The morning call., 1893-10-06

The yacht race between the Vigilant and
Valkyrie is off, aud people are almost as
wise as before the event about the merits
of the competitors. To complete the dis
lance in six hours was impossible, and
therefore the contest must be renewed.
How the race would have ended If carried
beyond the limit of time it is easy to as
sert, but not quite possible to determine.
A puff hOre and there would favor one or
other of the yachts, and it would simply
have been matter of fortune. not of sea-
manship and superiority of construction,
which vessel passed the winning line.
Light winds are supposed to favor the
Valkyrie, and she had that sort of breeze
on this occasion to an extent that wore
out patience. She got the lead from the
Vigilant when the latter took In her
spinnaker, but the Vigilant was again
coming up bandily when the judges de-
clared there was no race. The public are.
of course, disappointed with the behavior
of the clerk of the weather, but he may
wake up next time.
Ships at sea and especially ships or boats
crews in distress might make more use of
fshilg-tackle than they do for food sup
plies. 1t is mistake to suppose that large
numbers Of the fish which live in the deep
sea, near the surface, are not good eating.
Flying fish are certainly as delicious as
gurnard or whiting. and they can always
be caught in the tropics with light over
the side. In Norway this year tourists
had fishing galore off yachts and in boats.
BY the simple device of trailing line
astern, not baited. but simply furnished
with hooks, five visitors captured 800 cod,
averaging in weight six pounds. Fish are
supposed to be hungry when they attempt
the assimilation of hooks, but many species
have no discrimination and rise readily at
flies or a feather, or bit of white or red
flannel. Mackerel are often taken in the
twilight Of morning or evening with a
feather towed astern.
ST. Clair. the seaman of the bark Eesper,
who is under sentence of death, has re-
ceiyed a respite while his case is carried
to the Supreme Court of the United States.
1t is likely to prove long respite too. as
that august tribunal is always heavily in
arrears with cases, and may not step out
of Its routine to consider matter 40
urgent as fellow-creature's life. The
condemned man is naturally not urgent.
although callous. He is probably better
off on jail diet than he was enjoying the
freedom of the seas and the scurvY fare
considered good enough for tarry breeks.
The Traffic Association has also had dull
times to weather, and some Of its cherished
advances toward q betterment of trans
portation have had to proceed moderately.
But one good thing is apparent. At It's
meeting yesterday there was proof that
the membership is still an undiminished
cooperative phalanx intent upon holding
to the objects contemplated. There has
been no falling off aud no abatement0f
interest and resolve TO 60 ahead. So 60
ahead it will be in good time
The loss of life and property by the
storm in the Gulf of Mexico is truly ap-
palliDg. The estimate is that 1000 lives
have perished, and that property valued at
So. 600. 600 has been swept away. No such
storm devastation has ever been known in
the whole region either in living memory
or on record. 1t was predicted early in the
year that on account of the exceptional
number Of solar spots solar activity would
be very pronounced on the earth. The
reasoning thus far seems to have been sub
stantiated by numerous disasters.
If London dispatch be true. De Mello
at Rio is exceptionally bloodthirsty, and
has not been terrified by the intimation