The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-30
MARINE INTELLIGENCE.
LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS OF
SHIPS AND SHIPPING.

Effect of the War on ocean Freights.
instructions to Collectors of. Gus
toms Regarding the CIearances of
VesseIs-The Steamship Dorset Re
paired and Ready for sea-List OF
Vessels in Port.
The steamship Chattahoochee. from New
York, is expected TO arrive this morning.
1t is a noticeable fact and an unusual
one. that there is not a single cabin pas
senger on board.
one marked result of the present war
with Spain is the effect 1t is having on
American shipping, says the Journal of
Commerce and Commercial Bulletin. That
deep water trade should be seriously at
feeted is obvious 10 any one acquainted
with the circumstances, but IL is also true
that the coastwise chartering business is
suffering considerably. There is still
fair general movement of freight north-
ward along the coast from points as far
south even as Mobile, and some charters
have been taken recently for small schoon-
ers of about 120 TO $50 tons each to go to
the Bahamas but the West India trade
in either direction is practically at stand
still, except, of course, in foreign bottoms
Owners of foreign vessels, principally Brit
ish, seeing that they have monopoly
of the West India trade, are charging
excessive freight ties, and this fact alone
is deterrirg many shippers, so that the
amount of commerce carried on with the
West Indies, even under other hags than
that of the United States, is exceedingly
light
The pl .ncipal articles of commerce from
the West Indies, imports of which are
practically shut off, are sugar from all
West India ports, salt from Turks Island
and Fortune Island, molasses from Porto
Rico. logwood from San Domingo and as,
phalt from the Island of Trinidad.
The situation in the domestic coastwise
trade is more clearly defined. Many
schconers barks and briggs that have been
running to the West Indies are going into
the coal carrying trade from Philadelphia
10 points east. There is q large move
nent OF coal in this direction at present,
and although the business is far from be-
ing sufficient TO employ all the idle coast
ing vessels the situation is rendered ma
terally better by the coal movement. Re-
cent charters have been made for vessels
to carry yellow pine lumber from Geor-
gia and Florida points to Philadelphia,
New York, Boston and Portland, Me- The
yellow pine shippers in the South, how
ever, are experiencing great difficulty IN
obtaining vessels, and freight rates are
very stiff.
The assistant secretary of the treasury
has issued the following instructions for
the guidance of customs officers:
First. Clearance will be refused to any
vessel for a port of place blockaded by
the United States.
Second. Clearance will be refused to any
vessel carrying goods which are contra
band Of war for any Spanish port. r.
Third Clearance will be refused to any
vessel carrying coal for any Spanish port.
Fourth. Clearance will be refused to any
American vessel for any Spanish port.
Fifth. Up 10 and including May 81 1898,
clearance will be granted to any Spanish
merchant vessel now in any port or place
of the United States for any foreign port,
except a port blockaded by the United
States provided that such vessel shall not
have on board any officers in the military
or naval service of Spain. or any coal lex
cept such as may be necessary for the
VOYAGE or any other article prohibited
or contraband of war, or any dispatch Of
or to the Spanish government. Collectors
will issue a certificate TO any such vessel
on clearance, reciting that said vessel has
complied with the provisions of the procla-
nation of the President Of the United
States, signed April &c, 1898, and by virtue
of that proclamation is entitled to con-
tinue her voyage il met at sea by any
United States ship, except to blockaded
port. To the certificate shall be attached
a copy of the proclamation aforesaid.
Clearance in ballast will be granted to
any Spanish merchant vessel which, prior
TO April 81, 1898, shall have sailed from
any foreign port bound for any port or
! place in the United States as soon as her
| cargo is discharged for any foreign port,
| States, povided such vessel shall not
| have on board any officer in the military
| or naval service of Spain or any dispatch
| of or to the Snanish government. Colec-
| tors will issue a certificate to any such
| vessel on clearance, reciting that such YES.
sci has complied with the provisions of the
| proclamation of the President of the Unit
| ed States, signed April &c, 1898, and by
! virtue of the proclamation Is entitled 10
continue on her voyage If met at sea by
United States ship, except to a blockad-
| ed port. To the certificate shall be al
/ tached copy of the proclamation afore-
| said.
Sixth. Clearance will be granted any
! American or neutral vessel destined for a.
neutral port with a cargo for a neutral
port, without regard to the kind of cargo
on compliance with the provisions of the
law.
Where officers Of customs have reason IN
! believe that coal or articles considered
| contraband of war are destined for the
use of enemies of the United States. clear.
ance will be withheld until report has
been forwarded TO and instructions issued
| by the department
Seventh. Clearance will be issued in ali,
other cases in compliance with the pro.
/ visions of law.
Eighth. Collectors in doubt in any pat
| hcular application for clearance will tele-
| graph promptly the facts to the depart
ment and withhold clearance until IN
| structed rs
Ninth. The department declines to give
| general advice 10 masters and owners of
vessels, shippers. consignees, etc. Any spe-
! cinc case requiring action by. the deparr-
ment must be submitted by those con-
cerned 10 the proper officer of the Gus.
toms. who, II in doubt, will communicate
with the department and await instruc-
tons before taking action.
The steamship Dorset, which put in berA
| several weeks ago with her propeller
broken, has been repaired. A survey was
held on her yesterday, and she was founo
| 10 be seaworthy and an perfect order