
ton.  Of  course  all  goods  entering  the  port,  whether  in  transit  or  in
bond  or  going  immediately  into  consumption,  pay  the  inward  dock
rates,  which  range  from  2d.  (4  cents)  per  ton  on  coal  to  Is.  6d.  (36
cents)  on  fresh  fish  and  also  on  furniture  and  other  bulky  articles
light  in  weight.  Taking  all  classes  of  merchandise,  the  average  of
these  shore  dues  or  dock  rates  is  about  8d.  (16  cents)  per  ton.  Goods
entering  the  port  for  reshipment  to  another  port  pay  only  the  inward
dock  rates.  Thus,  if  a  cargo  of  cotton  from  America  is  landed  for
reshipment  to  a  Russian  port  it  may  remain  ten  days  or  two  weeks
in  the  shed  and  then  be  reshipped,  paying  only  the  inward  dock  rates.
The  same  rule  applies  to  transit  goods  in  bond.
The  commissioners  for  the  harbor  and  docks  of  Leith  are  a  trust,
constituted  by  act  of  Parliament  and  vested  by  Parliament  with  the
whole  property  and  revenues  of  the  harbor  and  docks.  The  members
are  appointed  by  the  town  council  of  Edinburgh,  the  town  council
of  Leith,  the  Edinburgh  Merchant  Company,  and  other  public  or
quasi-public  bodies.  They  receive  nothing  for  their  services  and
incur  no  personal  responsibility  for  any  official  acts.  As  a  body  they
are  like  a  private  corporation,  receiving  no  public  support  of  any
kind,  and  dependent  altogether  on  the  revenues  from  shipping*
Unlike  a  private  corporation,  however,  the  commissioners  are  not
liable  for  any  damage  to  goods  or  loss  of  goods  in  the  dock  sheds  by
fire  or  theft.  But  they  are  responsible  to  the  owner  of  merchandise
damaged  by  water  coming  through  a  defective  roof,  if  the  bad  condition ­
  of  the  roof  resulted  from  their  negligence.  They  emplov  no
one  to  take  care  of  goods  in  the  sheds.  The  consignee  is  supposed  to
look  after  his  own  merchandise.  Customs  officers  have  entire  charge
of  the  sections  of  the  sheds  in  which  dutiable  goods  are  temporarily
stored.
Merchandise  remaining  in  the  dock  sheds  after  the  owner  has  been
notified  to  remove  it  is  assessed  as  a  penalty  (not  for  storage)  Is.  (24
cents)  per  ton  per  day.
All  nationalities  are  treated  exactly  alike  by  the  dock  commissioners ­
  and  by  private  warehouse  men.  Practically  no  American  goods
go  into  bond  at  Leith,  for  either  short  or  long  periods.  Almost  without ­
  exception  they  are  non  dutiable  and  as  a  rule  are  delivered  to
customers  from  the  dock  sheds.
For  storage  in  warehouses  owned  by  companies  or  firms  remunerative ­
  rates  are  charged.  For  example,  the  Leith  Dock  Warehouse
Company  (having  bonded  warehouses)  makes  the  following  charges
per  week  on  goods:  Whiskies,  wines,  etc.,  in  bulk,  butts,  pipes  (90  to
120  gallons),  2d.  (4  cents);  hogsheads  (50  to  GO  gallons),  Id.  (2
cents)  ;  quarter  casks  (about  30  gallons),  Id.  (2  cents).  These  rates
are  subject  to  discount  up  to  about  25  per  cent  on  large  parcels*
Whiskies,  wines,  etc.,  in  cases,  one-fourth  penny  (one-half  cent)  pe(
case.  Tea  in  boxes  (about  20  pounds),  one-fourth  penny  (one-hau
cent)  per  bo%;  in  larger  packages  (40  to  100  pounds),  one-half  penny
(1  cent)  per  package.  Other  goods  (coffee,  etc.),  about  lOd.  (2d
cents)  per  ton.
Rufus  Fleming,  Consul-Edinburgh,
  Scotland,  -July  9,  1904.