The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-02
Important Officials at Seaports and
Their Duties-How They Work.


The surveying OF vessels is frequently referred
to by mariners and newspapers, but it is doubt
full If one person In every 5000 understands what
is meant by the term. To survey a vessel IL to
examine the vessel as to its condition, style of
construction, its age and the manner in which
it is loaded-to ascertain that II is loaded
properly for the safety of the vessel and pro-
lection of the cargo, or in case OF a damaged
vessel to ascertain the extent of the damages.
Vessels are surveyed in the ports from which
they sail by surveyors appointed by the under
writer's and they are surveyed in the ports
which they enter with cargoes by the port
wardens appointed by the municipal or state
governments in this country.
on Puget sound there are three surveyors ap-
pointed by the board of marine underwriters at
San Francisco. and these surveyors represent all
the marine insurance companies doing business
on the Sound. They act sngly, or as a board
when occasion requires ii, each one having GER
tain ports 10 look after. which form his district
For the Port Townsend district, Captain Eugene
Biondi is surveyor his district including Port
Townsend, Port ludlow, Port Gamble aud What
com; FOR Seattle and Port Blakeley, Captain F.
J. Burns. Of Seattle, is surveyor; and for Ia
coma, Captain j. b, Gift is surveyor. In case
OF the absence OF any one of them the Others at
tend 10 his business for him. OF course IL YES
sci or cargo is not insured. she does not have to
submit TO a survey in the port from which she
sails, but nearly all foreign-go going vessels and
those going around to the Atlantic coast aud
quite number of those running coastwise as
well. are always insured. as are also their car
goes. ana hence they are compelled 10 be always
surveyed before going 20 sea. A copy of the
surveyors certificate is furnished the captain
one to the party chartering tho vessel aad n
third 10 the board of marine underwriters at SAN
Francisco, Ocean steamers Go not have to be
surveyed except in cases where they sail foreign
with full cargo, usually lumber from the
Sound.
Regarding the surveying OF wheat vessels
Captain Burns yesterday gave a Posr-INrxLLI-
sxScER reporter the following information:
''The surveyor must see, said he, .that all
wheat vessels are A in every respect as 10
stsunehness aud equipment or else not PASS
them; that wooden vessels taking wheat have
dunnage in tho bottom, not less than sixteen
inches, and IN the eiige net less than eighteen
inches, that dunnage aud sides are clap
boarded from the keelson TO the upper deck
shelf: that all decks are damaged with strNDs
and boards two inches high; that sufficient
covering of canvas. burlsp or baggfng is 20 h.,
laid over the bottom on those boards as high as
the upper turn OF the bilge 20 prevent wheat
from running through. and that three tiers of
shifting boards, two inches thick. are placed
on esca side OF the stanchions abreast OF each
other IN each OF the tween decks in three-deck
vessels. but double-deek vessels are required 10
have three tiers in the lower hold. Iron vessels
must observe the same rules with the exception
that the dunnsee on floor need not exceed SIX
inches and IN the bilge ten inches
'sStrict care Is siso taken that vessels are not
overloaded. The top OF the deck at the lowest
point on the side of the ship must be a certain
height above the water. This height above the
vster is called ireeh0ard and is regulated &C
eording 10 the depth of the hold and build
o. the vessel Iron ships are allowed to
load deeper than wooden ships, approx lmately
about one-han inch TO each foot of depth of
hold; or an iron or steel ship with twenty-four
feet depth of hold can load about foot
deeper in water than a wooden vessel and be as
safe. Lumber carriers need not be quite
good as wheat ships. but they must be etauneh,
ssaworthy and well equipped"
vsssels loading Other kinds Of eargoes are