New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-07
FRUITS IN SEASON.


Inst within hearing of the plash OF the
Futoa Ferry boats to the left they enter the New
York ferry-house. rise the slender mass OF the s"
sapg vessels which bring the Metropolis Its Immense
sapply bsnanss, pine-apples, coeoanHts' of~hses
lemons and other foreign fruits Lying slae os sue'
with their sowsprts pointing like 80 many
over the waters OF the East RIVER Tue nse'"h
Of these yachts almost overaps ana 'h'e't"iuV''
Ranging along the wharf arc series Oh roughly
built sheds used by the owners oil 'ne o"ikVoe v
its reception In these shanties and on Doaru
of the fruiters the during the summer months is
troucal In measure. Is is also ousy ana ln'eres"uS
enc 20 witness which would repay VISIT 70 the Spot
.pecauy so II coupled the courtesy OF one whos
familiar with the grcHnd. Just now, though the season
proner Is generally ended by the second month OF sum
rer the bearing craft continue to arrive. Between
the sheds upon shore aud the edge oil the wharf
fs lust sufficient space for one person 10
pass along comfortably. and on every Summer
day NAV be seen this walk, or on board
az one Of the fruiters watching with sharp eyes the
process Of unloading and the movements OF the mixed
crowd OF men whe handle the fruit, snort, weEbult
man advanced in years. is evident from his snow
white and beard though yet the sunny side OF CO.
He dresses in q of linen, aud carries at all times
large umbrella, which protects him from the warm
sAncos Of the sun This is United States Inspector OF
Castoms J. IL Bostwick who has for many years wit
messed arrival and departure of the fruit vessels
from this very spot. In company with Mr. Bostwlck a
reporter TRIBUNE boarded several OF the ruters
last week and was enabled TO form estimate Of the
growth OF the foreign fruit trade The past season has
been one OF considerable disappointment and loss on
account of the reckessness Of importers and specu
latoTe began cutting the fruit too early last Spring
The crop is poor and in proportion TO the amount OF
fruit shipped very little arrives good form, and IL is
placed an the vessels fully ripe, indeed over ripe
condition and decays during the tedious passage Inc
Laura Pride, from Baracoa, with cargo OF bananas,
wa nearly unloaded and its had been scattered
tn every direction the markets. groceries, and
Al fhair he
OF che banana boats lined with cOcoa-nuts which
serve as ballast and their sale pays for their transporta
TIL punches Of bananas are then stored In an up
sht position upon raised boards, and as they are very
delicate fruit they have TO be packed With
fair proportion OF the cargo is slowed
upon the decks within large cribs. Beneath two
layers of raised boards TO let the sea washgs aud ram
pass the fruit nicely packed cargo is pretty
sight but IL is generally with feelings OF mingled hope
and fear that the owners examine the contents TO dis
cover much and how little Of the precious fruit is
good. The unloading done with and rapidity.
the larger and better part of the cargo has been
removed vessels generally boarded by the men
who sell fruit at street corners or pedde II
Offices They buy most all of the soft irut
which they get very cheapy IN this way and some are
not too scrupulous steal when they have oppor
Iunity As many OF IS OF these persons are some
times upon the friters, and who do business
the lower part OF the city frequently the familiar
faces Of and girls who infest the down
establishments. Il IS the intention Of the officials
90 pat a stop this phase of the traffic these people
deter the movements of the 1ongshoremen, and are
otherwise Objectionable. The first bananas werebrought
this city Mr. B0swick states in his Early History
Of the Foreign Trade New-York," In 1884, by Capt
John Ii. Chester Of the schooner Raymond, about 80
punches in all. the voyage this city the captain
fell in with three French rgates in company, on one
of which Jerome Bonaparte then his to Bal
tmore to marry Miss Patterson When Captain Chester
learned the object OF his visit he presented the French
ma Wit a OF mes
which thankfully received by the distinguished
visitor remainder of the sold 10 An
thony Crappan fruit dealer in the old Fly Market at
the foot of Madenlane
FRUIT WASTED ON THE PASSAGE.
The s. A. Paine. also from BaracOa, lay alongside of
Pride, with thousands OF pine-apples piled
upon her decks while in the hold could be many
more, tightly but carefully packed squad OF men
beneath the decks gathered the fruit in baskets and
passed up through the matches TO Others who received
and sorted It, throwing the worthless fruit upon side
OF the deck the heated, partly decayed pines upon
The other while good fruit removed the shore.
The deck OF the Paine piled high with bad pine
apples from which there Odor suggesting the
proximity OF a dozen breweres. The shippers of this
cargo suffered bad loss, though not has
been met with in cases. one vessel arrived few
days ago with a cargo of 5000 pneappes, OF which
t6s had persisted. Sometimes the cargo proves total
loss and only onefourth Of the fruit is spoiled it is
called good cargo. The causes OF loss are numerous
sometimes from long and voyages. making II ne
cessay close the matches to prevent the water
from flowing into the hold. The matches should be kept
open Heavy thunder storms always terribly fatal
Mr. Bostwick told OF vessel which arrived at Sandy
Hook night not long and detained there by
the quarantine authorities for several hours During
the pause tremendous thunder storm swept over the
bay, the pine-apples which previously in
unusually fine condition. almost totally destroyed
II importers would put in the fruit dry and too ripe
would do very well. Pine-appes imported from
Eleutbera, san Salvador Matanzas Havana. Abacoa,
Baracoa, and Ponce, Z. r. stranger seeing the i'm
loads of fruit brought shore, would naturally
how the vast amounts disposed OF, and an i'm
porter could him readily. Beside the quantity
consumed by the residents Of NewYork and It's vicinity
which exceeds that of any city in the world London
Paris excepted, there persons upon whom the
importers rely TO purchase their fruit These people
usually purchase 10 large quantities, and in few hours
fruit shipped to all parts OF the country The
etes for rapid transportation such that only few
hours needed for the transportation Of fruit to
distance of hundreds Of miles. Many firms engaged
solely the purchase and shipping Of West India fruit
and firms alone In this city buy nearly half amion
Of pineapples annually for canning.
THE COCoANUT TRADE.
The importation Of cOcoanuts forms an extensive
branch in the trade Of foreign fruits, and though it
seems improbable the average percentage OF losses by
decay Is about onefth. The board the
nut not interesting boats containing
other tropical fruits The cocoanut is eaten much
until after IL passed through the mandatory and
the kitchen 1t generally deprived Of its husk by the
natives who also seal Of the three eyes which TO
this day inpenetrable mysteries TO little cocoanut
lovers order battle the thieving propenses OF the
perambuating ship and inquisitye cockroaeh The
then counted and placed in bags for shipment
Cocoanuts principally imported from Bsraeoa, San
Bias del fora, Ruatan Honduras, OLD Providence,