The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-02-04
JUNKs IN FRISCO BAY.
Chinese Craft That Ply Waters of
 Golden Gate.

From the San Francisco Chronicle
 Of all the craft that blow 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 por- tals of the Golden Gate of a fleet of these strange little boats, built on almost precisely the same lines that Mongolian marine achitects 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 a month and not be rewarded with a sight of junk.
 The greater part of this oriental fleet in occidental waters is employed in the shrimp fishing industry, a branch of hu- man activity which in this city is almost exclusively in the hands of the Chinese. few, indeed, journey among the town ships 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 it is said, are available when there is a chance to snug gle a little opium. From vessels arriving from the east parcels of the drowsy drug with floats attached, have been dropped overheard, and a keen junk captain has BtHeIdlly DteH u6dE tuOuSH tO CdpluI the valuable contrahand. But the viz ilance of the customs authorities has, pretty well put an end to this practice, and the junks are now perforce engag- ed in legitimate business. The other is too risky.
 The Chinese junk is in itself an illus tration of the characteristic Celestial inn perviousness to all change. It is built along lines that have remained practi- rhop of Yet, though apparently a relic of past ages, this craft is not to be despised as useful boat for bay purposes. It Is a very fast sailor, is capable 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 a floating log of wood. The vessel is, as a rule 40 feet long by 10 feet on the beam. It carries one mast 30 feet high. The crew of shrimp boat comprises six men.
 The unmistakable, distinctive earmarks of the junk Is its sail. It is typieally Chinese-a huge, nearly square thing measuring perhaps 25 feet by 30 feet. Nothing Is more odd about this sail than the fact that it is stayed or slated with cane sticks at regular intervals, the.e or four feet apart, over the whole length. The effect is something on the lines of a Venetian blind, stiff instead of limp, like the everyday European and American sail. This is another very old idea car ried down to these modern times bl Chin csc conservatism. The purposes of the slats iS not clear. Probably they are meant to obviate the necessity of care fully furling and folding the sail when it is down. The junk sail is run up and down by pulley instead of by means of ring When lowered it remains where it falls, does not become tangled and may be hoisted again instantly and without trouble.
 A funk is built on the beach by Chinese shipbuilders. During last summer new one was constructed at Hunters Point It took three months to put it together. The builder charged S350 for it inclusive of labor and material