Volume Eleven - Pre-Victorian to the Present Day - some more aspects - A Dispute at Yokohama -  1889 . . .

Question repeated - I read the word “cost” to mean cost, insurance, freight, and interest. It has always been accepted as such, otherwise the ship would be receiving freight on cargo she did not deliver. The word coals in the charter party does not include coke - certainly not. Coke is usually weighed here, a hundred weight at a time on the deck of the ship.

Cross-examined - If coke is weighed 10 tons at a time at the port of shipment and a hundred weight at a time at the port of delivery there would be a difference, but not more than 1 or 1½ per cent. - 2 per cent. probably as the maximum. As shipping clerk, I am supposed to know about the weighing of coke. I have not actually superintended the weighing of a whole consignment of coke, that is stood over the scales and seen it weighed. I know the meaning of the letters c.f.i.; they mean cost, freight, and insurance. They are of frequent occurrence in mercantile accounts. They are inserted to show that by cost is meant cost, freight, and insurance.

Supposing a merchant makes use of those three letters c.f.i. after the word cost, would it not show that he wished to put that particular construction on the word “cost"? – Yes, it would imply that he wanted a quotation for cost, insurance, and freight.

John James Efford deponed — I am Lloyd's surveyor at this port, and have been master of ships for twenty years. I have sailed under charter parties and signed bills of lading. I have carried cargoes of coal and coke-part cargoes. Looking at the charter, as master of a ship, I should require to see the bill of lading to decide what the meaning of cost is. I should construe the fact that the bill of lading was signed for a specific quantity of cargo, as meaning that I must deliver that quantity. I should regard cost as meaning cost, freight, and insurance.

Cross-examined — The effect of the words “weight and contents unknown " would have a bearing on the master's liability. If he neglects to introduce those words, he is responsible. If I had signed a bill of lading such as this I would admit my liability to pay the invoice cost with freight and insurance, because I had not protected myself. I should take the merchant's accounts for that, as his invoice would be the only thing to go by. I am Lloyd's Surveyor here, and also Surveyor to Lloyd's agents.