The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-25
SOUTH SEA DEALERS ALARM
Spain Is Going to CoIonize the
Caroline Groups.
WILL LETITs TRADE CONTRACT.
Very Important Changes That Will
Effect Shipping at This Port
Materially.

The new tariff laws have struck fatal
blow at the trade of this port with the
South Seas. The fleet vessels that ply
between Tahiti and other places where
copra and cocoanuts are offered in ex-
change may have to go out of business al
together. for the tariff has been raised to
90 per cent on raw cocOanuts or eopra,
while cocoanut oil is admitted free OF duty.
All of the traders doing business with
San Frsneisco-the bark Tropic BIRD.
brig Gallilee and barkentine City of
Papeete-may find themselves short of
cargoes. The copra and South Sea island
trade may become thing of the past
Among the recent arrivals in the city
from the southern archipeagos is George
Ewart. at one time an employe of CIaw-
ford s. Co. aud a gentleman thoroughly
versed in matters pertaining to traders.
According to Mr.. Ewart the tascinat-
ing business of trading in the tropics is
fast becoming proftless enterprise, and
the last days of the typical South Sea skip
per, with swift boat and well-fed bank ac-
count, are rapidly approaching.
Since England assumed control, in 1890,
of the Gilbert and Ellis groups of islands
vast changes have come over the trade of
that section. The United States has now
added her influence toward crushing out
what little business there is down there.
On the LIST of January, 1895, decided
change will come over the affairs of the
CarOlnes. which for ten years have been
under direct control of the Spanish Gov
eminent. The Islands are to be coloniZed.
and colonial government. self-suppOrting
in nature, will be established.
a vast auction sale is to take place, and
the privilege Of trading in the groups will
be let to the highest bidder. The small-fry
traders and business men will then be
driven from the field almost entirely.
In the Glberts a tax Of $3.50 per year
has been put OD all craft doing business
there. Each trader Is assessed $50 and
each sailor taxed S. per head.
At Butaritari a Commissioner has been
appointed to collect taxes. and natives are
| now being taxed 80 cents per head per
month. a severe drain on their limited ex-
| chequer.
| Henderson & Macfarlanp, a firm doing
business in Honolulu and elsewhere, are
| allowed to operate a steamer to this point
They receive a subsidy from the Govern
ment for doing so. All these things COM
| bine to render it difficult to make living
| by bartering.
| In the Marshalls it costs vessel $1,000
| to obtain license to trade. Other minor
taxes are imposed. which rem der it impos-
| sible 10 make any money except by impos-
| ing upon the natives.
Bet the go per cent adj valorem tax on
| raw cocoanuts with which the United
! States has asssiled the island traffickers is
deadly blow. Tons upon tons of copra
have been coming here in numerous yes
! sells, and the traffic has been OF great value
| to San Francisco. The line of white
| traders" that ply regularly between here
| and Tahiti will probable be seriously Grip
| pied. and as these boats have done much
toward enriching the business men of
this city it is to be hoped that none of
them will be withdrawn.
| There are number OF vessels cruising
among the islands that have made a fail
ure of this business of late. Captain Me-
lander. who sailed from here about a
year ago in diminutive schooner, is about
| the only independent trader who has been
successful. it is said. He is married to a
native woman, and is a sort OF a native
! himself so far as adopting their manners
and customs is concerned. Melander took
down cargo of perfumery. and he sold
it without any trouble. He is now on his
way back TO San Francisco TO put in an
other stock of sweet-smelIing extracts.
! Under the old regime in the Carolines
| trading craft could clear two and three
| thousand dollars the trip, but now they
are lucky to make expenses. When the
| license to trade there exclusively is let it
is understood that large English house
will make strong effort TO secure the
| privilege. and then American shipowners
| will be driven out of the field.
"All the romance will be knocked out of
! the South Sea trade by the new American
tariff" said CAPTAIN Enright, an old time
| trader. land l cannot see how there can
be any money in the business any more.
| Cocoanut oil will be manufactured abroad
or in the islands and then shipped here.
| The tariff tax on the raw material will be
| a bad thing for the South Sea trader
/
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