The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-02-18
LAND SHARKS. :
Creatures More Feared by Seamen
Than the Tempest.
NEW YORK HARBOR ABUSES.
How Sailors Are Deceived and
Shipowners Mulcted.
PROTEST OF A BRITISH CONSUL.
A System OF Blackraail that De-
fies Opposition.
CONGRESSIONAL AID REQUIRED
PROTEST OF A BRITISH CONSUL
CONGRESSIONAL AID REQUIRED


No life in tho air. but in sas waters
War universal reigns these depths along
Thus sang the British seaman till be became &C.
quainted with the shores OF Manhattan Island. Jude
ing by tho imprecations heaped upon tho devoted
heads Of tho authorities OF the port New YORK he
now finds any number OF sharks pursuing their
slaughter land. For y number OF years past the
OF Now York have tesued with OF assault
and battery preferred BY scanned against English cap
tains. While 'Poor Jack" has always been object
OF sympathysas being the abused creature the
face globe the harassing aunoyances TO which
not only himself but also his subjected
arrival this port have only occasionally
little ripple OF excitement but without attracting to
any extent serious consideration Of the British and
American governments
late, however, those charges OF assault and bat
terry preferred against British captains have be-
come SO frequent that they have been the common
talk OF shpowners and consgnees along South Front
and Pearl streets in this CITY, Satisfied that in most
such there always to be heard two Of
the story HERALD reporter instructed TO invest
cute the origin those frequent charges and, in the
course Of interviews with leading shipowners
sgnees captains, officials lawyers aud boarding house
Keepers, asccrtainied that there consular
convention between the United States and Great
Britain, and that tho British Consul this port I'M
like the Continental consuIs possesses magisteral
power In othor words, when crew, upon arrival at
this port deserts he cannot. like French. German
or Swedish CONSUL their immediate arrest upon
his own individual warrants, but must leave tho
matter, If at all, TO she care Of the courts
SAILOR TRAPS.
The port of New York is to all. intents and pur-
poses an attractive place for tho sailor coming
q long voyage; but, in accordance with British and
also with American law, no sailor has right draw
his pay until the expiration OF the voyage for which
he has been shipped. In all cases, nearly. these
arc shipped in Europe. whero they obtained al
lower wages than at this port Upon touching In the
harbor Of New York they soon accos,ed by an
garized gang. induce them to desert with prom.
ises that 'The captain will be made como down
with bis stamps" Anxious 10 enjoy the liberty Of
the Shore they leave sometimes in gangs OF four or
ve sometimes sngly; and the nrst proceeding after
drinking the bad rum Of Vest aud South Streets 10
to assign their pay, blanks already prepared TO
whomsoever's name Ia written on the power OF at
torney Once armed with this document the runners
pay very little attention to the deserted crow ex.
cept to point them TO particular boarding houses
Their attention 10 directed 10 the captains the
respective vessels, or the representatives Of the
ers In this city. For reasons better given In tho
these men 1t will be seen thousands OF dollars
have been paid without right warrant OF law by
British owners captains, and the evil has grown
SO serious imperil the very prosperity of the
port OF New York. Whenever the least resistance il
made TO the collection OF these saiors' CLAIMS not
due charge OF assault and battery Is preferred and
the vessel bolied the very day that she is ready
10 for anethor port, thus forcing tho settlement
aimed BY tho mon engaged in this nefarous bust
ness What makes the matter still 10 that out
Of tho moneys collected Tor illegal CLAIMS she
party entitled TO IT, poor Jack himself gets nothing
he beng left 10 starve. 10 die, TO reshp after hs
has assigned by power Of attorney his claim fol
wages
LETTER LAWS.
The writer called the British Consulate in this
city, where informed thatsa law had been
enacted some years ago forbdding any ships from
being boarded by runners within tweuty-four hours
after arrival but the law virtually dead letter.
II was a captains bounden duty to discharge lis sail.
ors before the Consul, and he liable to penalty
under the Mcrcnants' Shipping act II he omitted to
obtain consular sanction the discharge OF any sea-
man. II sailors were, however,, Induced by boarding
house keepers their runners to desert ship the
captains duty simply consisted, according TO British
law 10 report the Consul the Of such deserton
What was required consular convention or
treaty which would give censuls jurisdiction over all
these questions of wages and discipline between
ters and seamen ana 10 prevent the trumped up
charges to which shipmasters had TO submit
at the hands OF sesmen's lawyers ono
case was mentioned al the Consulate, where
snpmaster was arrested and handca fed Ia pub
tic ARE and thcn marched OF the Sherin's
ofice on a charge OF assault and battery. This &C.
Cured about Two months ago. The suit was not
brought until his ship loaded and ready Clear
..-..
upon him that he compelled to compromise, and
the case never cane to court The capts,n ststed
that there was foundation for the charge whatever
but rather than have hts ship detained with heavy
domurrage,, amounting 10 $50 day sometimes, he
was IN manner driven TO make certain payment to
get out the meshes 10 which he found himself The
business effected by this outrageous system enor-
nous. Last year CO. 900 British sailors camo 10 this
port; during the same time the tonnage Of vessels
thus running tho risk or being set upon by these
sharks amounted TO 2,374,000 Out of these
$4,000 sailors less than 5000 deserted.
In nearly every instance the assertions wore
followed by proceedings to recover wages,
which otherwise thoy would have forIcitsd. There
certainly existed great need for convention, 90 that
BRUSH shipmssers could protected q, this port Tho
sailors themselves. upon first arriving here, wore told
that by sung tho they could the full wages
though duo them until tho expiration OF the voy-
age.
'Scores OF them have subsequently, come TO ~ ut
this ONCE" said the gentleman in charge, teing
that OF the $50 500 due them landing they
had been Obliged to content themselves with some
times So and sometimes nothing at ALL a. the board.
ing house keeper and lawyers had satisfied nrst
1t mistake TO think that they only 60 for the
gsh speaking sailors On the contrary, the great
majority OF the men thus caught Bhglish because
they more plabie than others view Of the I'm
pOrtance OF this question 10 merchants generally II 10
| 10 be- hoped that II will become o subject Of dIpo-
matc correspon between countriss." The
Consul thcn called the attention Of the writer the
follow ing report he had made the Home Ofhce IN
London on the subject, and which he permitted him
| W COPY
AN OFFICIAL DECLARATION
''The abuses TO which British shipmasters and
are subjected at ths port continue TO Crying
evil The system under winch British scAmen are
here enticcd forced desert, and masters under
the penalty OF INSCRIPTIONS and harsssng legal pro-