New-York tribune., 1899-05-14
THE BUMBOAT INDUSTRY.
HOW JACK TARS ARE SUPPLIED WITH
LITTLE LUXURIES WHEN IN PORT
A SHARP WATCH KEPT ON THE TRADERS by OF.
FICERs-PRIcEs INSPECTED AND
LIQUORS KEPT OUT.

course OF an argument over their respective
rights to trade with the returned Jack tars.
Although not always fought for valiantly.
the privilege OF bumboatng is always greatly
sought after, and the profits OF the business are
generally so large in proportion to the outlay
that it is an occupation likely to flourish as long
as there ships and sailors
The ordinary landlubber does not have occa-
sion to know much about bumboats or their
proprietors. and it is ten chances to one that
his acquaintance with them is limited to the
one. classic bumboat woman of song Little
Buttercup in "Pinafore" But to the sailor
the bumboat men and women are highly i'm
portant members of society," and If they should
cease to ply their trade he would find himself
deprived of many & luxury that he now enjoys.
The captains of all vessels recognize the value
of the bumboats as a means Of keeping Jack
contented when he is in sight of either a homo
or foreign port. Without their visits he would
be far persistent in his demands for
shore leave. since he would be able to repre-
sent, reasonably enough. that he enjoying
no benefit from the ships nearness to land But
the bumboats bring him all the tempting art-
cles in the way of food that he could possibly
find ashore, and though these things make up
the greater part OF their stock, they frequently
have besides various little curios, pieces Of jew
elry and other articles characteristic of the
country to which they belong. Bumboat women
are often washerwomen as well, and they are
only too glad to relieve the sailor-for Il con-
sideration-of his laundry duties as long as the
ship remains in the neighborhood.
Every bumboat proprietor must have writ
ten permission from the captain Of the vessel
he desires to trade with, and he must exhibit
this as soon as he comes alongside. Then an
officer Of the ship goes aboard the bumboat and
makes examination of the stock, to see that
no liquor is being smuggled into the sailors pos
session. 70 be absolutely sure of this, the officer
must b. well up in the tricks of the trade All
sorts of ingenious expedients are devised by
the bumboat proprietors, in colluson with the
ever ready seamen Whiskey and other spirits
are brought aboard in the most unexpected
ways. and the success Of scheme must depend
chiefly upon its novelty. The large claws OF
Holsters carefully scoOped out and filled up with
liquor have served to convey many a drink
aboard and they hold more than would be gen
orally supposed. Innocent-appearing strings OF
sausages have also been discovered on investi-
CATION to be not sausages at all. but the empty
cases of them filled with whiskey. Even loaves
of bread have concealed in their centres little
are numbers OF other devices showing ad-
mrable gift of invention the part OF the
bumboat people.
Many OF the tricks discovered only after
the sailors have given repeated and unmistak-
able proofs Of having been well supplied with
liquor. Then the officers cudgel their brains to
find out by what means the stuff could have
been obtained, and finally suspcc article
of the bumboat stock.
Besides examining the goods. the officer who
boards the bumboat also looks over the schedule
of prices and decides whether or not they are
exorbtant. This Is to protect the seamen, who
are proverbially no match for the traders at a
bargain. from being swnded by extortOnate
prices. Occasionally. of course, the boats brine
odd wares, for which prices well be
scheduled but the staple articles of their stock,
such as fresh fruits vegetables and sweetmeatS,
are all valued at certain rates The otiicerb
themselves very seldom make any purchases,
unless in emergency they happen to be in
need OF some article for their own table.
There is probably not a port at which ships
ever touch where the business of(bumboating
does not exist. In China ii is especially active.
as well at the various ports Of Indo- China
and British India. The bumboatmen OF Alex
andria, Egypt. said to be the LATEST of ther
profession Too indoent to make an effort Ia
get alongside ship they sail aimlessy up and
down among vessels in the harbor. crying mo-
notonously "Ebrytng! ebryting!" This is in
tended to describe the extensiveness OF their
wares but it is deceptive. for they usually have
next to nothing TO sell Sometimes they rouse
themselves just before a ship Is about TO de-
part. and come alongside. Offering pigeons and
other birds and animas which the sailors, often
buy for pets In far-away Madagascar the ma
tives are enthusiastic bumboat traders. and fire.