46 U.S.C. § 30521 — Declaration of nature and value of goods

(a) In General. If a shipper loads one of the items listed in subsection (b) — packed in a parcel, package, or trunk — as freight or baggage on a vessel, without giving the receiving party written notice of the item's true nature and value, and without that information being entered on the bill of lading, then the vessel's owner and master are not liable for it as carriers. Even where they are liable, that liability cannot exceed the value written on the bill of lading. (b) Items. The items this section covers are precious metals, gold- or silver-plated articles, precious stones, jewelry, trinkets, watches, clocks, glass, china, coins, bills, securities, printings, engravings, pictures, stamps, maps, papers, silks, furs, lace, and similar items that are high in value but small in size.