The Republican., 1892-10-21
ETIQUETTE OF THE SEA.
snips Always Salute Politely When Pass.
ing Each other on the Sea.


ing Each other on the Sea.
The Atlantic Ocean is streaked from
one side to the other with the long,
black trailing smoke plumes of the big,
rushing record breakers" and ocean
greyhounds," and few are left of the
gallant old whitewinged craft that
carried the flag and the fame of the
nation to every part of the world, save
some scattering oil sheds, which the
sailors, or, to speak more correctly, the
deck hands on the liners, contemp-
tuously refer to as ''wind tanners.
Here and there, however, will be seen
an occasional East Indian semi-clipper,
either bound out to China or the East
Indies, loaded with case oil, or coming
home with cargo of hemp, jute, lin
seed, rattan or some other of the fra
grant and valuable products of the
gorgeous east. But through all the
changes in the size and rig of vessels,
through all the vicissitudes of a life on
the ocean wave, the captain of ship,
be it big or little, is as rule, as pune
tilious in the matter of etiquette as a
Spanish grandee.
And the etiquette of the sea is a
wonderful thing. A hail from little
75-ton fore and after" will be answered
with as much regard for the proprietics
by an East India ship OF 1000 tons rs IL
would be by one of it's own size. and,
when the big ship has been run through
st6ss. and fog by dumb luck and dead
reckoaing" the appearance of the little
one ishailcd with delight, as affording
a means Of rectifying possible errors in
reckoning.
Anlinstance of this kind occurred off
Cape Eod short time ago, says writer
in thu New York Tribune, when the
captain of ship with a valuable cargo
and brew of twenty-five men, as the
fog lifted about noon of the seventh
consecutive day without an observa-
tion, saw almost under his bows little
"cordwdod coaster" creeping along
under ma ainsail and jib, with her skip
per at thswheel and her crew lone MANI
vigorously hauling away at the jib sheet
"Ship ahoy!"
Back from the deck way above him
came the answering call, "Ahoy there" "
"Where ye from?" was the next ques-
ton.
Calcutta bound for Boston," was
the reply.
whats yer cargo?"
'Linseed, spice and jute butts"
How long ye been out?'
Zone hundred and sixty days"
"Gosh" said the skipper, and then
came the chance of the big ships cap
tain.
Schooner thoy" came down from
the deck of the e-juicer.
"Ahoy there" went back the answer.
whats yout longitude?"
The skipper knew where he was and
the master of the Calcutta ship was un-
certain.
So when the answer was given he
was much relieved, for it showed that
he was nearer home than he had reck-
oned. But he was going to have his talk
out anyway, and although the little fell
low had his jib to windward he roared
out: .'-
where you fromp"
Gloucester, bound for New Bedford. y
What's yer cargo?"
"Rocks and bilge water mostly"
slow long have you been out?"
The skipper was stung by the sar-
casm of the last question, and with a
look of scorn at the big ship beloved
out; ''Bin out all night, by thunder,
and wish hadn't. Draw away your
jib," and the sheet block went over To
the lee rail with bang, the sail filed,
and the last the Indiaman heard Of the
schooner was the shippers shout from
the stern end of his boat, "Ye think
yc're darn smart, don't we, jest cause
ye're ig."-Boston Herald.