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WAREHOUSES IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES.
The private free entrepôts are for the storage of goods which are
subject to the highest rates of duty, as spirits, wines, etc. These
warehouses belong to private persons or companies, but are entirely
under the control of customs officers and are arranged in accordance
with their directions, so that nothing can be introduced or altered
without their authorization.
The entrepots fictifs (fictitious bonded warehouses) are destined
for articles subject to the lower rates of duty, like petroleum, cotton
seed, tobacco, and mineral water. The only supervision exercised by
the customs authorities over these warehouses is the controlling now
and then of the quantities of goods stored therein.
In the warehouses over which no customs supervision is exercised
free goods or goods on which the duty has already been paid are
stored.
A special category of warehouses is formed by those under the
management of the corporations known as “ veemen.” These corporations
charge themselves with the transportation and the storage of
merchandise and issue warrants for the merchandise stored. Under
these warrants they hold themselves responsible for the quantities of
merchandise mentioned in the warrants, and the warrants can be
pawned or sold. Besides the smaller warehouses occupied by these
corporations on the right side of the Maas in the old city, large
modern establishments have been built by them on the left side of the
river. The principal veemen are the following: “ Pakhuismeesteren,”
“ Vriesseveem,” “ Blaauwhoedenveem,” “ Leydscheveem,”
" Nederlandscheveem,” “ Wilhelminaveem,” “ Hollandsveem,” and
“ Ilandelsveem.” Certain parts of the warehouses occupied by some
of these companies can be used as entrepôts fictifs for the storage of
goods subject to minor rates of duty in transit or in bond.
DESCRIPTION OF WAREHOUSES.
The antiquated warehouses of the right side of the river are not
of special importance, and no description of them has been published.
The following details of the great storage establishments on the left
bank of the Maas at Rotterdam are contained in the publication “ Le
Port de Rotterdam,” by H. A. van Yssclstevn. These establishments
include—
(a) One brick warehouse (area 7,400 square meters—8,850 square
yards) and three wooden sheds (total area 9,000 square meters—
10,764 square yards) under the direct management of the free entrepôt
(free public warehouse) and situated on the entrepôt harbor.
This warehouse is divided into five parts, each part bearing the name
of one of the five continents. It consists of a basement and three
floors over it. The merchandise can be hoisted to the several floors
not only by the exterior hydraulic cranes, but also by one windlass
of a capacity of 1.000 kilograms (2,204.6 pounds) and three of a
capacity each of 500 kilograms (1,102.3 pounds).
(b) Twelve wooden and four brick and sheet-iron sheds under the
direct management of the community’s commercial establishments,
situated on the Spoorweghaven (railroad harbor), the Rhine Harbor,
and the Katendrecht Harbor; total area 27,242 square meters (32,511
square yards).
(c) A considerable number of wooden, iron, and brick sheds be-
