The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-14
SURVEYING A SHIP.
How Cargoes Are Inspected Be-
fore They Go to Sea.
WORK OF THE LOCAL BOARD.
Captains Kept From Careless Loading
Lighthouse Estimates-wreck OF
Kitsap-Water Front Notes.

There was a meeting Of the board OF marine
surveyors yesterday in Burns q Atkinson's
once. This board holds regular monthly meet
lngs to devise and frame rules and regulations
Tor the loading of wheat, coal and lumber-laden
vessels in Sound ports. It ia not generally
known that the loaeing of all cargoes from
Puget sound and British Columbia ports for
foreign ports is under the SUPERVISION OF COM
petent surveyors whose duty 1t is to see that the
stevedores and crew stow the cargo in such
manner that 1t will not shift at sea and thereby
place the vessel in danger OF being lost; also to
see that the vessels are not overloaded.
Before the vessel is made ready for sea the
surveyor furnishes the master with a certificate
that the condition of the vessel lie good, the
cargo well slowed. and that the ship is not over
loaded. 1t is not until the underwriters receive
this document that insurance takes effect
These marine surveyors are chosen by insurance
companies from among retired shipmasters,
those receiving the votes of the greatest number
OF such companies doing business in their
localities being elected. 1t is a responsible
position, as large risks are taken on vessels and
cargoes on the presumption that they put to sea
In good condition.
at would'naturally BIS supposed" said well
known surveyor in speaking on the question to
aPosT-IsTELLIGEScER reporter yesterday. "that
the master of a vessel is the best Judge as to
whether his ship is in good condition or not,
IIOIn tue TACT tnat ne taxes the FISK OF his Lie
and that of his crew. But practice and exper-
ince has proven that IL the loading is left en-
tirely to the judgment of the masters, vessels
will in many cases put to sea overloaded, as the
owners are not always seafaring men, and will
not employ man who will not carry full and
complete cargo, as it is called. In other words,
the man who brings the biggest cargo into port
Is the best man in their estimation. OF course
there are exceptions. Some masters are en-.
couraged by the owners to use prudence, and
not strain their vessels by overtaxing the fasten.
fngs and twisting the frame of the vessel out OF
shape, as often happens as a result of overload
ing. number of those careful masters come
TO the Sound, and q few could be mentioned
who have never met with disaster. From this
class OF men Loyds aud other insurance com.
binations choose their surveyors, and they in.
sist that ships and their masters comply with
the rules"
The surveyors of the companies doing bust.
ness on the Sound have formed board which
is known as the Puget Sound Board of Marine
Surveyors, with headquarters in this city. The
reports of their monthly meetings are sent to
the Board OF Marine Underwriters at San Fran.
cisco.
The members consist of Captain E. Biondi,
chairman, whose station is at Port Townsend:
Captain F. J. Burns, stationed at Seattle, and
Captain j. B. Cliff, stationed at Tacoma. Cap.
tain Cliff attends to the loading of all vessels at
Tacoma; Captain Burns to all loading at Seat
tie and Port Blakeley, and Captain Biondi to all
loading at ports OF the lower Sound, viz: Port
Gamble, Ludlow, Utsalady, Discovery, Had
lock and all ports in Bellingham bay.