New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-04-02
nuR MARITIME INTERESTS.

rightful place as leading MARITIME
power" The House Committee on Com
merce having asked him to prepare bill
that would promote our maritime interests
he did so, and accompanied it with some
very pertinent remarks made before The
mitted. We have received a copy Of the
pamphlet containing the bill and remarks
OF our able Secretary of the Treasury il
regard to the same. 1t certainly would
afford US great deal of pleasure to pub.
llsh both in full, but as our limited space
will not admit of this We must be conten;
| to give the views of Mr.. Boutwell, upon
very important public interests in con-
| densed form. The task of reviving the
commerce of the country is acknowledged
to be surrounded with difficulties that can
not be overcome without the exercise OF
great wisdom and courage.
The bill submitted by Mr.. Boutwell, is
not claimed to be perfect, and its careful
revision by the committee IS solicited
It's principal features treat OF our fishing
| interests: our sailing vessels for foreign
commerce. whether built Of iron or wood;
and our steamships, built Of iron, to be
| EMPLOYED exclusively in foreign trade.
| The fishing interest is considered first,
| because in the language Of Mr.. Boutwell,.
..in some sections Of the country it is
great interest; and, secondly, although
the immediate advantages are local, the
larger benefits Of the industry inure to the
country as q whole" Mr.. Boutwell,
asserts, in connection with this branch
of the subject, that history establishes
that country can not be either mari
time or a naval power unless a portion OF
its. people are accustomed to the sea, not
merely in the naval service, but they
should be trained from early youth TO the
hardy pursuits of the ocean.
The fishing interest of our Eastern
States furnishes school for the youth OF
our country to become proficient sailors,
and affords another important reason in
the estimation of tie Secretary why it
should be preserved. He considers the
fishing interests ofthis country the founda-
ton Of its maritime prosperity, and as
s1lmes that in time of war, country hav-
ing an extensive sea coast, must depend,
in large degree, upon volunteer navy,
and that the regular navy can only be a
nucleus for the important operations Of
maritime defense. Mr. Boutwell, believes
the Washington treaty places our fisheries
in some peril causing tie serious appre-
hension of Americans engaged in that
business as to the result. He would do
something to counteract this feeling and
encourage our fishermen, who are not only
a means of revenue to the country, but a
means Of furnishing its naval and mari
time interest with skillful and able-bodied |
seamen who frequently develop genius as
able navigators.
For the purpose of fostering and encour-
aging our fisheries, the bill prepared By
Mr. Boutwell, proposes that for the period
Of five years there shall be paid upon
every vessel engaged il the cod or rlackerel
fishery for four months in any calendar
year the sum Of six dollars per ton. This
is proposed to be done in order to place
this branch OF American industry upon a
substantial foundation, and test fully the
question whether the Atlantic fisheries can
be maintained in competition with tie
fisheries Of the British provinces, The Lii
further proposes that the sum Of eight do
lars shall he paid for each and every ton
Of registered tonnage Of first class sailing
vessels hereafter launched and finished, |
Of not less than four hundred tons burden, |
to be employed in the foreign trade.
In preparing his bill, the Secretary as |
sumes that the transatlantic commerce |
viii be carried On principally in steam
vessels, but believes there Will be occasion |
for the construction Of sailing vessels, gen
srally Of wood, for the commerce between
he British provinces and the northern
ports Of the United States, and between
he southern ports of the United States
IN the Atlantic and the West Indies, and
;ome portion Of the coast of South Amer
ca. He does not believe it wise, after the
experience Of the last ten years, to favor
specially the construction of wooden
ressels of large size for ocean con-
nerce, or Of sailing vessels, whether Of
wood or iron He believes it to have been
ully demonstrated that they can rot sue
eed in competition with steam vessels
,uilt Of iron, but admits there IS COM
oerce between the Atlantic ports which
an be carried on in wooden vessels, and
this to the price at which
wooden vessels can be constructed, and
ne consequent saving Of interest-al-
hough, perhaps, in the long run, con-
inues Mr.. Boutwell,, such vessels nay not
,e more economical than iron. He ar
gues that eight dollars ton is quite equal
o the advantages that would be received
I we We're to allow a drawback Of duty
lpon materials used. His bill does not
propose an allowance Of drawback in any
,ase, as he believes the difficulties in the
Tay Of such d proposition would be very
seat.
In the first place i :, asserted there