These are the initial allocations of ranges of official numbers (ONs) to ports of registry. They are shown in the Appropriation Books as pencil notes at the top of the page where the allocation starts.

Once the backlog had been cleared (by about 1860), ONs were allocated to new ships at their port of registry when they were first registered.

A second allotment was made starting from ON 22201, allocated to Inverness, with the first allocation from the second allotment being made there on 5 May 1855.

At several ports, the allotments were only used slowly. In these cases, the unused allotment was transferred to other ports, for example, Westport was initially allocated ONs from 21301 to 21400, but ONs from 21313 were re-allocated in 1858.

Subsequently, allocations were made to the colonial ports, and further allocations and re-allocations made as necessary. These allocations are noted in pencil in the Appropriation Books, either in the left-hand margin or at the top of the page.