The morning call., 1892-02-12
SEA AND SHORE.
A New Way to Preserve Potatoes
in an Edible Condition.
Steam-sealers Fitting Out Dissatisfied With
the Offered Pay-Insuranee on the Cargo
of the Crown OF Italy.

Shipmasters who are fond Of potatoes,
and prefer the fresh article to the canned
desccated that Is so insipid, will be Inter
ested in knowing that Professor ScribauX,
OF the National College of Agriculture Of
France, has recently devised very simple.
cheap and successful method by which he
has been able to preserve potatoes in edible
condition for over year and half. This
process has been adopted by the French
Government for preserving potatoes for the
army. The method of preservation con-
ssts in plunging the tubers. before storing
them away, tor ten hours into per cent
solution of commercial sulphuric acid in
water; two parts of acid to 100 parts water.
The acid penetrates the eyes to the depth Of
about cne-fortieth inch two millimeters).
which serves to destroy their sprouting
power; it does not have any appreciable
effect upon the skin of the potatoes. After
remaining in the liquid ten hours the tubors
must be thoroughly dried before storing
away. The same liquid may be used any
number Of times with eQally good results.
A barrel or tank of any kind will do for
the treatment The acid is so diluted it
does not affect the wood. Chemical analysis
shows that potatoes treated by this process
are as nutritious and healthful after eighteen
months as when freshly dug.
The Lancefeld arrived at Havre on the
9Th, after long voyage from Tacoma via
Honolulu, where size put in Tor repairs.
She is the last of the Washington wheat
fleet Of 1S90-91, and left Tacoma in June.
1t took her 234 days to make the voyage.
She was detained at Honolulu 81 days.
STEAM sEALERs FITTING OUT.
Steam seaIers are a new feature in the
trade. yet several will fit out for Behring
Sea this year. The British steamer Thistle
Is now on her way to this port from Victoria
and will 1it out for sealing and whaling
cruise. The number OF vessels that Will ut
out this season is larger than ever before,
and the men openly boast OF their lnten-
tlOns to raid the rOOkereS on every occasion
that offers itself. Some Of the vessels are
very fast salers and in breeze would show
their heels to any of the cruisers that were
up there last year
Dispatches from London state that the
British bark Lizzie Bell, bound from Lon
don to Victoria, has arrived at Coqulmbo
with the captain sick. The cabin had been
on fire while at sea.
The weather outside the heads yesterday
was hay, with a northeast wind blowing II
miles an hour. The barometer stood SOLO.
NOT AT ALL SATISFIED.
The sailors who were on the steamer
Maggie Ross when she was abandoned at
sea some time ago have been offered one
months pay by the agents of the steamer,
but the offer has been refused by at least
three. who claim that at least three months
pay is the proper thing under the circum-
stances, because the insurance companies
paid the owners from $4,000 to S14,0 600 on
the vessel. The men say they will carry
their claim into court.
The cargo of the lost ship Crown of Italy
was insured in twelve cOmpanie les, the total
amount being SIP, 400 Among her cargo
#
Captain Russell, who was compelled
through sickness to lay over one trip of his
steamer. has entirely recovered, and will
leave again on the San Jose for Panama on
the 10Th inst
GOING TO SIBERIA.
The schooner Queen Will come over from
Oakland Greek and 20 on the dry-dOck to-
day. She has been chartered by Roth,
Blum q Co. to carry provisions to Nladi-
vOstOck ia Siberia. She will load at little
Main street and expects to sail about the
18th.
The steamer Emily is on the Merchants
Dry-d0ck undergoing repairs. The damage
consists of n broken Sieve and a started
stern post. She will be ready for sea about
Monday.
Another fine steamer has gone to the bone
yard at SausalitO and Will remain there I'M
til business picks up. She IS the City of
Pueba.
The revenue cutter Thomas Il. Corwin
locked at Green street yesterday to coal.
MOVEMENTS OF VESSELS.
Moves were the Wachusett to Oakland,
Empire to Pacific street. Fanny to Fremont,
Forest Queen to the refinery and the Many
down from Port Costa to the stream. To-day
the Montgomeryshire and Cape York will
go 10 the stream, the Spartan TO Port Costa
and life Palmyra to sea-
Departures yesterday were the steamers
State of California for Astoria aud Nav
AFRO for Navarro, and the schoOners Mary
Gilbert, Barbara Hernster and Annie Gee
for Coast ports.
Arrivals were the steamers Point Iona
from Cosm0polis, Eureka from New
port, Gypsy from Santa Cruz, Point Arena
from Mendocino, and the Jewel from Cas-
par.
Ferry Slip Improvement.
At meeting yesterday afternoon Of the