The Hawaiian gazette., 1897-01-12
SHIPS WILL COME
More Than Thirty Vessels Nov
in Port.
VOLUME OF TRADE INCREASING
Opium Struggled Ashore
in Small Lots.
Difficulty in Capturing it-Limited
Force ofaCustoms
Guards.
VOLUME OF TRADE INCREASING

II has been the boast of the people Of
Lahaina that in days gone by as many
as 200 sails have been seen in the bay
there at one time. This was when
whalers made this their headquarters
and Lahaina was the capital.
Honolulu residents remember when
the bay was dotted with merchant ma
rine, and they remember, too, during
the past few years when the harbor
has been practically without a sail.
During the past year the shipping in
Honolulu has increased to a wonder
full degree, and to the old-timers along
the water front, it is an indication of
a revival Of the days when Honolulu
was considered a boon TO shipping
masters During the past week there
have been three steamers flying
the Japanese flag, in port at one
time. a circumstance that has new
er occurred before in the history Of
Honolulu. In connection with this it
may be noted that within two days
seven foreign steamers arrived in port
No better evidence of the commercial
Importance Of Honolulu is needed
than this.
There are in port at this time 80
vessels discharging or waiting cargoss,
the majority being vessels plying be-
tween The Pacific Coast and Honolulu,
most Of them, as will be seen by the
following list, being vessels which
have been running in this trade At
intervals, when the business warrant
ed il. for years past.
The Australia, Monmouthshire, Rio
de Janeiro Qeft last night, B. p Che
ney, Klillitat, Ardgowan, Lurline, Al
ice Cooke, S. N Castle, Ceylon, Arch
er, Irmgard, w. H. Dimond, J. c. Glade,
Marie Hackfeld, Samoa, Mohican,
Scray, VIM. G. Irwin, Honolulu, White
Rose, c. ID. Bryant, Matilda, S. P.
Hitchcock, Amelia, Martha Davis, S.
G. Wilder, Northbrook, Andrake, R. p.
Rithet. Besides these, there have ar
rived within the past few weeks the
Ten Shin-Maru, Sacura-Maru, Sin Shu-
Maru, Monowai, Coptic and Miowera.
With this amount of shipping in port,
and nearly all the vessels dischargiug
cargOes, il is not 10 be wondered, with
the limited Customs force that opium
is struggled ashore and reaches the
stores Of dealers uptown. There are
employed regularly along the water
front by the Customs authorities five
discharging officers and four guards.
and on the night force there are eight
regular guards and two inspectors. in
a rush like occurred last week extra
inspectors and guards were employed,
but the force was not commensurate
with the work to be done.
Every one knows opium reaches the
dealers, and the general impression
is that it gets past the guards on the
wharf. II is known, too, that quaint
ties Of it is landed on the other islands,
or in out-of-the-way places on this ISL
and, at points not well guarded
When opium is captured uptown
there is a howl against the Custom
House, because the guards are not as
alert as the policemen. The trouble
is that there are not enough guards to
go around. and it cannot be expected
that an appropriation of a trifle more
that 81, 600 per monlh is sufficient %
prevent smuggling in small quantities
It is said by men who handle the stuff
that $50 pounds arrive here by each
steamer and this is independent of
what comes in crackers, kerosene tins
and general merchandise. The easiest
TO catch is that shipped with goods, be-
cause the authorities are constantly in
receipt Of information from abroad.
which assists them in ferreting out the
stuff. Again, there are parties here
suspected of being in the opium bust
ness, and the law allows the Customs
Department certain privileges in the
matter OF opening up goods.
The greatest difficulty has been 10
catch the small trader, men who want
10 add to their income by bringing in
from 10 to IS tins of the stuff, and who
are willing TO take advantage of the
limited force employed and get ii
ashore The recent catch by the DO
lice department, supposed to have come
on the Australia, is known to have
been landed from a sailing vessel at
a time when one man had two vessels
to watch These small smugglers are
having an easy time of it, because of
the small force, and until it is increas-
ed the price Of dope will be low, and
the police department will have the
credit of making most of the hauls.