The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1885-10-09
THIS EVENINGS DOlNCS.
iNTER-ISLAND NAVIGATION.

About every two or three years Il
name is obliterated from the official
list of the small Hawaiian mercantile
fleet. Another vessel is bought to
supply the place of the preceding
one, and occasionally is renamed
after her unfortunate predecessor.
To the unobscrvant eye, there is no
apparent change. To-day Il Liho-
liho is reported missing, tomorrow
sanother schooner arrives from the
coast, the original name discarded,
and the word Liholiho or some other
significant Hawaiian name is painted
on the stern. She is placed on the
Hawaii, Kauai, or Maui route, as
circumstances may demand, and
there being no material difference in
the build of the new vessel and the
old, there is nothing said about the
change. The shipper sends his
goods to the wharf and they reach
the destination as formerly. 1t may
be true that shipment made the
previous quarter has not turned up,
but the order has been duplicated,
and beyond slight inconvenience
to a few hundred plantation hands
by temporary delay, nothing of
Importance has happened. The
(supposed) vessel was insured, the
cargo was insured, so everything is
all right. In fact, it may be looked
upon rs a general benefit to all con-
cerned. An old craft gone to the
bottom, insurance money paid up
without q question, a new vessel
built, secondhand one bought and
small reserve fund left for Sus-
pcnse Account Such is the happy
go-lucky style in which large por-
ton of our mercantile marine has
hitherto been conducted. Let us
reflect for moment and look at
such an occurrence in its true light.
What? Has nothing happened?
Has nothing been lost beyond few
hundred dollars worth of perishable
merchandise? The answer to these
grave questions suggests another
question or two. Where are the
crew, lost or saved! Who was cap
tain of the missing vessel, and was
he competent navigator, both
theoretical and practical? Was the
first mate able to take sights and
prick off the vessels position on the
chart? Finally, was there a soul on
board that craft that knew the first
rudimcnts of navigation?
These and similar questions must
suggest themselves to every thought
ful mind that has care about a
fellow-being. 1t is not our duty to
answer these questions, but we feel
perfect right in asking them.
They are not intended for any in
dividual in particular, but for Ha-
waiian shipowners in general. These
thoughts are naturally suggested by
the recently missing schooner Ka
Moi. 1t may be that the captain
was navigator and Il thoroughly
competent man, but it was not neces'
sary, by law, that he should be So
There is no Board of Marine EX-
aminers on these islands. There
ought to be. When man is placed
in charge of vessel, he should be
compelled to show local or foreign
certificate of competency, and in
falling to do so he should be held
not competent to take charge OF
valuable property and the lives OF
his fellow beings on the high seas.
Let law be passed as soon as prac'
ticable, empowering the appoint
ment of Board of Examiners. II
is rot necessary TO wait until another
vessel is missed and a few lives lost.
The marine record already gives a
sufficient number of appalling losses.
Let Hawaii take small leaf out OF