Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1905-12-02
JUNkS IN FRISCO BAY.
Chinese Craft That Ply the Waters
of the Golden Gate.

of the Golden Gate.
OF all the craft that pillow 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 tile
portals of the Golden Gate of fleet
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 n month and not be rewarded
with the sight of II junk.
The greater part OF this oriental fleet
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. A few. indeed, journey among
the townships located around the bay
and collect old horseshoes. kelp ana
broken glass. the latter utilized in the
manufacture of sandpaper. Others are
used ns fishing smncks. Many OF them.
II IL said. are available when there II a
chance TO smuggle n little opium. From
vessels arriving from the east parcels
of the drowsy drug. with floats attach
cd have been dropped overheard. and
keen eyed junk captain has general
La oh tn la Il.
liable contraland. But the vigilance
of the customs authorities has pretty
well put an end To this practice. and
the junks are now pcrforcc engaged In
legitimate business. The other Is too
risky.
The Chinese junk IL In itself an illus.
tration of the characteristic Celestial
imperviousncss to all change. II Is
built along lines that have remained
practically unchanged for hundreds Of
years. Yet. though apparently Il relic
of past ages. this craft Is not to he
despiscd as Il useful boat for bay pur-
poses. II is very fast sailer. is capa
BILE OF resisting squally weather and Is
easily handled.
The laws of Uncle Sam take no more
coyniznnce of the average Chinese junk
In this harbor than of Il iioating log OF
wood. The vessel IL. as II rule. 40 feet
long by IN feet on the beam. II car.
rics Que mast thirty feet high. The
crew OF shrimp boat comprises six
men,
The unmstakable. distinctive ear
mark of the junk IL It's sail. II In
typically Chinese "A huge nearly
square thing. measuring perhaps %
feet by 30 feet Nothing Is more odd
about this sail than the fact that II IL
stayed or Slated with cane sticks ut
regular intervals. three or four feet
apart. over its whole length. The effect
Is something on the lines Of n Venetian
blind. stir 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 ohviate the necessity of care
fully furling and folding the sail when
II Is down. The junk sail Is run up
and down by a pulley instead Of by
means OF u ring Wien lowered II re-
mains where II falls. does not become
tangled and may bc hoIstcd again in
stantly and without trouble.
\ junk Is built on the beach by Chi
nesc shipbuildcrs. During last sum
mcr new unc was constructed at
Hunters Point. II took three months
to put II together. The builder charged
$500 for it. inclusive of labor and ma
terial.-San Francisco Chronicle.