120
86 FEDERAL REPORTER.
MEYIDR et al. v. UNITED STATES. (Circuit Court, S. D. New York. 1.
March 8, 1898.)
CUSTOlllS DUTIES-SARDELLES DE SCANDINAVIE.
Sardelles de Scandinavle packed In oil In quarter boxes were dutiable at 20 per toent. ad valorem, under paragraph 211 of the tariff act of 1894, as "fish In cans and packages made of tin, except anchovies and sardines," and were not dutiable at 2% cents per box, under paragraph 208, as "anchovies or sardines."
2. SAME-KIELER SPRATS.
Kieler sprats packed In oil In quarter boxes, commercially known as "smoked, sardines In oil," were dutiable at 2% cents a box, under paragraph 208 of the tariff act of 1894, as "sardines packed In oil in quarter boxes," and were not dutiable at 20 per cent. ad valorem, under paragraph 211, as "fish Incases or packages made of tin, except anchovies and sardines."
This ,was an appeal from a decision of the board of general appraisers affirming the action of the collector of the port of New York in respect to the classification for duty of certain goods imported by Meyer & Lange, the appellants. Albert Oomstick, for appellants. H. D. Sedgwick, Asst. U. S. Atty. TOWNSEND, District Judge (orally). The merchaudise in question comprises two varieties of fish packed in oil, and labeled, respectively, "Kieler Sprotten in Oil," and "Sardelles de Scandinavie." They were classified for duty at 21' cents per box, under the provisions of paragraph 208 of the act of 1894 for "anchovies and sardines packed in oil in quarter bOXes," and were claimed to be dutiable at 20 per cent. ad valorem, under the provisions of paragraph 211 of said act, as "fish in cases or packages made of tin, except anchovies and sardines." There is no competent evidence to support the finding of the board of general appraisers that the sardelles are commercially known as "anchovies," and nothing except dictionary definitions to support the argument of the attorney for the United States that they are sardines. When thus put up, they are commercially known as "sardelles," and are not commercially known or dealt in either as anchovies or sardines. The decision of the board of general appraisers as to the sardelles is reversed. The ot.her fish are called "Kieler sprats." They are probably neither genuine sardines nor anchovies. This point, however, is not material. The evidence shows that, when pickled and packed in half barrels, they are commercially known as "Norwegian anchovies"; if put up in tins, and labeled "sardines," they are commercially known as "smoked sardines"; and, if labeled "sprats," they are commercially known as sprats. The evidence before the board sufficiently supports the finding that these fiah are commercially known as "smoked sardines in oiL" The whole evidence tends to show that little fiBh of this general character, when thus put up in oil in tin boxes, are commercially recognized as belonging to the general class, "sardines," although this particular species, when labeled "sprats," are known as "Kieler sprats." The facts bring the case within the
J.RBIB V. UNITED STATES.
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rule enunciated in Re Herrman, 52 Fed. 941. The decision of the board of general appraisers affirming the act of the collector with reference to sprats is affirmed.
ARBIB et aI. v. UNITED STATES. (Circuit Court, S. D. New York. March 8, 18D8.) (,'USTOMS DUTIES-IvORY.
Cross sections, 2-21;1, inches long, sawed from the solid portion of ivory tusks. with the outer covering or bark left on, and generally known in trade as "bl1llard-ball blocks" and "logs," were free of duty, under paragraph 519 of the tariff act of 1894, as "ivory sawed or cut into logs, but not otherwise manufactured," and were not SUbject to a duty of 35 per cent., under paragraph 354 of the same act, as "manufactures of ivory not otherwise provided for."
This was an appeal by E. J. Arbib & Co. from a decision of the board of general appraisers affirming the action of the collector of the port of New York in respect to the classification for duty of certain goods imported by them. William B. Coughtry, for importers. Henry C. Platt, Asst. U. S. Atty. TOWNSEND, District Judge (orally). The articles in question are cross sections, 2-2! inches long, sawed from the solid portion of ivory tusks, with the outer covering or bark left on. From the conflicting testimony of witnesses, chiefly foreigners, it appears that they are gen· erally known in trade and commerce of this country as "billiard-ball blocks," and as "logs," under which latter name they are generally known in Germany. The cost of sawing is about two cents per block. Such sawing does not increase the value of the ivory, and no selection is exercised therein, except to sever the solid portion from the hollow portion at one end, and the point at the other. They are generally used for making billiard balls, but are capable of use, and are actually used, for other purposes. They were classified for duty at 35 per cent., as "manufactures of ivory not otherwise specially provided for," under the provisions of paragraph 354 of the act of 1894. The importer protested, claiming that they were free, as "ivory sawed or cut into logs, but not otherwise manufactured," under paragraph 519 of said act. I think congress must be presumed to have inserted the word "log" into the act of 1894 because frequently the whole tusk was not imported, and in order to remove all ambiguity in the use of the word "tusks" in the prior act, and that congress thereby intended to permit free the introduction of pieces of ivory merely cut into cross sections, where the bark was left intact, and not otherwise manipulated. It appears that while the various portions of the tusk are respectively known by particular names of "point," "ball blocks," or "hollows," they all fall within the descriptive name ''logs,'' when the bark is left on, to distinguish them from the entire tusk. These portions of the tusk, if somewhat longer, would unquestionably be universally known as ''logs.'' The term "billiard-ball blocks" is not found