The morning call., 1890-04-05
SEA AND SHORE.
Custom Officials Seize Wine on
the Bark Hope.
The Alameda's Departure Delayed Until Next
Wedn esday-Information About Ocean
Currents-0n on Troubled Waters.


one hundred Chinese laborers, who will
WORK in the various salmon canneries but
owing to the interference of the United
States Revenue officers her departure will
proba bly, be delayed for several days, and
it is not unlikely that her owners may find
themselves in trouble.
1t appears that the vessel has crew of
Italians, who. as the owners, Scotchler &
Gibbs, say, demand to be supplied with
claret wine. 1t is therefore necessary to
carry some wine for their use. The Fed
eral law prohibits shippers from importing
liquor into Alaska, although small quanti-
ties may be taken for consumption on
board.
Yesterday the Customs officials made'a
descent ON the Hope and found among the
cargo 20 barrels of claret wine, containing
in ali about 1000 gallons. They Immediately
seized it and proceeded to search for more.
NOT ON THE MANIFEST.
The wine did not appear on the ships
manifest. II more than $500 worth is
found, the wine can be forfeited and the
owners punished by fine of not more than
$500, or Imprisonment for not more than
six months
While the Customs officials think that an
attempt was being made to smuggle wine
into Alaska, the owners of the vessel
stoutly deny it and declare that no liquor
was placed among the cargo with their con-
sent. A quantity was carried, as is Gus
tomary on vessels manned by Italians, for
the use of the sailors, who drink it like
water and in place of tea.
Collector Phelps soon after the seizure
telegraphed to Washington that there were
1000 gallons aboard, valued at about $500,
nd rin hot 70 do in tba
The vessel will not be allowed to depart
until definite instructions arrive.
A stevedore on the steamer Alameda fell
from the freight-deck into the hold yester-
day, and was cut on the head. He was at
tended to by the steamers surgeon, and re-
moved to his home on East street.
A VERY STORMY TRIP.
The bark Kitty, which arrived at Astoria
ON March 31st, had a very stormy trip from
Hong-Kong. On March 18th the heavy gale
carried away her fore-top gallant mast. and
Japanese seaman was washed overheard
and drowned.
The Hum boldt Lumber Manufacturers
Association has purchased the two tugs, ii.
ii. Buhne and Mary Ann. The association
has now three tugs, the Ranger being the
other.
The weather at Point Lobos yesterday
was changeable. AT A. NJ the wind was
blowing eight miles an hour; at 8 P. NJ.
twenty miles. and the sky yet cloudy; at
noon it was clear with the wind twenty
eight miles an hour; at 8 P. NJ hazy with
the wind at twenty-four miles an hour.
The British schooner Ocean Belle, which
put into this port, arrived at Seattle yester-
day, making the run in the remarkably
quick time of seven days.
OIL ON TROUBLED WATERS.
The following interesting reports regard
ing the use of oil at sea in stormy weather
lot.n han .-nA l,rrt H. STnl NAAa,
Branch photographic Office in this city:
Captain Harrison of the British steamship
Gothenburg City, running before heavy
hurricane from northwest, January 18th,
latitude 45' so north, longitude 390 80 west,
with tremendous sea running, used oil
with marked success. Canvas bags, stuffed
with oakum saturated with oil, were sus-
pended from a spar dashed across the top
gallant forecastle, just dipping in the water
mot being allowed to tow. Oil was also
used from the closets, fifty gallons, in ALL
being expended.
Captain Marshall. coast pilot, Norfolk,
sends in very good report of the success
full use of oil aboard the steam yacht SybiIla
Upon running close to the bar st the en-
trance OF St. Augustine no opening could
be discovered, owing TO the high seas that
were running. BY pouring can of oil on
the water to windward of the bar however
the buoy was clearly seen, and the yacht
went in with perfect safety. Captain Mar
shall adds that this was his first experience
in using oil when lying to in the trough of
the sea, and he strongly recommends its use
on board small yachts.
Captain Spray OF the British steamship
Mounts Bay and Gates Of the American brig
Arcot, and Weber of the British steamship
Yedmandale, also report having successfully
used oil at sea.
OCEAN CURRENTS.
The United States photographic Office
reports that Two bottle-papers were re-
turned during March. They both relate to
the northeastern part of the North Atlantic,
and are additional to the list published in
brief on last months chart:
The first was thrown overheard from the
British steamship Sandman, October 81,
1889, latitude 500 .06 north, longitude 17o "A,
West. Ii was picked up February 9Th in
latitude So IS north, Longitude about 1S'
east Drift, north northers, cne-half E.,
about 1850 miles. Mr. Gerhard Gade. U nited
States Consul at Christiania, Norway, says,
in letter dated February 18th, forwarding
this paper: 1T was sent me from an ed
ltor at Iromso, who writes that the report
Was found in bottle on the beach near the
farm Of Bo, Parish of BerZ, Malangen
Fjord"
The other paper was thrown overheard
from the Spanish steamship Saturnina,
June 81, 1885, in latitude 800 IS north, longi,
tude 34' II west. 1t was picked up Febru-
airy 18Th about latitude so % north, longi-
tude &c % west. Drift, east one-half north
(around the South of Ireland, about 1880
Consul at Dublin, Ireland, says, in letter
dated February 18th, that this paper was
sent to him by Mr.. John Samuel, Receiver
of Wreck Customs, Wexford, and that it
was picked up on Ballybaloo beach by John
Curran, laborer. Both of these returns fur
nish interesting data regarding the general
set OF the surface drift-current
ATLANTIC OCEAN IcEBERGs.
Ensign Hugh Rodman, U. S. N, secured,
during recent trip to Halifax and st,
Johns, considerable new data regarding
icebergs and field ice in the North Atlantic,
which have been put in shape by the United
States photographic Office
The report says that the past winter has
been the most severe, both as to tempera-
lures and winds, that has been experienced
for years in Labrador and Newfoundland,
and the formation of ice has been very ex-
tensiYe and heavy. Many of the northern
bays OF Newfoundland were frozen solidly
from December till March, something rarely
seen, and the shore ice was of unusual
thickness. Ice in the Gulf of st. Lawrence
has rendered navigation in those waters i'm
possible, and the outflow to the southwark
through Cabot Strait has sent large fields of
heavy ice in almost continuous stream to
the southwark and westward since January.
1t Is still causing much delay and danger
to coasting vessels. Much of this ice is
four or five feet in thickness, rough, RATED
and closely packed When it is remen-
bered that most, if not all, of the field ice
reported comes from the coasts of Labrador
aud Newfoundland the severity of the
winter can be appreciated.
SURVEYING IN ALASKA.
The United States coast survey steamer
Patterson will start on trip to Alaska on
Thursday next, and will make survey Of
Lynn Canal, north Of Chatham Straits. At
tention will also be paid to Tacon Inlet and
| Jay Straits. The Patterson will then cruise
from Juneau to Sitka, making surveys at
| important points.
The United States cruiser Marion, Cap
tain Nicholas Dyer, will arrive here some
time next week. She belongs to the Asiatic
| squadron and has been in the China seas
| for six years.
The United States man-of-war Alert.
| which has been out of commission for some
| months. will be refitted at Mare Island this