The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-06-16
TO PATROL THE FLORIDA COAST.
Marine Cutters Detailed for This
Purpose.
One Will be Located at Key West, One at
Charlotte Harbor and One mt Cedar
Keys-Thia Is Done Because There is
Danger OF Yellow Fever Being Brought
from Cuba In Fishing smaohs.

VAohiNdIONi d uu6 lo-dCtlnS IN aC-
cordsnce with recommendation Of
Surgeon. Wymsn, of the Marine
Hospital service, the Secretary of the
Treasury has issued an order for tho
detail OF the three marine cutters to
patrol the Florida coast for the purpose
of preventing the landing of yellow
fever caused by Cuban fishing smscks.
One of the vessels is to be located at
Key West, and will protect tho coast
from Biscsyne Bay to Charlotte Harbor;
another Will patrol 1t from Charlotte
Harbor to Cedar Keys, and the third
from Cedar Keys to Pensacola. They
are to be supplied with launches, to be
loaned by the Navy Department.. In
order to penetrate the shallow waters.
The order also EN- braces provision for
the location of sanitary inspectors at
Boca, Grand Pass. Sarasota Key, An
clote Kris and Cedar Keys.
In recommending that this course be
pursued, tho surgeon-genersl says:
Information has been received of a re-
liable character of the danger of the in.
PRODUCTION of the yellow fever into the
State Of Florida by means OF fishing
smacks from Cuba. Formerly the city
OF Havana was supplied with fish by
vessels owned In Key West, but the
Spanish government imposed such
heavy duties upon these vessels that
the trade on the people by Anne rican fish
ing kmacks has been abandoned, and II
is now carried on by small vessels
owned in Havana. These smscks lie
In portion OF the harbor OF Havana
liable to infection. The men employed
on them are frequently new arrivals in
the country, and therefore the more
likely to become infected with the
yellow fever.
fish for the Havana market, but 1t ia a
matter of common report that they also
engage in smuggling rum and tobacco,
landing at unfrequented and unguarded
points on the coast. They may also
land Nom bers Of their crews sick with
yellow fever or infected clothing or
merchandise. The danger OF the intro
duction OF fever by this means has al
ways been considered imminent, but
this year 1t Is particularly threatening
by reason Of insurrection in Cuba and
1t has been publicly asserted that in
case Of failure of the insurrec ton a
number OF Americans and others serv-
ing with the insurrectioniats In order
to escape the penalty OF death upon
capture will seek to return to the
United States through the medium OF
these small vessels.
1t is necessary, therefore, during the
coming summer and fall to meet this
danger and prevent this illicit traffic by
close watch, both upon the east and
west COASTS OF Florida. These smacks
do make or attempt to make entry and
thus escape inspection by local quaran-
tine officers; but revenue cutters Off
GERS may board and examine them under
the law"
The Secretary of the Treasury has
also requested the State Departm emit to
instruct United States consuls in South
and Central America and the West
Indies to notify officers of vessels leav.
ing those ports fer the United States to
repair the quarantine stations at Dry
Tortugas, Blackhead Island or Ship
Island in case of the development Of
yellow fever during the voyage. He
suggests that no quarantine fees are
charged at those stations, and adds that
such course will probably save the ves-
sells both time and expense.