to pay dues calculated on her yacht measurement-that is, about twice as much as he should pay; for a vessel's tonnage by yacht measurement is as a rule nearly double her registered tonnage.
When the yachtsman has his boat built for him, it is a simple matter to have her registered. A Customs House measuring officer examines her and gives a certificate as to her tonnage, etc. This certificate, together with the builder's certificate and a declaration of ownership, are sent to the Registrar who will then grant the register. But when one purchases a second-hand unregistered vessel it often happens that one cannot trace her antecedents; and if, when applying for a register, one is unable to produce either her builder's certificate (it being unknown who built her), or her bills of sale, as the transfers from the successive owners are called, he will have to go through some formalities and be put to expense and trouble—I speak from experience—before he obtains his register.
The relations between the captain and crew of a merchantman are very clearly defined by law. But these regulations—more especially those framed for the protection of the merchant seaman—apparently do not apply to pleasure craft. The rights of the yacht sailor and the power of the yacht skipper are imperfectly understood by either party.
The yacht owner should invariably have his name inscribed on the ship's papers as her captain, even if he employ a skipper to sail his vessel for him.
