The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1885-12-24
Our Merchant Marine.
COMMISSIONER PATTEN PRESENTS HIS ANNU-
AL REPORT. VERY HOPEFUL OUTLOOK
SOME IMPORTANT CHANGES SUGGESTED.

mas completed MS annual report, giving an ac-
count of the work of the new bureau of navi-
CATION since its establishment by the Dingley
shipping act. In comparing the status OF
American shipping with that of other mari
time countries, he says: Comparison of our
merchant navy was formerly a source OF
pleasure and satisfaction, as this country took
the lead on the ocean. But although we may
have developed in other ways, we have not
kept pace on the sea with every promise OF
our national youth. Complaints, however, are
not true that our shipping is going to ruin, as
the fact appears that our mercantile navy
stands second among the nations of the world
and still forms one of the elements of our
greatness"
Record is made Of the number and tonnage
of vessels of the various maritime countries
from which it appears that Great Britain has
4,939 seagoing sailing vessels of 4. IA, ,746 tons
and 1852 steamers of 6 6464 1862 tons the Uuited
states has 6,2S4 sea-gOing sailing vessels of D
I3S, $50 tons, and 800 steamers of 545 1877 tons :
Germany, 4,504 vessels of all kinds over ten
tons measurement with total tonnage of l.
~ ,o62; Norway, ,OS6 sea-going sailing vessels
with tonnage Of ,443,I4 and 266 steamers
with tonnage of 141 ,452
! ne total number of vessels employed in the
dlflerent coasting trades and fisheries of the
Atlantic and Pacific coasts, including western
rivers and inland navigation, excepting the
northern lakes, on June 80, 1885, was 1923,
and their tonnage 2,455,1 ,120. OF this number,
l3,S62 We're sailing vessels ALL steam vessels,
236 canal boats, and S94 barges. Total number
Of vessels engaged in the coastwise trade, ex-
Guiding those engaged in the fisheries and upon
the northern lakes and western rivers is 1591S,
and the tonnage 2,OO1 SIT.
commissioner Pattcn gives figures to show
that our coasting trade is by far the most flour
lshing branch of the United States merchant
marine, and says: IF we include our lake and
river tonnage il is the most formidable coasting
fleet i'll the world, surprising in point of ton
mage the combined mercantile navies of any
Two nations, excluding Great Britain. In fact
the aggregate merchant tonnage of France,
Spain and Italy, together, falls short of the
| nlted States cOasting marine.'
The commissioner recommends amendments
to sections 4,34S to 4,361 of the revised statutes
where they refer to entrance or clearance of
vessels so that coasts may be divided into three
great coastlng districts as folloWs
FrSt-Atlantic District, to include the coast
and rivers of the Atlantic from Canada to
Mexico.
second-Pactc District. to include the Pacific
coast and rivers from British Columbia to
Mexico.
Third-The Alaska District, embracing the
coast and rivers Of Alaska.
considerable space is given TO the necessity
collrarement of CONGRESS of our shinnina
interests, and of the adoption of a wise naviga-
tlon policy. On this subject the commissioner
says The relief afforded to American ship
ping through the operation of the shipping act
but our eypectations Of a nerm.nant rnrival
must be DELAYED until ra.rtion cnnau Win th,
demand for more tonnaue TIA Ifniton -. st.tne
is now in a position TO feed the nonul,tioo of a
Great part of the world b,lt we n4ad irnn xhins
Of the best quality TO comnete with the vasIn1s
of England and France. Great Rrit,in c,n
build iron Ships nearly as cheap as wooden
ones and mioht glut the market and knen tb,
frei"htiur bIIsinrss of tb, ynrld at Inv, .i,h
EVERYTHING should he done Il, onrnur,gn ,nn,'
lean iron Shin Luiders The nro,ti";7 .,l,,''til
in France and other nations Of ~r,ntin,, MIMI
les Oh shipbuiIding in 0rder 70 oiIr thniT ynSsnts
equal standing as to price, is commended
In matters of pilot,ye the 1 commissioner rc
fers to the report of the select rommitte,. of
the 18th Congress- ON ,hjp-buildinv and shin-
owning interests. in which If i. .,,ln,ittad that
American vessels nav for the s,u,,,nrt Of tho
different pilot systems of the cnntry more
than a million dollars annually. and showing
that the rates of potage are one of the moSt
costly charges our merchant Shins have ia Mar
The commissioner admits that niIots are q
VERY useful class of men. but saws Tho timn b,"
whole question of pilotayc in the Interest of
the pilots themselves, and Of others concerned
The system of piIotage varies in many of the
States, and the rates are high in nearly ali.
These are shown to he oppressive to the shin
owner. and TO demand The introdu,tion Of =
new system that shall operate alike thro1Iuhn,It
tile Union.
Local taxation of shipping in various STATES
is also dealt with by the commissioner who
shows how much it affects the profits Of the
vessel owners and prosperity of trade. Conn
plant of high taxes are made in certain lnr,li
tic- and there is a great disagreement ~ to The
high valuation of ship property for the purpose
OF taxation in Il period of hard times when
ships are losing money instead of MAKING IT,
and When the assessors should endeayor TO re-
lieNe shipping Of it, burdens until the season
of depression is passed II is sIIoursted th,t
shipping constitutes a class of property whirh
differs from landed property, and if not alto
gcther exempted from taxation if should only
IL partially taxed. The system Of taxing shin
property in England, SAYS the commissioner. is
protective in its character compare,{ with that
adopted bV the most of the States
Under the head of collision, the con,mission-
or discusses at length tile different plans for
double side lights, but advise caution in any
change of the present system. which he saws
should not be yentured on until a new system
TO replace it has become familiar to maritime
people and is found to be acceptable to the
commercial nations generally. The commits
sioner commends the plan proposed by Can't
Riondel Of the French navy, providing for fhe
establishment of mixed international tribunals
for the trial of cases of collision at sea by YES
se> of different nationalities as decidedly in
the interests of harmony and economy
The condition of seamen and the efficiency
of crews i'll seamanship passes under notice.
and the commissioner recommends the eSt.h
li>hment Of the apprentice SYSTEM II il said
to be hard to find crews to man ships, many of
the sailors Of to-day being landsnen unable
even to hand, reef or steer, and an apprentice
system would correct this. The complaint of
poor and unseaworthy seamen is partly caused,
the commissioner says, by an increase in the
number of vessels propelled by steam, which
bring many coal beavers and strikers into SER
vice, who are not sailors, though useful in their
way, and partly bv men affected by diseases
purely preventable. This latter cause might
be remeded by Il compulsory and uniform sys-
TEN of physical examination of scamen At the
time OF shipment.
The law prohibiting the payment of advance
wages except in certain eases is cited This
part of the law has met with great onnosition
and at first DELAYED vessels needing crews. If
would seem that the British law TO the same ef
feet cannot be carried ont in Enrlaud onI tha
Commissioner is of the opinion that in view of
the difficulties met with it would be better 10
modify the law in further legislation and make
it apply to foreign and American ships. TO
meet the eXigencies of masters of vessels with
in~uborClinate and mutnous crews on board
the Commissioner suggests additional lnoiSl,,
ton comforting enlarged powers on masters
for the purpose of PROTECTING life and nronertv
committed to their care. The (omnisSiona
severely criticizes the sailor boardin~ house
ex,e+.,, and ~