Evening star., 1896-02-22
THE COASTER FLEET.
Character of the Vessels and Decline
of the Sailing Industry.

From the New York Post.
One of the most picturesque sights to be
seen on the water is large feet of coast
ers" drifting seaward on the outgoing tide
Immediately after storm. Such a scene
may be seen In almost any large harbor at
certain seasons Of the year. but more par
ticularly in Portland harbor, off the Maine
coast, during the summer and autumn
months, when the coasters are lumber-laden
for Boston or New York. Frequently fifty
to sixty Of these coasting schooners will
leave the harbor at the same time, and so
alike seem they at short distance that the
whole feet appears to be but reduplication
Of one boat. They are nearly all schooners
with two masts. and Of about 100 tons
burden. Most of them are from fifteen to
thirty years old. with patched and scanned
sails, ard loaded down nearly to the gun
wales. storm of small proportions would
force the loose planking of these ancient
craft asunder, and cause leaks that would
call all hands to the pumps to save them
from a watery grave. In sea parlance, they
are only "held together by coal tar" 1t
Is this peculiar construction of the coasters
that makes them flock together like herd
of sheep in some protected harbor until the
conditions of wand and weather are exactly
suitable for easy sailing.
No mariner upon the high seas studies the
signs of the weather and reads the signals
Of the weather bureau with more diligence
than tho skipper of one Of the numerous
coasters that fit up and down the Atlantic
coast in the summer season, lodging into
ports at the first indication Of gale or
storm, and gliding out with favorable
tide and wind to make another harbor be-
fore being overtaken by second spell of
weather" To all outward appearances the
coaster is capable Of riding the rough seas
with swan-like grace, and her lines are not
by any means ugly, but are often very fine
and graceful, showing the skill of the boat
h,,;1 off U0O6nn
vessels were profitable investments. The
Yankee genius that made our privateers
and tea clippers the wonders of the world
and the neetest greyhounds Of the ocean Is
displayed in some Of the fine lines Of the
present coasters. Coasters do not pay in
this age Of steam and electricity, and they
are no longer built in this or other countries
When the present fleet have gone to pieces
on the rocks or sandbars, or have fallen
apart by their own weight, most interest
ing type of vessel will disappear from the
paths of the ocean and great American in
duStry come to an end.
The only men who can afford to own coast
ers today are those who sail them and live
on them, and these shippers are a distinct
type Of seamen, spending half the year in
guiding their uncertain craft along the
treacherous Atlantic shore, and the other
half on a comfortable seacoast farm some
where between Maine and New York. Ac-
cepting the inevitable conclusion that their
old occupation will soon be wrested from
them by the swift changes of time, these
farmer-skppers have invested their small
earnings In home that is more secure and
lasting than their schooners. So long as
their vessels hang together they will follow
the sea, but gradually one after another
drops out Of service to spend the remainder
of life in some quiet fishing hamlet, or goes
down to watery grave on some rock bound
coast. When the coast skippers become a
thing of the past, the last relic Of an age of
| shipbuilding that made this country famous
on the high seas will be lost. The triumph
Of the iron age of shipbuilding over the
wooden age will then be complete.