The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-02-19
PRINCE BEFORE THE MAST.
Royal Scientist Ships as an Ordinar
Seaman.


Royal Scientist Ships as an Ordinary
Seaman.
Clad in the habiliments OF an ordinary
seaman, performing all the duties of "a
man before the mast and suffering the
hardships of deep-sea fishing IN mid-Win-
ter Prince NJ. Shimoda, of the royal
imperial house of Japan, arrived here
yesterday the good ship Grayling.
Captain Cameron in command. Prince
Shimoda is one of the hundreds of young
men scattered throughout the civilized
world to study the arts and sciences that
have revolutionized every Japanese in
dustry within the past decade. Fishing
and fisheries have recently interested the
Japanese Government, and Prince Shi-
moda, a close peIagic student at the Uni
lversity of Japan at Tokyo, was select
ed to prepare an elaborate report upon
fishing in American waters.
Ignoring, for the time being, all of
the works written upon the subject,
Prince Shimoda secured berth under
Captain Cameron as an able-bodied sea-
man, and Went TO sea, asking no favors
of anybody. The cruise of the schooner
Grayling proved to be remarkably sue
cessful and the vessel landed at Dock
street yesterday, with over 225000 pounds
tof fine fish in her hold.
Prince Shimoda made a thoroughly
scientific study of what, to his fellows
aboard ship, was an exceedingly labo-
riouS and practical proposition. To his
royal highness it was rare sport, and his
physical hardships were forgotten in the
! intensity of his study.
The Grayling is the first of the fishing
| fleet to arrive so far this winter. and
Shimboda declined to leave the vessel
until he had completed the very last of
his assigned duties and had reported to
Captain Cameron for orders"
"a more modest, capable and willing
seaman never shipped said the mate of
! the Grayling Prince Shimboda went
ashore TO report to the japanese Consul
at New York.
Speaking English fuently, Prince
/ Shimboaa discussed his trip and expert
ences with undated enthusiasm. He
said that the study of fish and fisheries
was now receiving much attention in
Japan, where it is generally conceded
! that the United States leaas the world
in the quality and quantity of the pre-
served product.
He shipped with the Grayiing from
!, Gloucester, Mass, and went directly to
the Grand Banks for herring, of which
225, 900 pounds We're caught. The run
from Newfoundland to Gloucester was
/, made in 132 hours, which establishes a
maritime record.
the japanese Government by Prince
Shimboda will go to Toxic from New
York. along with photographs and draw
ings illustrating numerous subjects of
/! scientific worth for use in the college.
1 Upon the completion of this elaborate
report Prince Shimboda viii rejoin the
crew of the Grayling and continue his
observations. He explained his prefer
ence for actual work aboard the schoon-
er by saying that practical men had no
use for spectators aboard busy ship.
He objected to being regarded as intru-
der or a nuisance, and rather fattered
himself that he was a good all-around
sailor as well as conscientious stu
dent. The fact that he is a Prince of
royal blood does not seem to concern
| him nearly so much as the fact that he
must report to Captain Cameron at
a fixed date or lose his berth in the crew
7 of the fastest fishing schooner af1oat.-
Philadelphia Record.