The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-09-17

a small book is furnished each man, in which
is entered an abstract of the Swedish law and
also the terms of his contract and all payments
made to him in the course of the voyage are
required to be entered thereon, practice
which might we'll be adopted in our merchant
service. From this book it appears, that each
of the ships crew, is entitled to one and half
pounds of salt beef daily for three days and
three quarters of pound of salt pork daily for
the other four days in the week, together with
eight pounds of bread. half pound of wheat
-four, three quarters of pound of butter or ten
cubic inches of olive oil, and three quarters of
pound of sugar or one pound OF molasses per
week. nine pints of water per day are also re-
quired tea or coffee, barley for soups and other
small stores are to be provided, about which
there is no complaint OF any deficiency; when
in harbor pound and a half OF fresh meat
may twice week be substituted for the salted
and soup is to be furnished twice week from
fresh meat when in port
When this vessel left Hernosand July 18th
she was furnished with all the provisions re-
quired by Swedish law, amongst which were
13 barrels Of salted meats. She reached New
York Dec. 18th, 1879 and as the master states
in his testimony they then had left, about
barrel and half of beef with like quantity
of pork, having in five months consumed ten
barrels Of salted meat or at the rate Of two bar
rels a month In his answer the, master states,
that when he sailed from New York for Alex
andria three barrels of beef and three OF pork
were on board. The voyage from New York
to Alexandria occupied Is days, they remained
in that port 81 days, the master there procured
$50 pounds of fresh meat, all of which was
without question consumed before leaving that
port, from thence to Alexandria the time was
As days. 1t is not disputed that soon after
leaving New York the master ordered the
steward to allow the crew but three quarters
of pound of salt beef, instead of the legal al
lowance of one and half pounds per day for
three days in the week. The men were thus
cut short of one half of the quantity to which
they were entitled. They admit, that this was
enough for their dinners, but that nothing was
left TO, breakfast. And that when they discov-
cred that they had thus been restricted there
YVES considerable grumbling" but the quanti-
ty of beef was never increased.
Allowing but three-fourths of a pound of
beef or pork, per day to each man on the voy-
age from New York to Alexandria and back to
Gibraltar, there could not have ceen more
than 800 pounds of salted meat remaining
when the vessel sailed from that port. The
captain was informed by the steward, that
they had but this quantity and that more pro-
visions would be requisite and he swore he
would not purchase any, but would trust to
meeting at sea some ships from which their
necessities would be supplied if the occasion
arose. The master insisted he was not aware of
the scanty supply. 1t certainly was the duty of
the master OF such vessel, before sailing on
an Atlantic voyage to ascertain the amount Of
his provisions on board and he is to be held
chargeable with like consequences as ii he had
actual knowledge thereof even if the Court
were satisfied with his denial. The statement
of the steward is corroborated by that of the
second mate and others of the crew. and the
Court entertains no doubt, that the master
we'll knew the quantity with which he sailed
Shortly after leaving Gibraltar, their allow
auce was reduced TO half pound of salted
meat per day aud was gradually diminished,
until for the last three weeks they had but
three quarters of pound of beef and the same
amount of pork per week
To supply their necessities, the crew some
times caught fish, the bonitas. When fresh they
were proper food, but at times none could be
taken and the steward would then make soup