Convert Ton Register (ton reg) to Hogshead (hogshead) instantly.
About these units
Ton Register (ton reg)
A register ton, or ton register, is a unit of volume, not mass, equal to 100 cubic feet. It is used in maritime contexts to measure the internal capacity of ships—specifically cargo-carrying volume, not weight. Ship registries rely on register tons to calculate taxes, port fees, and cargo classifications. The unit dates back to 19th-century maritime law, where consistent volumetric measurement was critical for international shipping regulation. Despite changes in global trade and containerization, register tons remain important for historical vessel documentation, as well as for understanding older merchant and naval ship specifications.
Hogshead (hogshead)
A hogshead is a traditional barrel volume whose size varied by commodity, region, and era. In British and colonial American contexts, a hogshead for beer or ale was commonly 54 imperial gallons, while for wine it was 63 gallons. Hogsheads were central to colonial commerce, especially in the tobacco trade, where standardized hogsheads—large wooden barrels—became essential for shipping cured leaves across the Atlantic. These giant casks often doubled as storage containers, shipping crates, and even temporary furniture. While the hogshead is not used in modern measurement, it occupies a prominent place in historical literature, trade records, and maritime archaeology. Its enduring cultural footprint reflects the importance of cooperage (barrel-making) in pre-industrial economies.