Dock is a place in the harbour where the goods are loaded into the ship:
Dock warrant is a document of title to goods issued by dock authorities. This document certifies that the dock authorities hold the goods. To take delivery of the goods, this certificate should be given back to the authorities. The right of getting delivery of goods can be transferred to third parties too.

Delivery order is a document through which the depositor directs the warehouse keeper to deliver the specified goods either to the party mentioned in the document or to the bearu. The warehouse keeper delivers the goods as per the instructions. Transfer of ownership takes place through this document.

Dock receipt is an acknowledgement of receipt of goods issued by the dock authorities to the owner of the goods. Dock receipt is not document of title, so the right of taking delivery of goods cannot be transferred.

In transit mixing refers to a function in which warehouse receives products from different plants and mix and repack them as per client's requirement.

"A warehouse is a commercial building for storage of goods. Stored goods can include any raw materials, packing materials, spare parts, component or finished goods associated with agriculture, manufacturing and production".

Food Corporation of India (FCI):
It provides storage facilities for food grains. Food Corporation of India also hires storage capacity from other sources such as Central Warehousing Corporation, State Warehousing Corporation and private parties. The available storage capacity of Food Corporation of India is 74.6 million tonnes.

Warehouses render invaluable services to the society by performing the following functions:
(i) Storage
(ii) Price stabilization
(iii) Equalization of demand and supply

According to J. Stephenson, "a warehouse in a establishment for the storage or accumulation of goods".

India is an agrarian country but the importance of warehousing was not felt till 1950. Agriculture contributes 16 percent of the overall GDP and accounts for employment of approximately 52 percent of the Indian population. It is estimated that more than 40 percent of our agricultural productions wasted due to poor storage facilities.
On the recommendation of the All India Rural Credit Survey Committee, the Agricultural Produce (Development and warehousing) Corporation Act enacted in-1956, authorized. the Government to setup National Co-operative Development and Warehousing Board to develop agricultural Co-operatives and warehousing.

Advantages of warehousing:
1. It safeguards the stock of the merchants who do not have storing place.
2. Warehouses reduce distribution cost of the traders by storing the goods in bulk and allow the trader to take the goods in small lots to his shop.
3.  It helps in selection of channel of distribution. The producer will prefer whether to appoint a wholesaler or retailer.
4. It assists in maintaining the continuous sales and avoids the possibilities of "out of stock" position.
5.  It creates employment opportunities for both skilled and unskilled workers, to improve their standard of living.
6. It ensures price stabilization by supplying goods as and when demanded.
7. In case of damage to the goods, warehouse keeper compensates the loss caused to the owner of the goods.
8. Warehousing is needed for making the goods suitable for sale.
9. Its widens the market for the goods.
10. Warehouse provides, goods are repacked and labelled again at the time of inspection by prospective buyers.

Warehouses are classified as follows:
(i) On the basis of ownership :
(1) Private Warehouses
(2) Government Warehouses
(3) Public Warehouses
(4) Co-operative Warehouses
(5) Bonded Warehouses
(6) Institutional Warehouses
(7) Distribution Centre Warehouses
(ii) On the Basis of Commodities Stored :
(1) General Warehouses
(2) Special Commodity Warehouses
(3) Cold Storages or Refrigerated Warehouses
(4) Climate Controlled Warehouses.
(i) On the basis of ownership :
(a) Private Warehouses:
Private warehouses are built and owned by private business enterprises to store their own products. They are exclusively for their use and are not meant for other manufacturing or business units.
(b) Government Warehouses:
They are created and operated by the Government to implement the programmes of the government. Their services mostly available to government only.
(c) Public Warehouse:
It is open for public at large. Most of the business organisations, especially small and medium scale units cannot afford to have their own warehouses. They may be owned by an individual or some agency. These warehouses operate as per the rules and regulations formed by the Government.
(d) Co-operative Warehouses:
There are warehouses owned and managed by the marketing co-operative societies or agricultural co-operative societies. They are set up to provide warehousing facilities to their members. Example: National Co-operative Development Corporation (NCDC).
(e) Bonded Warehouses:
Bonded warehouses are those warehouses, which are licensed by the government to accept storage of imported goods which are not cleared due to non-payment of customs duty by the importer. Branding can be undertaken in the warehouse itself. Bank loans can be obtained by submitting the receipt issued by these warehouses as collateral security. Strict supervision and control is imposed by custom authorities on their operation and functioning.
(f) Institutional Warehouses:
Different institutions and bodies have their own warehouses on account of the nature of operation. For Example: Banks, Railways, etc,. Various transport agencies also maintain warehouses for storing the goods which are to be dispatched and received.
g) Distribution Center Warehouses:
Goods which need to be temporarily stored for one or two days so that they can be distributed to other offices or customers are stored in Distribution Centers. They are owned by the manufacturer or wholesalers.
B. On the basis of commodities Stored:
a) General Warehouses:
They are ordinary warehouses which are useful for storing most of the dry food grains, fertilisers, etc. Protective measures against rat, insects, etc. are undertaken by them.
b) Special Commodity Warehouses:
These warehouses are specially constructed for storing specific type of commodities like tobacco, cotton, wool, etc. These warehouses reduce loss of quality and quantity to a great extent. Storage of petrol and oil requires special type of vertical, cylindrical storage tanks.
c) Cold storages or Refrigerated warehouses:
Goods are transported in refrigerated containers and stored in refrigerated warehouses. These warehouses are used for storing perishable goods like fruits, vegetables, eggs, butter, fish, meat, etc. Goods stored in cold storages without deterioration in quality, can be made available throughout the year.
d) Climate Controlled Warehouses:
The controlled climate environment can reduce the rate of metabolism in fruits and vegetables. Humidity controlled environments for delicate products such as flowers in dirt-free facilities is provided in these warehouses.
e) Automated Warehouses:
Automated facilities can handle several hundreds of kilograms of product at a time. Inside the warehouse premises physical distribution activities are carried out by moving product filled pallets (i.e. platforms that hold large amounts of product). It requires huge investment, latest technology and large turnover of goods.

When goods are imported, customs duties have to be paid on them, otherwise these cannot be removed from the Docks. Goods stored in these warehouses are said to be in 'Bond'. So, the warehouses which are used for storing imported goods before payment of custom duties are called 'Bonded Warehouses'. If these warehouses are owned by the government then custom authorities have direct control over the warehouses. The owner of the goods are allowed to inspect, bottle, brand and blend the goods.

Private warehouses are owned by private persons to store their own goods. Big business houses, wholesalers and traders have their own warehouses. They keep these stores at different places to maintain the regular supply of goods. All expenses and risk involved in storing the goods is borne by them. But these types of warehouses are very few due to the heavy cost of construction.

State Warehousing Corporation (SWC): Every state government is given power to establisl its own Warehousing Corporation after getting approval from the CWC. 50% of the capital is contributed by the CWC and the balance 50% contributed by State Government.

i) Mass production :
(1) Production is based on the anticipated demand for goods. Mass production of goods takes place by establishing big factories and modern production.
(2) The market for such goods is spread all over the country. Therefore, warehouses are to be built at different places to store these products and provide prompt supplies when demanded.
(ii) Nature of commodities:
(1) Some goods are perishable- in nature and therefore it should be consumed in time to avoid deterioration.
(2) Storing them in cold storages can extend the life of the goods.
(ii) Seasonal production but regular consumption:
(1) The farm products such as wheat, sugar, pulses, etc. are produced only in seasons.
(2) But the consumption of these products are evenly spread throughout the year.
(3) If proper storage - facilities are not provided, the quality of these goods deteriorates and may not become usable.
(d) Regular production but seasonal consumption:
(1) Certain goods are produced regularly throughout the year. But they are demanded in seasons only.
(2) For Example: Rain-coats, blankets, umbrella, etc. require storage for whole year.
(3) They can be released in large quantities to meet the heavy demand in rainy and winter seasons.
(e) Proximity to production centers:
(1) Productions of goods at specific centers need to be supplied in time and without interruption to consumers throughout the country.
(2) For this purpose goods are regularly fed to the warehouses situated at different market areas.