The New York herald., 1850-04-25

:. Amsrsc~n and Foreign sesnen.
commenced a sea-iaring life, four Of which was
forward, two as an officer, and twenty eight as
master. My voyages have been TO North and
south America, Coast OF Africa, East and West
| Indies, and New Orleans coasling trade.
AS master, my first object has been to take as
much care for the safety of the vessel and cargo
| as practicable next, to make passage as speedily
az possible with safety; to do which consider he
and discipline OF the of the first import
ance. ], perhaps, have succeeded thus far as well
as most men in the same business, having never
los vessel, or the underwriters been called upon
but once to pay loss on vessel under my charge
then fer about $4,000, having lost sails, and had
decks swept in hurricane; never have put my
crew allowance Of provisions or water, or lost
man at sea by sickness. l think, therefore, what
may say in regard 10 managing ships the difficulty
now attending il, and remedy pointed out Tor that
difficulty, may have some weight, and attract the
attention OF those most concerned, and cause them
to take some action in the business, to put the
mere hant, master and officers in more proper and
safe position for the management OF ships and
cargoes 'han they now are.
In the first place, our navigation laws, for the
government of ships and seamen, are not what the
times call for. When they were made, and even
up to 1890 they were very well, when our ships
were principally manned by Americans but now,
instead Of Americans, or three-fourths Americans,
as the law requires on foreign voyages, have at
least three fouhs foreigners and of the very worst
kind-mcn, probably driven from their own coun-
try ships for misconduct or incapacity, or both,
very finding their way into our merchant
service, buy an American protection from sailor
landlord, for which they pay from two to five dol
lars-then they go in strong for liberty and equality
on board ship.
1t is often said, and, think, generally under
stood, that sailors, class are high-minded,
noble-hearted, honorable, and very vgant in their
calling, but is, probably, as far from their true
character it is from that of the wild Arabs-with
the exception of Americans. They generally are, or
would be, all that is required of them on board, but
for the large majority against them IN the ships
forecastle. My experience and belief is, that they
are the most timid, superstitous low minded, dis
honest class of men that can be found in the United
States, and perhaps in the civilized world. mean
the English. Irish, and Dutch sailors that now con-
stitute the largest portion Of our ships crews and
give tone TO their character.
Many will say that this is strong language, and
so it is, but not the less true. | would ask
cepted), in the United States or elsewhere, that
seemingly make il point and study to rob, or get
money under false pretences--such as taking wages
in advance and then are missing, or do little or no
duty if they do go board the Ship still receiving
and do get the wages of an able seaman' Now,
why is this, and what will remedy the evil Give
us the same laws that you have on shore, and one
part Of the evil is cured. As the law now is, Il
| sailor can lay by, call for medicine, and prosecute
| the master if he does not get what himself and
shipmates prescribe the whole voyage, and still
have his wages; and generally we have about one
fourth part of the crew off duty all the time, pre-
| tending to be sick; they take about one week,
then give the next in turn their chance, who have
been killing time, feeling their back lame, Nc. all
ready to give up, and do, as the others are
out; and unless the master is very firm man, and
has good officers to force the men to do their duty,
Especially in the nght,) the ship and cargo are
often in danger, passage prolonged and sometimes
even lost Witness the case OF the ship Haidee two
| years since, on the Florida reef. The master
(Soule) ordered the crew below 10 shift The ballast
hom forward to aft to tip the ship, and get her off
| if possible but the bully of the forecastle, TO
regner, said they should not go, and they did not,
| dare not go, until Captain Soule shot the man
down. They then went TO work, and very soon
got the ship into deep water. Had the captain not
| been determined man, the ship must have been
| lost--about $4,000 loss TO the owner or under
writer.
Now, if our navigation laws were such that
sailor must lose his time when he is land by, or pay
for medicine when he wanted it, we should have
| very little sickness at sea, and, Of course, have
better discipline in the ship. Let the ship lose his
board, and be holden for his wages, Gas now but
| why, in the name of common sense, should II man
be paid for being sick, and encouraged in it, as the
| law now does Make laws for bad men the good
old moral law will govern the good men never
duty willingly and cheeray at sea ever to get into
trouble, make trouble for the ship
Let the law be such, that you can discharge
Man, anywhere, If he cannot prove himself an
American, by paying him for the time he has served
| The protection J. no proof let him give good
ioof-then the io egner has either to do his duty,
| or be landed the first opportunity.
|
They now leave the masters and officers, il they
have trouble in trying to keep dscphnc 10 foot the
| bills--whch they cannot afford we'll to do ; and II
| they could, they have no time TO spare, ss they
| must soon be oil again-or lose their employ.
| Now, let II be inserted in the shipping papers that
he owners hold Themselves accountable for all
| lawful means used by the master and officers to
keep discipline on boarl and take care of the suit
| when IL comes up then the master and mates will
| be on safe ground TO act
Also, let the shipping papers prohibit the sailors
from wearing side-arms-that is, long sheath or
| butcher knives. which they draw very readily "A
large. squarc-pointed jackknfe is much better for
ships use. Let the owner order his master to give
| the sailor proper character when he discharges
him, then require character Of the sailor when
you ship him, which take and keep, TO prevent Its
being used for others il he has none, nor can give
good reason why, do not take him. unless he can
prove himself an American born--ii SO, take hun
| ia nine cases out Of ten you Will get good man.
II may not, and probably is not, generally known,
the loss that ships frequently meet with by sailors
not meeting hcir engagements after shipping. For
| instance, n ship in New York, or Boston, wants "A
crew for New Orleans and Europe Men are ready
and anxious TO ship, and get their advance wages,
| (Which is generally for one month,) and the day
set to go on board. The day arrives-ship ready
| for sea-men not on board. The landlords, and
runners after them, if fortunate, may get them on
| board, and the ship save her wind aud tide; but
they often cause the ship 10 lose good wind. and
and wilfully too. When you do get them on board,
| and SAIL you perhaps arrive at New Orleans IN if-
teen days; and. generally, soon as the ship
touches the landing, the sailors leave to man
| ship not iast-currcnt running fve knois-eKposed
TO much danger and expense before she can get men
10 make her safely fast. They do this in open day,
! and without shame. Now, let the owners give
their masters ordcrs-make IL geDcral-to put the
| men IN prison; there keep them until the ship u
ready for sea again, or they pay the damages and
you will soon have no more OF that trouble. Put
the law in full force, ri the ships expense. Let
every ship do IT, and send the men that assist the
ssilors 10 run, TO prison also. Again. when man
ships for q seaman and - not, cannot even steer n
trick or do any other job requiring scamanship, cut
down his wages; be sure TO do H. il II causes irou-
ble at fret; they will then be more cautious Now
our ships often find. when they get TO sea, they
have no sailors on board and. ~ case of scudding
IN gale, the cibccrs and master arc frequently
Obliged to steer the ship; or, IN hard weather, he
officers must go alof 10 do the difficult part OF the
work ihcsc that ship for scamrn fhnowing them
selves they are Iot) being generally very lame, or
sick, in bad time the American part Of the crew,
or the boys. (f any, doing the work the. best they
/ can