New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-04-01
THE CONDITION OF AMERICAN SEAMsM

Various causes have Of late directed public attention
70 the deplorsble condition OF our mercantile marine,
chief among which the ty of life and prop
erty at ses the acknowledged nfenonty Of mariners,
and the ess skiilful, but more brutal and despotc
class from which officers are cu1ed. We have con-
suited with those whose experience and extensive OBJ
sevaton qualify them 20 speak with authority, and IN
this article shall endeayor to present the origin, opera
ton and effect of manifold abuses.
Az to the increasing insecurity OF life and property at
sea- il is manifest that the cause is not to be found in
oar ships They better buil,, rugged, ard fitted 10
every way to Withstand danger than ever before.
The trouble is solely with the officers and men. Cap
tains now obtain ships soon az they can purchase
share in them their qualifications nsv gators being
of secondary importance. Il was once the rule that
the quarter deck was only attained through al the
grades Of cabin boy foremast hand and mate now is
the exception. Under such commanders unless as
sisted by unusually competent officers disaster and
sbipyreck follow as natural consequences. evsted
"a the Gu ter-deck in this lubbery way, captains have
little or DO symp-ihy with the inmatee of the forscss
lie and natural, their Abordin ate ccers folio their
example, Hence the deadly feud which generally ex-
ts between the officers and sesmen in our merchant
,eryice. Miserable igDorsnuses who scarcely under
aasd the rudments oil their profession tyrannize over
old salts who have spent lifetime at sea, and while
the latter fee. q supreme contempt for their COM
mander. the npossiblty OF maintaining thorough dis
ci1rne ia apparent GOOD officers make good men
is q saltwater trusm a applicable to the present TO
the past.
fruitful cause OF the tcsrcity OF sesmen is 10 be
fonnd in the fsctthat while has been e.
pandng into gigantic proportions, SURPRISING every
other nation cur seamen have not increased IN CORE
snoudipp RATIO With the enormous increase N our
steam marine, ard the rapid growth Of our clipper
fact the hest seamen have been drained from the
nacket.ships 70 nan the steamers and clippers. The
r,.son for this s obvors-chppers 20 upon long voy
ayes, and good n,n love TO leave the cnmps and sailor
Landlord, far bind as 9ossible Then TOO the ages
ar. good as are also the accommodations, and gen.
rally the peo are better fed than ordinary traders
These ve.ss. therefore being IN request By sailors,
n,t. "a NAV pick ther men, and Of course obtain the
hest II the market Steamers, too, Afford svonte and
steady euployuert 10 large number Of sesnen q.
voyes 70 DER cent higher than those o! the packet
.bi,s while the men are fed upoh the best food CON-
psr.nvelv we'll logged Iai spead large share Of
their time in mont From this il must be obvious tia.
GOOD .sior vii prefer TO ship IN steamer - clipper
u 10 b,s the opportunity. Before the discovery of
gold IN California, & great many fIst-rs,e American
s..nep were obtained fiom the Lakes sad from among
he fishermen of tie C.pe but The usjOrty o: these
being Young AMI entsrpri.ng fellows lei: Tor the FL
Dorado, AM have srowr rich, or are ell 5, work in
the mines or have laid then bones under The tarf
Now, many Of our Ns-.Yori 'eamen 90 70 the Cspe
a. fishermen in tie sessob, sud ZOO OF tie .: e .st
wi, set ont for ne Lakes, where they e,a get go g
m,p.n As .oor az psvigation oPe-s- The inJessed
n.v ~ the naval seauen, sdisd to the honorable
discharge allows . MAJ Who hss served
.b,euea the crn.e faithfully the privilege Of so.rs
ashore % ii. friends for three Months; aud II st
the expiration Of ,hs: time he RENTERS he n.vy,
,ige. Rim full psy for ;he waOie tims-hH a~o induced
.lugs aamb.r to leave The msres.aissrSics. Iniesd,
sailor. belOogue 70 the navy whatever nay have tsss
N-i- reputation ..n ys.,'sss Es 1'vAsa afv hss"