WEIGHING OF SUGARS

Art. 682. Method of weighing.-All imported raw sugars shall be weighed without regard to mark. Raw sugars are to be weighed gross and, whenever practicable, in drafts of uniform size or of a uniform number of bags, and the tare of trucks and slings, if weighed, deducted periodically as hereinafter prescribed.

Art. 683. Recording weights-Reports.-(a) The weigher's return shall show the total weight of the cargo, and shall also show separately for each scale, each half day, the weight of all (a) wet sugar, (b) damaged sugar not wet, (c) ship sweepings, (d) dock sweepings, (e) other sugar. The weigher shall make a daily report on Customs Form 5993 to the examiner or sampler in charge, which shall show separately for each scale, each half day, the total number of packages weighed of (a) wet sugar, (b) damaged sugar not wet, (c) ship sweepings, (d) dock sweepings, (e) other sugar. All ship and dock sweepings and sugar samples taken before weighing shall be weighed before the weigher completes his half day's work. In no instance shall the weigher make a return by filling in the weight from the invoice.

(b) For the purpose of recording and computing net weights, each working day will be divided into four periods, and the weights for each period kept separate, and recapitulated or summarized by starting a new page for each period. All weights are to be recorded in a dock book (or on adding-machine sheets if the latter are used) in the usual manner, the truck number, number of bags in each load, and gross weight being entered in one line. Actual tare of the trucks and slings, if weighed, shall be taken before commencing work in each period by weighing all trucks and all slings for each scale morning and noon and one-half the trucks and slings for each scale for the intermediate periods. The truck numbers, individual and average weight per truck, and total and average weight per sling are to be placed in the middle bottom column, right-hand side of dock book, or in designated place on adding-machine sheets. The total tare, computed according to the number of drafts weighed, shall be deducted from the summary of the gross weight for each period. In computing such tare for each period's work, if a fraction of one-half pound or less results it shall be discarded; if over one-half pound, the next higher unit shall be taken. In addition to the recapitulation each page

must have denoted thereon the designating scale letter or number, date, and signature of weigher.

Art. 684. Testing weighing implements.-Weighers will be required to test and balance their scales or weighmaster's beams with United States standard test weights immediately before the beginning of work and every hour, on the hour, thereafter, and to record the result of balance. They will furthermore be required to see that all trucks and slings used in connection with weighing are maintained at an established uniform weight.

Art. 685. Automatic scales.-Wherever available, the Treasury Department automatic scales shall be used in preference to all other types of scales. They shall be under the direct supervision of the mechanical and electrical engineer in charge of scales and that official shall be held responsible for their proper operation and repair. The weigher shall operate the scales in strict accordance with instructions furnished by said official. A copy of these instructions shall be kept permanently in each scale house. All defects in operation shall be promptly reported to said official and a notation in reference to the same made in the dock book or on the adding-machine sheet.

Art. 686. Custody of scale keys.-The inspector or officer in charge of the station shall have charge of the keys necessary for the operation of the automatic scales. In commencing the weighing of a cargo it shall be his duty to unlock the scale houses and assign to each weigher or officer acting in that capacity the adjusting and operating keys corresponding to the designating letter of the respective scale, and to the weigher or inspector in charge one scale house key. The station inspector, or where none is assigned the weighing officer in charge, shall retain in his custody the keys for the record compartment, and under no circumstances permit them to pass into the possession of any other person without written instructions from the collector. At the completion of the day's work it shall be the duty of the inspector in charge to see that the scale houses are locked and otherwise secured against intrusion, and that all electric power is properly switched off. Those to whom keys have been assigned will be held to a strict accountability for their safe-keeping.

Art. 687. Reports on operation of automatic scales.-At the end of each working day each weigher (or official acting in that capacity) shall mail to the mechanical and

electrical engineer in charge of scales a time slip (customs Form 6031) stating with the designating letter of scale, the number of hours the scale was in use, the hourly balance weights and adjustments, and the number of bags weighed on the scale in each period, together with the name of the vessel from which the cargo was discharged and a note of any defect in operation of the scales.

Art. 688. Removal of tapes.-Upon the completion of weighing of a cargo on an automatic scale, the designated inspector shall remove the printed tape record from the scales. He shall record on the same, legibly and permanently, name of vessel, date of arrival, designating letter of scale, and time of removal of tape; and will be held accountable for the same until properly filed with the weigher's return. Under no condition will the regularly designated inspector permit the keys for the record compartment of the scales to pass into possession of any person not designated by the collector to remove record tapes.

TARING OF CONTAINERS

37572.

Art. 689. Taring by mark.-(a) All tare shall be taken T. Ds. 32796. by mark. When sugar is in tierces, hogsheads, barrels, boxes, or irregular packages, actual tare shall be taken. When sugar is in bags (other than the standard Cuban sugar bag), baskets, and mats, the actual tare shall be taken and determined by cleaning the following percentage of the receptacles in each mark:

Per cent

Marks of less than 1,000..

4

Marks of 1,000 and less than 4,000 (but in no such mark less than 40 receptacles).

3

Marks of 4,000 and less than 10,000 (but in no such mark less than 120 receptacles)..

2.5

Marks of 10,000 and over (but in no such mark less than 250 receptacles).

1-2

(b) When sugar in the containers mentioned above is discharged and weighed at points other than refineries, actual tare shall be taken of the largest number of receptacles practicable and the percentage tared per mark shall be as nearly as possible that given above.

(c) When, in the opinion of the weigher, the condition of the receptacles is such as to make advisable the taring of a larger percentage than that provided above, he shall tare as many receptacles as, in his judgment, are necessary to secure a proper tare. All such receptacles are

T. Ds. 33701, 36305, 36306.

T.Ds.36305,36306.

T. D. 32976.

to be thoroughly cleaned by scraping and sweeping before the tare is taken.

Art. 690. Schedule tare.-(a) In general, there shall be allowed a schedule tare of 21⁄2 pounds per bag for Cuban sugar imported in standard bags. A sugar bag having an area of 1,392 square inches when laid flat (29 inches in width by 48 inches in length) is hereby defined for tare purposes as the standard Cuban sugar bag. When the area of sugar bags varies by more than 2 per cent from the standard area of 1,392 square inches, or the bag is not of the usual textile, the schedule tare shall be increased or diminished in proportion to the amount the area or the weight of the bags varies from that of the standard bag. In determining schedule tare the percentage of the number of bags to be measured for each mark shall be the same as that for actual tare. Where the bags bearing any mark differ in size, the schedule tare allowed shall be based upon the average dimensions of the entire number of bags bearing such mark.

(b) In measuring the bags they shall be flattened out to their fullest extent and the folded part at the mouth of the bag shall be turned out. In determining the length, the measurement shall be taken along the seam at the side. In determining the width, the measurement shall be taken across the back at a distance of about 4 inches from the mouth.

Art. 691. Actual tare.-In determining actual tare, all bags shall be selected with careful discrimination as to condition and every care exercised to insure their accurately representing the mark. The bags shall be carefully dry-cleaned by sweeping and scraping and then weighed, which weight shall be taken as the actual tare.

Art. 692. Verification of schedule tare.-When the collector has reason to doubt the correctness of any schedule tare, he shall verify such schedule tare by taking actual tare. If the importer shall file a written applica tion representing that there is an excessive number of damaged bags in a given importation and shall give the approximate percentage of the damaged and sound bags, and shall on that account request that actual tare be taken, the collector, if satisfied that the facts are as stated, shall determine the actual tare on the importation.

Art. 693. Acceptance of actual tare.-Whenever actual tare is determined on any importation and is found to differ from the schedule tare by not more than 5 per cent,

the schedule tare shall be allowed on such importation. In the event that the actual tare differs from the schedule tare by more than 5 per cent, the actual tare shall be the accepted tare.

GAUGING OF MOLASSES

Art. 694. Plans of storage tanks.-Where molasses is imported in bulk in tank vessels and is to be pumped or discharged into storage tanks, the gallonage capacity of the latter, per inch in height, shall be ascertained while the storage tank is empty on the basis of 231 cubic inches to the gallon. Before the discharging is permitted, there must be on file in the customhouse a certified copy of the plans of the storage tank, showing all inlets and outlets. All outlets of the storage tank shall be sealed by the gauger before pumping begins. In the event a storage tank is partially filled with molasses, the gauger will ascertain the quantity contained therein before the pumping of the new importation is commenced. He shall also carefully examine the pump line to see that the same is in good condition.

Art. 695. Time of gauging.-After the discharge is com- T. D. 42927. pleted all inlets to the tank will be carefully sealed and the molasses left undisturbed for a period not to exceed 20 days, to allow for settling, before being gauged. When the importer requests in writing immediate gauging, the same shall be allowed by the collector.

Art. 696. Tank gauging.-The report of the gauging of the molasses shall show the number of gallons of molasses and the temperature of the molasses in degree centigrade determined at the time of gauging. Report as to gauge and temperature is to be made to the examiner. (Customs Form No. 5991.) The depth of the molasses contained in the storage tank shall be ascertained by means of a steel rod, having a movable brass scale expressed in inches and tenths of inches. The measurement shall be taken from the bottom of the tank to the top of the liquid, deduction being made for the molasses, if any, contained in the tank before the discharge began. If there is foam present the gauging shall be made with. the aid of the "foam can," which shall be in accordance with the following specifications: The foam can shall be made of heavy galvanized-iron pipe 5 feet long by 7%1⁄2 inches in diameter fitted at the bottom with a wooden plug attached to the can by means of a chain, and fitted