Note 392 — AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF PHINEAS PETT (continued 2)
Reading edition
The burden in 'tons' represents the net wine-carrying capacity of the ship in Bordeaux casks. The 'tonnage' was an additional allowance equal to one-third of this; the 'ton and tonnage' representing the gross burden (see Oppenheim, Administration, pp. 30, 132, 266).