The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1860-11-01
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
THTRSDAY. NOVEMBER l

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER l.
Tell me my faults, said the youthful Clay
10 a veteran Senator, on entering for the first
time the American Congress. And it was this
desire to learn his failiDgs and the determination
u rectify them. that raised him 10 the foremost
rank among the politicians of his age, and made
the name OF Henry Clay respected and revered by
the whole American people. We have from time
70 time pointed out some Of the defects of our re-
cent oyer-legislation, particularly that embodied
in the Civil Code. Some Of these have been
r~emedied, but by far the larger part still re-
main a disgrace to our statute books, & check TO
our commercial growth, and a burden to our
agricultural and mercantile interests. 1t is only
by seeking to remove these hindrances TO our
prosperity, by restoring a healthy and vigorous
pulse to our national system, by removing the
petty annoyances and unnecessary embargoes on
trade and industry, that We can hope to progress.
- Tell me my faults is the spirit with which
the Government should be administered, in
order that that line of policy alone be followed
which may develop the highest good.
We have repeatedly declared that the enforce
ment of the new regulations embodied in the
Civil Code, particularly the increase in the tariff,
could only result in driving away whaleships,
AiAANAAi7 bu4 AAAt anu IL, tAiAl IA liiNfE-
nal and foreign That our whaling
fleet is, in 1861, to be reduced TO a lower figure
than at any time during the past twenty-five
years, is now as certain as that the morning fol-
lows the evening. We are not alone in this
opinion, for it is shared by every person of intelli-
gence in the community. From one of the most
respected and experienced whale shipmasters now
in port, we have received a somewhat lengthy
communication on this subject, which, notwith-
standing its length, we give in full. As the tes-
timony of a shipmaster, who has been and is still
interested in the prosperity of our islands, it will
be perused with interest. From the business-like
manner in which he handles his subject, it will
be seen that ne understands the whole subject
from eIyericnce, and we would commend his let
ter to the consideration of those in power:
PACIFIC OCEAN, October, 1860.
MR. EDITOR Dear Sir In looking over files Of
the -firertiser after leaving Honolulu last spring, 1
noticed in the issue of April 26th, Your comments on
the new tariff, raising the duties on foreign goods i'm
ported into the islands from five to ten per cent, with
your views Of its probable effect in driving away a
portion of the whaling feet which otherwise might
visit the islands for recruits, sc. Your idea seemed
to be in favor of holding out greater inducements to
encourage their visits in preference to laying any
greater burden upon them as good policy, and l can
not but think you were correct in that view of the
subject. Whaling at the North, for some seasons
past, has certainly been n loosing business at best for
The greater part of the feet, as its rapid decrease in
affords ample proof; and that the number
low employed will be still more reduced, the average |
latch of the past season fully indicates. Whether
he Sandwich Islands will still be the rendezvous for
hose thata continued in the business, remains to be
proved. The necessity of keeping their disbursements
the smallest possible compass is forced on the
minds of the masters by the fact that in the majority
f cases they are likely to make a loosing voyage for
heir owners. That the increased charges on whale
hips at the islands are to be still more increased by
he additional duties will have its full weight with
masters in making their arrangements as to what
to visit, no one can doubt.
That San Francisco and ports on the coast will soon
tract q portion of them seems more than probable;
ut the change will not be made at once, as many Of
he ships now out have entangling alliances at the
lands, in the shape of provisions stored or wives and
lmilies left there, or letters directed only there,
hich will necessarily call them back in the fall. In
lct, l have seen several ships this season, which, but
IT these impediments, would not visit the islands on
heir return from the North. The fact that a ship
IN get what is necessary in the shape of recruits,
alter, ETC., in San Francisco for less money than at
-onolulu must tell eventually in favor of the former
especially as it is n home port, and shipments +
nd discharges are on a different basis from what {
icy are at the islands. l have been Informed by q q
aster who shipped n crew there last fall that men /
ere plenty and to be had for less advances than at {
lie islands. Water from the water-boat for less than (
Honolulu, taking it from the shore; and Of course q
8 potatoes and vegetables cost less. and his state |
ent was that, were he sole owner of his ship, he a
Iould go to that port as a matter of economy. Now b
-, ,..ong;IaraHla nnr+ion cf tho laar uba1a ~ +h- \
AVS of Lower California, and cruise for sperm on !
at coast, and farther south during the :" between Il
and as San Francisco can be reached from s
Arctic and Ochotsk as soon, and by those who are a
tie, sooner than Honolulu, and the bays on Lower "
.llifornia in a week from San Francisco, whereas it
ten takes from three to four to reach them from p
2uolulu, a pretty strong argument is made out for b
the former port in preference to the latter fe
e, viz Less cost and greater proximity to the a.
Ealing ground, and more especially as ships intend ii
? to whale in the bays would need only to stop for in
fruits, without giving their crews liberty unless at
~ saw fit. ii
1t costs more to get in and out from Honolulu for ez
otage, government dues, steam tug and a supply W
water, than any port it was ever my fortune to fe
IL. Hobart Town, some years back, came the tn
Arrest to it., but they soon discovered that to make dc
great reduction and afford other privileges, was
&c policy, and did so. Ii costs TO get in and out Of te
nolulu, q copy from my clearance last spring , pr
Buoy NC
Pl1taCe, in AMI out. 90 M
stamps and blanks. D 10 ca
49,. 40 ha
IIarhor Masters bill. for mOOruc.---.---.--... 3 90 be
" 4" " uumOOring,.--..-...-. 8 90 Sc
EOS barrels ~ ca
Pilot, for 90 II
si5I so tn
choring outside, it i is fair to say, is not common; III
the fact in this case was, the pilot came on board, as