|
|
Method of admeasuring vessels when afloat.
|
XVI. And whereas the officer or officers so appointed to examine and admeasure such ships and vessels as aforesaid, may not always be enabled to cause such ship or vessel to be laid on shore for the purpose of ascertaining her tonnage: and whereas it would in some cases endanger such ship or vessel so to do: be it therefore enacted, That in all cases where it may be necessary to ascertain the tonnage of any such ships or vessels when afloat, the following method shall be observed, viz. drop a plumb line over the stern of the ship, and measure the distance between such line and the after part of the stern post at the load water wark, then measure from the top of the said plumb line in a parallel direction with the water to a perpendicular point immediately over the load water mark at the fore part of the main stern, subtracting from such measurement the above distance, the remainder will be the ships extreme length, from which is to be deducted three inches for every foot of the load draught of water for the rake abaft, and also three fifths of the ships breadth for the rake forward, the remainder shall be esteemed the just length of the keel, to find the tonnage and the breadth shall be taken from outside to outside of the plank in the broadest part of the ship, either above or below the main wales exclusive of all manner of sheathing or doubling that may be wrought upon the side of the ship, then multiplying the length of the keel for tonnage by the breadth so taken, and that product by half the breadth, and dividing by ninety-four the quotient shall be deemed the true contents of the tonnage.
|
