New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-06-01

The Commercial advertiser is indebted
TO ElwoOd Walter ESQ., Secretary of the Board of I'm.
derwrters, for the following Interesting letter from
China:
HONG KoNG, March 90, 1852.
Since my Last letter, OF the Ism December, have
bad large whaling fleet from the Arctic Ocean thirty
nine in number; several Of them much dana ged and
leaking bboly, from having been In the Ice Whether
these chips are insured and If SO, where the captains
have 10 know ledge.
The ship Witchcraft dsmasted on her voyage from
sen Francisco, has completed her repairs end taken
charter back to san Francisco, with Chinese Coolies
Owing her size and the scarcity Of spars here for
vessel OF her class you will find her larger spars cost
large price There were no sphls 10 China suitable Tor
lower mass for such vessel AZ the Witchcrgft;
qusntly her lever mass bad to be built and the only
wCCd suitable for tie purpose was teak every foot Of
which cost one dollar and fifty cents. The same was
the case with her topmasts and larger yards Spars
suitable for the lower OF schOOners were cut 10
make them, which adds much % the necessary outlay
The amount Of her disbursements for underwriters
account SIS $40 10. She has been most unior-
tunste vessel having been dismased twice during the
present voyage. She could not have arrived here az
unfortunate time spsrs being 80 scarce 1hls YES
sci the fret Of the large class Il al has required repairs
here The usual class of vessels thai have res0rted 20
this port have been from 80 10 GOO tuns register and
only tie pars required for such have been imported.
Tie Witchcralt gisteTs 800 tuns.
The whale ships hich hsvc suffered this season are
the following Champion Of New Bedford, Capt Wa
tCIlnap much injured 10y the Ice in the Arctic Ocean
che was repsie AZ expensc OF s., -i5 The Nep-
tune, Of New London much Injured by the Ice having
several Of he planks crushed II the expense for
detw'ers account, &, 81. The Lydia, OF New Lon
don, injured by ice underwriters expense, Sl0s7. At
present under repairs, Charles Carroll, OF New London,
n iuItd by Ice
The whsle ships this season will not enter the Arctic
Ocean as early as they dill lastye
The clipper ship Comet arrived from California few
days since. She sprung her turetOpmast on the pas
ssce The insurance Offices here complain much Of this
vei Is GROUND tsckle, and should she b England
from this they will require her To- get anchors aud
new fhaus Her register tunrage 10 30 and her
heaviest anchor is IS cwt; chain, 3 inches Her
chors are net half the size they saoud be.
After this year tie Offices will take no American risks
unless properly furnished with ground tackle. The day
viii probably arrive when styphOon will sweep our
barber Of all American ships, after which we may
pct ;hey viii be properly provided.
The chip lowe, formerly NewlOrk Havre packet.
now belonging Callso s in harbor, and bound 10
San Francisco, with Coolies ! DO not consider her
nssts, spsrs, end bull which will probably be done
her return here. Her foremost is bad, and should be
taken cut
TIE United States Steamship Susquehanna is in the
tarlor nd on the arrival OF the Commodore will
probably proceed 10 Japan, 10 endeayor 10 effect
treaty 18th the japanese. Success Is very doubtful in
ceed.
TIE whsle ships which have repaired here in settling
their accounts, have been obliged pay their crews
daily vCgts isboTers, during the time Of discharng
repririrg ard relosoiDg, without which they would
jutvrsby have Loot their men, the terms Of their
agreement are not Tor monthly wages Tais plan has
hten followed 81 the Sandwich Islands, as I have
r.r;sred by several OF the accounts Of ships which
have been repaired there The plan is mora econon.
cal for the UEdsT than hiring lsbOrers from shore
70 % the work. The crews have been paid 1
per day, whereas abOrers from the shore would cost
3 20 6ach man. The Chinese are not able 20 do the
work on beard these ships have given DO opinion on
ths subject bat nave seen that such bills were actually
maid