# The Clipper Ship Era/Appendices

Appendix I
CALIFORNIA CLIPPER SHIPS BUILT IN THE UNITED STATES FROM 1850 TO 1857 INCLUSIVE
1850 :
| SHIP | TONS | CAPTAIN | BUILDER | OWNER & PORT |
| Celestial | 860 | Gardiner | William H. Webb, New York | Bucklin & Crane, New York |
| Eclipse | 1223 | Hamilton | J. Williams & Son, Williamsburg, N. Y. | T. Wardle & Co., New York |
| Game-Cock | 1392 | Hollis | Samuel Hall, East Boston | Daniel C. Bacon, East Boston |
| Governor-Morton | 1318 | Burgess | James M. Hood, Somerset | Handy & Everett, New York |
| John Bertram | 1080 | Landholm | R.E. Jackson, East Boston | Glidden & Williams, Boston |
| Mandarin | 776 | Stoddard | Smith & Dimon, New York | Goodhue & Co., New York |
| Race Horse | 512 | King | Samuel Hall, East Boston | - | Seaman | 546 | Myrick | Bell & Co., Baltimore | Funch & Meincke, Baltimore |
| Sea Serpent | 1337 | Howland | George Raynes, Portsmouth, N. H. | Grinnell, Minturn & Co., New York |
| Stag-Hound | 1535 | Richardson | Donald McKay, East Boston | George B. Upton and Samson & Tappan, Boston |
| Surprise | 1361 | Dumaresq | Samuel Hall, East Boston | A. A. Low & Brother, New York |
| White Squall | 1118 | Lockwood | Jacob Bell, New York | W. Platt & Son, Philadelphia. |
| Witchcraft | 1310 | Rogers | Paul Curtiss, Chelsea, Mass. | S. Rogers & W. D. Pickman, Salem. |
| 1851 |||||
| Alert | 764 | Bursley | Damariscotta, Me. | Crocker & Warren, New York |
| Challenge | 2006 | Waterman | William H. Webb, New York. | N. L. & G. Griswold, New York. |
| Comet | 1836 | Gardner | William H. Webb, New York. | Buckin & Crane, New York. |
| Courser | 1026 | Berry | Paul Curtiss, East Boston | Richardson & Co. Boston. |
| Eagle | 1340 | Farran | Perrin, Patterson & Stack, Williamsburg, N. Y. | Harbeck & Co., New York. ​ |
| Eureka | 1050 | Canefield | Jacob A. Westervelt & Son., New York | |
| Flying Cloud | 1793 | Creesy | Donald McKay, East Boston | Grinnell, Minturn & Co., New York |
| Flying Fish | 1505 | Nickels | Donald McKay, East Boston | Samson & Tappan, Boston |
| Gazelle | 1244 | Henderson | William H. Webb, New York | Chamberlain & Heyser, New York |
| Golden Gate | 1347 | Barstow | New York | Taylor & Merrill, New York |
| Hornet | 1426 | Lawrence | Jacob A. Westervelt & Son, New York | Chamberlain & Co., New York |
| Hurricane | 1607 | Very | Smith & Co., Hoboken, N.J. | C. W. & H. Thomas, New York. |
| Invincible | 1767 | Johnson | William H. Webb, New York. | J.W. Phillips, New York. |
| Ino | 895 | Plummer | Perrin, Patterson & Stack, Williamsburg, N.Y. | Sifkin & Ironside, New York. |
| John Wade | 639 | Willis | Medford, Mass. | Augustine Heard & Sons, Boston. |
| Monsoon | 773 | Winsor | Trufant & Drummond, Bath, Me. | G. Hussey, New Bedford. |
| Northern Light | 1021 | Hatch | Briggs Brothers, South Boston | James Huckins & Sons, Boston ​ |
| N. B. Palmer | 1050 | Low | Jacob A. Westervelt, New York | A.A. Low & Brother, New York. |
| Queen of the East | 1275 | Bartlett | Metcalf & Co., Damariscotta, Me. | Crooker & Warren, New York |
| Raven | 715 | Henry | Hood & Co., Somerset | Crooker & Warren, New York. |
| Shooting Star | 903 | Baker | J. O. Curtiss, Medford, Mass. | S. G. Reed & Co., Boston. |
| Snow Squall | 742 | Bursley | Portland, Me. | Charles R. Green & Co., Boston. |
| Southern Cross | 950 | Stevens | Briggs Brothers, Boston | Baker & Morrell, Boston. |
| Staffordshire | 1817 | Richardson | Donald McKay, East Boston | Enoch Train & Co., Boston. |
| Sword-Fish | 1036 | Babcock | William H. Webb, New York | Barclay & Livingston, New York. |
| Syren | 1064 | Silsbee | Isaac Taylor, Medford, Mass. | G. Z. Silsbee & Co., Boston. |
| Tornado | 1801 | Mumford | J. Williams, Williamsburg, N.Y. | W. T. Frost & Co., New York. |
| Trade-Wind | 2030 | Osgood | Jacob Bell, New York | W. Platts & Son, Philadelphia. |
| Typhoon | 1610 | Salter | Fernald & Pettigrew, Portsmouth, N.H. | D. & A. Kingsland, New York. ​ |
| Wild Pigeon | 996 | Putnam | George Raynes, Portsmouth, N .H. | Harbeck & Co., New York |
| Witch of the Wave | 1500 | Millett | George Raynes, Portsmouth, N .H. | Gidden & Williams, Boston. |
| 1852 |||||
| Antelope | 1187 | Cole | J. Williams & Son, Williamsburg, N. Y. | Harbeck & Co., New York. |
| Ariel | 1340 | Delano | Patten & Co., Bath, Me. | Patten & Co., Bath, Me. |
| Bald Eagle | 1790 | Dumaresq | Donald McKay, East Boston | George B. Upton, Boston. |
| Celestial Empire | 1399 | Pierce | J. Stetson, East Boston | C. H. Parsons & Co., New York. |
| Cleopatra | 1562 | Thayer | Paul Curtiss, East Boston. | |
| Climax | 1501 | Howes | | Howes & Crowell, New York. |
| Contest | 1150 | Brewster | Jacob A. Westervelt, New York | A. A. Low & Brother, New York. |
| Dauntless | 791 | Miller | | |
| Fleetwood | 666 | Dale | George Raynes, Portsmouth, N. H. | Captain and others, Boston. ​ |
| Flying Childers | 1125 | Cunningham | Samuel Hall, East Boston | Cunningham & Sons, Boston. |
| Flying Dutchman | 1257 | Hubbard | William H. Webb, New York | |
| Golden City | 810 | Canefield | Jacob A. Westervelt, New York. | H. A. Pierce & Co., Boston |
| Golden Eagle | 1120 | Fabens | Hayden & Co., Medford, Mass. | William Lincoln & Co., Boston. |
| Golden Light | 1141 | Winsor | Briggs Brothers, South Boston | James Huckins & Sons. Boston. |
| Golden State | 1363 | Barstow | Jacob A. Westervelt, New York | A. A. Low & Brother, New York. |
| Golden West | 1443 | Kerwin | Paul Curtiss, Boston | GGlidden & Williams, Boston. |
| Highflyer | 1092 | Waterman | Currier & Townsend, Newburyport | David Ogden, New York. |
| Jacob Bell | 1382 | Kilham | Jacob Bell, New York | A. A. Low & Brother, New York. |
| John Gilpin | 1089 | Doane | Samuel Hall, East Boston | Pierce & Hunnewell, Boston. |
| Messenger | 1350 | Corning | Jacob Bell, New York | Slade & Co., New York. |
| Meteor | 1063 | Pike | Briggs Brothers, South Boston | Curtiss & Peabody, Boston. ​ |
| Phantom | 1177 | Patterson | J. O. Curtiss, Medford, Mass. | Henry P. Sturgis, Boston |
| Polynesia | 1068 | Watson | Samuel Hall, Boston | Hunnewell, Pierce & Co., Boston. |
| Queen of the Seas | 1400 | Knight | Paul Curtis, East Boston | Glidden & Williams, Boston. |
| Radiant | 1300 | Hallet | Paul Curtiss, East Boston | Baker & Morrell, Boston. |
| Red Rover | 1021 | Putnam | Fernald & Pettigrew, Portsmouth, N. H. | R. C. Taylor, New York. |
| Simon | 1436 | Smith | Jabez Williams, New York | B. A. Mumford & Co., New York. |
| Sovereign of the Seas | 2421 | McKay | Donald McKay, East Boston | Grinnell, Minturn & Co., New York. |
| Storm (barque) | 545 | Roberts | Sag Harbor | Chamberlain & Heyser, New York. |
| Westward Ho | 1600 | Hussey | Donald Mckay, East Boston | Sampson & Tappan, Boston. |
| Whirlwind | 962 | Burgess | J. O. Curtis, Medford, Mass. | W. & F. H. Withmore, Boston. |
| Winged Racer | 1760 | Esterbrook | R. E. Jackson, East Boston | R. L. Taylor, New York. |
| Wizzard | 1600 | Woodside | Samuel Hall, Boston | Slade & Co., New York. ​ |
| 1853 |||||
| Amphitrite | 1867 | | Samuel Hall, East Boston | |
| Archer | 1098 | Bursley | Hood & Co., Somerset | Crocker & Warren, New York. |
| Belle of the West | 936 | Howes | Dennis | Glidden & Williams, Boston. |
| Black Warrior | 1878 | Murphy | Austin & Co., Damariscotta, Me. | W. Wilson & Sons, Baltimore |
| Bonita | 1127 | Windsor | Boston | Hallet & Co., Boston |
| Boston Light | 1164 | Crowell | Briggs Brothers, Boston | James Hucking & Sons, Boston. |
| Challenger | 1334 | Hill | R.E. Jackson, East Boston | Whitmore & Son, Boston |
| Cyclone | 1109 | Osgood | Briggs Brothers, Boston | Curtis & Peabody, Boston |
| Dashing Wave | 1239 | Young | Fernald & Pettigrew, Portsmouth, N.H. | S. Tilton, Boston |
| David Brown | 1715 | Brewster | Roosevelt & Joyce, New York | A.A. Low & Brother, New York. |
| David Crocket | 1769 | Spicer | Greenman & Co. Mystic, Conn. | Handy & Everett, New York. ​ |
| Don Quixote | 1470 | Nott | Medford, Mass. | John E. Lodge, Boston. |
| Eagle Wing | 1174 | Linnell | J.O Curtis, Medford, Mass. | Chase & Tappan, Boston. |
| Edwin Forrest | 1200 | | D.D. Kelly, East Boston | |
| Empress of the Seas | 2200 | Putnam | Donald McKay, East Boston | W. Wilson & Son. Baltimore |
| Fearless | 1183 | Manson | A & G.T. Sampson, East Boston | W.F Weld & Co., Boston |
| Flora Temple | 1915 | Myers | J. Abraham, Baltimore | Abraham & Oshcroft, Baltimore |
| Flying Dragon | 1140 | Baker | Trufant & Drummond, Bath, Me. | S.G. Reed & Co., Boston. |
| Gauntlet | 1860 | Borland | T.J. Southard, Richmond, Me. | Stephenson & Thurston, New York. |
| Great Republic | 3357 | Limeburner | Donald McKay, East Boston | A.A. Low & Brother, New York. |
| Guiding Star | 899 | Hale | J. Currier, Newburyport, Mass | C. Hill & Co., Mass. |
| John Land | 1061 | Howes | Briggs Brothers, South Boston | Baker & Morrell, Boston |
| Kate Hooper | 1507 | Johnson | Hunt & Wagner, Baltimore | J. Hooper, Baltimore ​ |
| Kathay | 1460 | Stoddard | Jacob A. Westervet, New York | |
| Kingfisher | 1300 | Crosby | Medford, Mass. | William Lincoln & Co., Boston. |
| Lightfoot | 1996 | | Jackson & Ewell, East Boston | |
| Live Yankee | 1637 | Thorndike | Rockland, Me. | Foster & Nickerson, New York. |
| Matchless | 1033 | Potter | Chelsea, Mass. | N. S. Goddard, Boston. |
| Morning Light | 1713 | Knight | Toby & Littlefield, Portsmouth, N. H. | Glidden & Williams, Boston. |
| Mystery | 1200 | | Samuel Hall, East Boston | |
| Neptune’s Car | 1616 | Patten | Portsmouth, Va. | Foster & Nickerson, New York. |
| North Wind | 1041 | Gore | Jacob Bell, New York | Grinnell, Minturn & Co., New York. |
| Oriental | 1654 | Fletcher | Samuel Hall, East Boston | D. G. & W. B. Bacon, Boston. |
| Pamparo | 1376 | Coggins | Charles Mallory, Mystic, Conn. | J. Bishop & Co., New York. |
| Panama | 1349 | Cave | Thomas Collyer, New York | N. L. & G. Griswold, New York. ​ |
| Queen of Clippers | 2360 | Zerega | Jackson Ewell, East Boston | Zerega & Co., New York. |
| Red Gauntlet | 1038 | Andrews | J. W. Cox, Robbinston, Me. | F. Boyd & Co., Boston. |
| Reporter | 1474 | Howes | Paul Curtis, East Boston | E. Snow, Boston. |
| Ringleader | 1156 | Matthews | Medford, Mass. | Howes & Crowell, Boston. |
| Romance of the Seas | 1782 | Dumaresq | Donald McKay, East Boston | George B. Upton, Boston. |
| Skylark | 1209 | Henry | Hood & Co., Somerset | Crocker & Warren, New York. |
| Snapdragon (barque) | 619 | Brown | William H. Webb, New York | |
| Spirit of the Times | 1206 | Klein | Cooper & Slicer, Baltimore | Aymer & Co., New York. |
| Spitfire | 1550 | Arey | Frankfort, Me. | Manning & Stanwood, Boston. |
| Storm King | 1408 | Callahan | Isaac Taylor, Chelsea, Mass. | John E. Lodge, Boston. |
| Sweepstakes | 1735 | Lane | Jacob A. Westervelt, New York | Grinnell, Minturn & Co., New York. |
| Undaunted | 1371 | Freeman | Snow & Hall, Bath, Me. | W. H. Foster & Co., Boston. ​ |
| Viking | 1449 | Windsor | Trufant & Drummond, Bath, Me. | G. Hussey, New Bedford. |
| Whistler | 820 | Brown | George W. Jackman, Newburyport, Mass. | Bush & Wildes, Boston. |
| Wild Wave | 1547 | Knowles | G. H. Ferrin, Richmond, Me. | Benjamin Bangs, Boston. |
| Young America | 1961 | Babcock | William H. Webb, New York | George Daniels, New York. |
| 1854 |||||
| Adelaide | 1831 | Wakeman | Jacob Bell, New York | Williams & Guion, New York. |
| Canvas Back | 735 | Clarke | Baltimore | S. Lurman, Baltimore. |
| Black Prince | 1050 | Brown | George W. Jackman, Newburyport, Mass. | Bush & Wildes, Boston. |
| Electric | 1271 | Gates | Mystic, Conn. | C. Adams, New York. |
| Fleetwing | 912 | Howes | Hayden & Cudworth, Medford, Mass. | Crowell, Brooks, Boston. |
| Grace Darling | 1240 | Doane | Briggs Brothers, South Boston | C. B. Fessenden, Boston. ​ |
| Harvey Birch | 1488 | Nelson | Irons & Grinnell, Mystic, Conn. | J. H. Bower & Co., New York |
| Midnight | 1000 | Hatch | Fernald & Pettigrew, Portsmouth, N. H. | Henry Hastings, Boston. |
| Nabob | 1254 | Baxter | J. Taylor, Chelsea, Mass. | William Appleton, Boston. |
| Nonpareil | 1431 | | Dunham & Co., Frankfort, Me. | T. Richardson & Co., New York. |
| Nor’wester | 1267 | Gregory | S. Lapham, Medford, Mass. | Coolidge & Co., Boston. |
| Ocean Telegraph | 1492 | Willis | J. O. Curtis, Medford, Mass. | S. G. Reed & Co., Boston. |
| Rattler | 794 | Forrest | Foster & Borze, Baltimore | D. Stewart, Baltimore. |
| Robin Hood | 1185 | Sears | Hayden & Cudworth, Medford, Mass. | Howe & Crowell, Boston. |
| Sancho Panza | 850 | Friend | Medford, Mass. | John E. Lodge, Boston. |
| Saracen | 1266 | Barry | Briggs Brothers, South Boston | Curtis & Peabody, Boston. |
| Sierra Nevada | 1942 | Penhallow | Toby & Littlefield, Portsmouth, N. H. | Glidden & Williams, Boston. |
| Starlight | 1150 | Matthews | Briggs Brothers, South Boston | Baker & Morrell, Boston. ​ |
| Star King | 1170 | Turner | George W. Jackman, Newburyport, Mass. | Bates & Thaxter, Boston. |
| Swallow | 1435 | Tucker | Robert E. Jackson, East Boston. | W. T. Dungan, New York. |
| 1855 |||||
| Andrew Jackson | 1676 | Williams | Irons & Grinnell, Mystic, Conn. | J. H. Brower & Co., New York. |
| Beacon Light | 1320 | Barwell | Chelsea, Mass. | J. A. Stetson, Boston. |
| Carrier Dove | 1694 | Conner | J. Abraham, Baltimore. | Montell & Co., Baltimore. |
| Charmer | 1060 | Lucas | George W. Jackman, Newburyport, Mass. | Burt & Wildes, Boston. |
| Courier | 1025 | Smith | Newburyport, Mass. | Foster & Elliott, New York. |
| Daring | 1097 | Simonson | George W. Jackman, Newburyport, Mass. | Bush & Comstock, Boston. |
| Electric Spark | 1215 | Howes | Thacher & Magoun, Medford, Mass. | Magoun & Co., Boston. |
| Golden Fleece | 1538 | Manson | Paul Curtis, East Boston. | Weld & Baker, Boston. ​ |
| Herald of the Morning | 1300 | Baker | Thacher & Magoun, Medford, Mass. | Magoun & Co., Boston. |
| Mary Whitridge | 978 | Cheesebrough | Hunt & Wagner, Baltimore. | T. Whitridge, Baltimore. |
| Noonday | 1177 | Gerry | Fernald & Pettigrew, Portsmouth, N. H. | Henry Hastings, Boston. |
| Ocean Empress | 1699 | Cunningham | J. O. Curtis, Medford, Mass. | Reed & Wade, Boston. |
| War Hawk | 1067 | Simmons | George W. Jackman, Newburyport, Mass. | Captain and others, Boston. |
| 1856 |||||
| Alarm | 1184 | Matthews | Briggs Brothers, South Boston. | Baker & Morrell, Boston. |
| Euterpe | 1984 | Avery | H. Merriman, Rockland, Me. | Foster & Nickerson, New York. |
| Florence | 1310 | Dumaresq | Samuel Hall, Jr., East Boston. | R. B. & John M. Forbes, Boston. |
| Flying Mist | 1150 | Fennell | J. O. Curtis, Medford, Mass. | T. Chase & Co., Boston. |
| Intrepid | 1173 | Gardner | William H. Webb, New York | Bucklin & Crane, New York. ​ |
| Mary L. Sutton | 1450 | Rowland | Charles Mallory, Mystic, Conn. | Charles Mallory, Mystic, Conn. |
| Norseman | 820 | Haskell | R. E. Jackson, East Boston. | Cunningham Brothers, Boston. |
| Witch of the Wave | 1200 | Todd | Portsmouth, N. H. | Titcomb & Co., Newburyport, Mass. |
| 1857 |||||
| Black Hawk | 1108 | Bowers | William H. Webb, New York. | Bucklin & Crane, New York. |
| Black Hawk | 970 | Shoof | J. Courier, Newburyport, Mass. | M. Devenport & Co., Newburyport, Mass. |
| Hotspur | 862 | Porter | Roosevelt & Joyce, New York | Wisener, McCready & Co., New York. |
| Twilight | 1482 | Gates | Charles Mallory, Mystic, Conn. | G. Gates & Co., Mystic, Conn. |
Appendix II
RECORD PASSAGES OF THE CALIFORNIA CLIPPER SHIPS MADE IN 110 DAYS OR LESS FROM 1850 TO 1860, INCLUSIVE
1850 :
| SHIP | PORT OF DEPARTURE | ARRIVAL AT SAN FRANCISCO | DAYS |
| Celestial | New York | November 1 | 104 |
| Race Horse | Boston | November 24 | 109 |
| Samuel Russell | New York | May 1 | 109 |
| Sea Witch | New York | July 24 | 97 |
| 1851 ||||
| Challenge | New York | October 29 | 109 |
| Flying Cloud | New York | August 31 | 89 |
| N. B. Palmer | New York | August 21 | 106 |
| Raven | Boston | November 19 | 105 |
| Sea Witch | New York | November 20 | 110 |
| Seaman | New York | March 11 | 107 |
| Stag-Hound | New York | May 26 | 107 |
| Surprise | New York | March 19 | 96 |
| Typhoon | New York | November 18 | 106 |
| Witchcraft | New York | August 11 | 103 |
| 1852 ||||
| Celestial | New York | February 17 | 106 |
| Comet | New York | January 13 | 103 ​ |
| Courser | Boston | April 28 | 108 |
| Eclipse | New York | April 22 | 104 |
| Northern Light | Boston | March 8 | 109 |
| Sea Witch | New York | December 8 | 108 |
| Staffordshire | Boston | August 13 | 101 |
| Sword-Fish | New York | February 10 | 90 |
| Flying Fish | Boston | February 17 | 98 |
| John Bertram | Boston | March 26 | 105 |
| Shooting Star | Boston | August 17 | 105 |
| White Squall | New York | July 29 | 110 |
| Wild Pigeon | New York | January 28 | 104 |
| Sovereign of the Seas | New York | November 15 | 103 |
| 1853 ||||
| Bald Eagle | New York | April 11 | 107 |
| Contest | New York | February 24 | 108 |
| Contest | New York | October 24 | 97 |
| Flying Cloud | New York | August 12 | 105 |
| Flying Dutchman | New York | January 27 | 104 |
| Flying Dutchman | New York | October 7 | 106 |
| Flying Fish | New York | February 1 | 92 |
| Golden Age (barque) | Boston | May 31 | 103 |
| Golden Gate | New York | March 20 | 102 |
| Hornet | New York | August 12 | 105 |
| Invincible | New York | September 9 | 110 |
| John Gilpin | New York | February 2 | 93 |
| Meteor | Boston | March 10 | 110 |
| Oriental | New York | May 7 | 100 |
| Phantom | Boston | April 21 | 104 |
| Bebekah (barque) | Baltimore | May 10 | 106 |
| Sea Serpent | New York | June 1 | 107 |
| Sword-Fish | New York | May 30 | 105 |
| Storm (barque) | New York | April 10 | 109 |
| Tornado | New York | May 2 | 109 |
| Trade-Wind | New York | February 24 | 102 |
| Westward Ho | Boston | February 1 | 103 |
| Witchcraft | New York | July 8 | 110 ​ |
| Winged Racer | New York | March 30 | 105 |
| Young America | New York | August 29 | 110 |
| 1854 ||||
| Archer | New York | April 29 | 106 |
| Challenger | Boston | June 9 | 110 |
| Courier | Boston | April 28 | 108 |
| David Brown | New York | March 23 | 98 |
| Eagle | New York | February 16 | 103 |
| Eagle Wing | Boston | April 5 | 106 |
| Flying Cloud | New York | April 20 | 89 |
| Golden City | New York | February 8 | 105 |
| Herald of the Morning | Boston | May 7 | 106 |
| Hurricane | New York | September 4 | 99 |
| Matchless | Boston | February 8 | 109 |
| Pamparo | New York | January 25 | 105 |
| Polynesia | New York | April 10 | 104 |
| Ringleader | Boston | February 8 | 109 |
| Romance of the Seas | Boston | March 23 | 96 |
| Samuel Russell | New York | January 20 | 106 |
| San Francisco | New York | February 8 | 105 |
| Stag-Hound | New York | August 14 | 110 |
| Westward Ho | New York | February 28 | 106 |
| Witchcraft | New York | August 15 | 97 |
| Young America | New York | October 20 | 110 |
| 1855 ||||
| Boston Light | Boston | April 11 | 102 |
| Cleopatra | New York | March 4 | 107 |
| Don Quixote | Boston | March 29 | 108 |
| Electric | New York | March 4 | 109 |
| Flying Cloud | New York | June 6 | 108 |
| Flying Fish | Boston | January 10 | 109 |
| Flying Fish | Boston | December 27 | 105 |
| Golden Eagle | New York | August 25 | 106 ​ |
| Governor Morton | New York | April 2 | 104 |
| Greenfield (barque) | New York | May 6 | 110 |
| Herald of the Morning | New York | May 16 | 99 |
| Meteor | Boston | August 30 | 108 |
| Neptune's Car | New York | April 25 | 100 |
| Red Rover | New York | June 13 | 107 |
| Telegraph | Boston | April 9 | 109 |
| Westward Ho | Boston | April 24 | 100 |
| 1856 ||||
| Antelope | New York | March 15 | 97 |
| David Brown | New York | April 28 | 103 |
| Don Quixote | Boston | May 31 | 108 |
| Electric Spark | Boston | April 9 | 106 |
| Flyaway | New York | April 8 | 106 |
| Mary L. Sutton | New York | July 20 | 110 |
| North Wind | Boston | July 21 | 110 |
| Phantom | New York | April 29 | 101 |
| Red Rover | New York | April 7 | 110 |
| Reporter | New York | March 27 | 107 |
| Ringleader | Boston | February 3 | 106 |
| Sweepstakes | New York | May 25 | 94 |
| Tornado | New York | March 27 | 110 |
| Wild Hunter | Boston | April 29 | 108 |
| Young America | New York | October 14 | 107 |
| 1857 ||||
| Andrew Jackson | New York | February 28 | 100 |
| Flying Dragon | New York | April 10 | 97 |
| Flying Dutchman | New York | September 10 | 102 |
| Flying Fish | Boston | October 2 | 100 |
| John Land | New York | July 30 | 104 |
| Reporter | New York | April 17 | 110 |
| Westward Ho | New York | March 26 | 100 ​ |
| 1858 ||||
| Andrew Jackson | New York | April 27 | 103 |
| Dashing Wave | New York | August 18 | 107 |
| Don Quixote | New York | March 4 | 108 |
| Esther May | Boston | May 19 | 103 |
| John Land | New York | July 24 | 108 |
| Twilight | New York | April 16 | 100 |
| 1859 ||||
| Andrew Jackson | New York | April 5 | 102 |
| Robin Hood | New York | March 25 | 107 |
| Sierra Nevada | New York | December 17 | 97 |
| Young America | New York | July 24 | 105 |
| 1860 ||||
| Andrew Jackson | New York | March 23 | 89 |
| Archer | New York | March 18 | 106 |
| Lookout | New York | February 20 | 108 |
| Mary L. Sutton | New York | May 12 | 103 |
| Ocean Telegraph | New York | March 13 | 109 |
| White Swallow | New York | August 7 | 110 |
During the forty-five years that have elapsed since the close of the Civil War a large number of sailing ships have been built for the California trade, and it is a notable fact that only two of these vessels made the passage from an Atlantic port to San Francisco in less than one hundred days. The Seminole, built by Maxon & Fish at Mystic, Connecticut, in 1865, arrived at San Francisco from New York, March 10, 1866, in 96 days, and the Glory of the Seas, already mentioned as the last ship built by Donald McKay, made the same voyage, arriving at San Francisco, January 18, 1874, in 94 days.
The two most successful ships in after years were the David Crocket and Young America. Both were built in ​1853, and both continued in the San Francisco trade until 1883, during which time the David Crockett made her best twelve passages from New York to San Francisco in an average of 109 7/12 days each, her best being 102 days in 1872. The Young America, during this period also made twelve passages in an average of 110 7/12 days each, her best being 102 days in 1880.
As these ships were by many years the oldest survivors of the California clippers, there was a good deal of rivalry between them, and their records show that they were very evenly matched. It should, however, be remembered that about the year 1860 their spars and canvas were considerably reduced and that they were fitted with double topsail yards, all of which hampered their speed in moderate weather. Indeed, they resembled two faded beauties who in their youth had been rival belles.
Appendix III
CHINA TEA CLIPPERS, 1859–1869
| SHIP | TONS | CONSTRUCTION | BUILDER | YEAR |
| Falcon | 937 | Wood | Robert Steele & Sons, Greenock | 1859 |
| Isle of the South | 821 | " | Laing & Co., Sunderland | 1859 |
| Fiery Cross | 888 | " | Chalour & Co., Liverpool | 1860 |
| Min | 629 | " | Robert Steele & Sons, Greenock | 1861 |
| Kelso | 556 | " | Pile & Co., Sunderland | 1861 |
| Belted Will | 812 | " | Feel & Co., Workington | 1863 |
| Serica | 708 | " | Robert Steele & Sons, Greenock | 1863 |
| Taeping | 767 | Composite | Robert Steele & Sons, Greenock | 1863 |
| Eliza Shaw | 696 | " | Alexander Stephen, Glasgow | 1863 |
| Yang-tze | 688 | " | Alexander Stephen, Aberdeen | 1863 |
| Black Prince | 750 | " | Alexander Stephen, Aberdeen | 1863 |
| Ariel | 853 | " | Robert Steele & Sons, Greenock | 1865 |
| Ada | 686 | " | Alexander Hall, Aberdeen | 1865 |
| Sir Launcelot | 886 | " | Robert Steele & Sons, Greenock | 1865 |
| Taitsing | 815 | " | Connell & Co., Glasgow | 1865 |
| Titania | 879 | " | Robert Steele & Sons, Greenock | 1866 |
| Spindrift | 899 | " | Connell & Co., Glasgow | 1867 |
| Forward Ho | 943 | " | Alexander Stephen, Glasgow | 1867 ​ |
| Leander | 883 | Composite | Lawrie & Sons, Greenock | 1867 |
| Lahloo | 779 | " | Robert Steele & Sons, Greenock | 1867 |
| Thermopylæ | 947 | " | Walter Hood, Aberdeen | 1868 |
| Windhover | 847 | " | Connell & Co., Glasgow | 1868 |
| Cutty Sark | 921 | " | Scott & Co., Dumbarton | 1868 |
| Caliph | 914 | " | Alexander Hall, Aberdeen | 1869 |
| Wylo | 799 | " | Robert Steele & Sons, Greenock | 1869 |
| Kaisow | 795 | " | Robert Steele & Sons, Greenock | 1869 |
| Lothair | 794 | " | Walker & Son, London | 1869 |
Appendix IV
RULES FOR TONNAGE MEASUREMENTS
The English system of measuring the tonnage of vessels in the eighteenth century is given in Falconer's Marine Dictionary, 1780, as follows:
"To determine the burden, or, in other words, the tonage, of a ship, it is usual to multiply the length of keel into the extreme breadth of the ship within board, taken along the midship beam, and multiplying the product by the depth in the hold from the plank joining to the keelson upwards to the main-deck, and divide the last product by 94; then will the quotient be the burden required, in tons."
This rule continued in force till 1819, when it was changed by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty as follows:
"Multiply the length of the keel by the breadth of beam, and that product by half the breadth of beam, and divide the last product by 94, and the quotient will be the tonnage" (Marine Dictionary, William Burney, LL.D., 1830). Dr. Burney remarks: "It appears from the general construction of merchant ships, that more attention is paid to evade the tax on tonnage than to their sailing well with the wind in different directions; and if the real tonnage of ships were taken, an alteration would soon be made in the construction for the better."
This form of the rule continued until 1842, when by Act of Parliament the following method was adopted:
"Divide the length of the upper deck between the after part of the stem and the fore part of the stern-post into six equal parts. Depths: at the foremost, the middle, and the aftermost of these points of division, measure in feet ​and decimal parts of a foot the depths from the under side of the upper deck to the ceiling at the limber strake. In the case of a break in the upper deck, the depths are to be measured from a line stretched in a continuation of the deck. Breadths: Divide each of those three depths into five equal parts, and measure the inside breadths at the following points—viz., at one fifth and at four fifths from the upper deck of the foremost and aftermost depths, and at two fifths and four fifths from the upper deck of the midship depth. Length: At half the midship depth, measure the length of the vessel from the after part of the stem to the fore part of the stern-post; then, to twice the midship depth add the foremost and the aftermost depths; add together the upper and lower breadths at the foremost division, three times the upper breadth, and the lower breadth, at the midship division and the upper and twice the lower breadth at the after division, for the sum of the breadths; then multiply the sum of the depths by the sum of the breadths, and this product by the length, and divide the final product by three thousand five hundred, which will give the number of tons for register" (Young's Marine Dictionary, 1846).
In 1854 this rule was changed by the Merchant Shipping Act, which provided that the actual cubic contents of a vessel's hull should be measured, a registered ton being reckoned as 100 cubic feet. This is known as the Moorsom system, and is still in use and likely to continue. It was adopted by the United States in 1865; Denmark, 1867; Austria, 1871; Germany, France, and Italy, 1873; Spain, 1874; and Sweden, 1875.
The old practice of calculating tonnage in the United States was adapted from the English, and the mode of measurement was as follows:
The length was measured on deck from the fore part of the stem to the after part of the stern-post; the breadth from outside to outside planking at the broadest part of the vessel; the depth of the hold from the plank on deck to the ceiling of the hold. This last measurement was not used, the depth of a vessel for tonnage purposes being assumed to be one half of her breadth. In order ​to find the tonnage, three fifths of the breadth were deducted from the length and the remainder multiplied by the breadth, and this product multiplied by one half the breadth, or the assumed depth, the last product was then divided by 95, giving the formula:
${\frac {\left(L-{\frac {3}{5}}B\right)\times B\times {\frac {1}{2}}B}{95}}$
Thus in a vessel measuring 100 ft. x 20 ft. x 18 ft.:
| Length of vessel … | 100 |
| Subtract $^3$⁄$_5$ breadth … | 12 |
| Length for measurement … | 88 |
| Multiply by the breadth … | 20 |
| | 1760 |
| Multiply by half breadth … | 10 |
| | 17,600 |
| Divide 17,600 by 95 … | and |
| the result is … | 185+$^{12}$⁄$_{19}$ |
| Total tonnage … | 185+$^{12}$⁄$_{19}$ |
This mode of measurement continued from colonial times until the Moorsom system was adopted in 1865.
The dimensions of ten representative American and British clippers were as follows:
| | | Length | Breadth |
| | Nightingale (1851) | 178 " | 36 " |
| American | Oriental (1849) | 183 ft. | 36 " |
| | Celestial (1850) | 158 " | 34 " 6in. |
| | Stag-Hound (1850) | 209 " | 39 " |
| | Flying Dutchman (1852) | 187 " | 38 " 6in. |
| British | Falcon (1859) | 191 " 4in. | 32 " 2in. |
| | Taitsing (1865) | 192 " | 31 " 5in. |
| | Titania (1866) | 200 " | 35 " |
| | Spindrift (1867) | 219 " 4in. | 35 " 6in. |
| | Thermopylæ (1868) | 210 " | 36 " |