Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1905-02-24
JUNkS IN FRISCO BAY.
Chinese Craft That Ply the waite,
OF the Golden Gate

Chinese Craft That Ply the Waters
OF the Golden Gate.
OF all the craft that plow the waters
OF San Francisco bay none are more
curious or more picturesque than the
Chinese junks. Probably few people
are aware of the existence within the
portals of the Golden Gate OF Heet
of these strange little boats, built on
almost precisely the same lines that
Mongolian marine architects made
fashionable many long centuries ago.
They frequent the byways rather than
the highways of the harbor. One might
visit the busy water front section every
day for month and not be rewarded
with the sight Of junk
The greater part of this oriental feet
In occidental waters is employed in the
shrimp fishing industry, branch Of
human activity which in this city is
almost exclusively in the hands of the
Chinese. n few, indeed, journey among
the townships located around the bay
and collect old horseshoes, kelp and
broken glass, the latter utilized in the
manufacture of sandpaper. Others are
used as fishing smacks. Many of them.
1t Is said, are available when there is
chance to smuggle little opium. From
vessels arriving from the east parcels
or the drowsy drug, with floats attach
ed, have been dropped overheard, and
keen eyed junk captain has general
ly been near enough to secure the val
liable contraband. But the vigilance
or the customs authorities has pretty
Wen put an end to this practice. and
the junks are now perforce engaged i'm
legitimate business. The other is too
risky.
The Chinese junk is in itself an illus
ration Of the characteristic Celestial
imperviousness to all change. II is
built along lines that have remained
practically unchanged for hundreds of
years. Yet, though apparently n relic
OF past ages, this craft is not to be
despised as a useful boat for bay pur.
poses. 1t is very fast sailer. is cana
bic OF resisting squally weather and is
easily handled.
The laws OF Uncle Sam take no more
cognizance OF the average Chinese Junk
In this harbor than of n floating log OF
wood. The vessel is, as n rule. 40 feet
long by 10 feet on the beam. IT car
ries Que mast thirty feet high. The
crew OF n shrimp boat comprises six
men.
The unmistakable, distinctive ear
mark OF the junk is its sail. 1t is
typlcally Chinese "a huge, nearly
square thing, measuring perhaps %
feet by 30 feet Nothing is more odd
about this sail than the fact that II is
stayed or Slated with cane sticks Mt
regular intervals, three or four feet
apart, over its whole length. The effect
is something on the lines of Venetian
blind, stiff instead of limp, like the ev-
eryday European and American sail
This is another very old idea carried
down to these modern times by Chi
nese conservatism. The purpose of the
Stats is not clear. Probably they are
meant to obviate the necessity of care
fully furling and folding the sail when
1t is down. The junk sail is run up
and down by u pulley instead OF by
means of ring. When lowered 1t re-
mains where it falls, does not become
tangled and may be hoisted again in
stantly and without trouble
A junk is built on the beach by Chi
nese shipbuilders. During last sum-
mer new one was constructed ut
Hunters Point. 1t took three months
to put 1t together. The builder charged
$500 for 1t, inclusive OF labor and ma
terial.-San Francisco Chronicle.