The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-10-03
MARINE:

IUId every year, according 10 eStImateC
figures compiled in the office of United
States Shipping Commissioner Alny
This is outside of the crews of alien
ships, and does not include the AsiatiC
crews of the Pacific Mail and ToyC
Kisen Kaisha liners, which are mainly
Chinese and japanese. OF course il
this 10000 seamen one man may be
counted over and over again, or as
often as the vessel on which he is
signed comes into port, as, for instance
the Alameda, which arrives here every
three weeks from the Coast, and the
same with American Hawaiian boats
and oil steamers. But the books say
10000 seamen, and Commissioner Amy
has to keep account of them. In fact,
he more than keeps account of them.
He has to keep track of them.
Many of the crews are signed in
other parts and are to be paid off in
ports other than Honolulu, and there Is
where the work comes in. Amy has
real work in keeping some seamen con-
tented with their jobs and preventing
them from making trouble or getting
into trouble. He is a diplomat ON the
front, and 1t is due TO his good minis
tratlOns that many a seaman S COM
plant does not get as far as the court,
with endless litigation and bills of
costs and attorneys fees, ETC. But in
these cases he gets no fees, and his
salary, or income, depends upon the
amount of fees taken in during year.
The Honolulu office, therefore, has
more work thrust upon it than the
United States government seems will
ing to pay for. When Secretary Straus
was here from Washington, Commits
sioner Amy had a conference with
him upon this matter, and the Secre-
tary took an interest. Commissioner
Almy argued with him that the office
should carry a stated salary with it,
rather than be on fee basis, which
entails, in some cases, long delays for
final yearly settlements.
If the incumbent depended upon the
fee income for. his maintenance, he
would have hard time Of it, for some
times months 60 by before the govern
ment pays up. This suggestion was
also in a special report made by the
Commissioner to Governor Frear, and
wa spossibly included in the Governor s
annual report, now en- route to Wash
ington.
Rob Roy Goes to Pieces.
The little old schooner Rob Roy
pounded her ribs to pieces early on
morning on the Kalihi reef,
Captain Sam Kahaunahi and the crew
to shore without mishap. She
drifted inshore after leaving Honolulu
harbor, while en- route to Oahu ports,
and having no anchor chain, the cap
tain was unable to help himself. The
two japanese who composed the crew
could not swim. Captain Sam took one
ashore and then went back to the boat
and took the other safely to the beach.
The Rob Roy had habit of going
ashore so often that little notice was
taken of these jaunts to the land. She
1854, as Mort Dat remembers her first
arrival mere from Koolau where she
was put together by Squires for
Charles Cash. She was afterwards sold
to James Dowsett. Once trim boat,
the Rob Roy looked in recent years
like an ancient street hack. She was
recently owned by Alika Dowsett, and
was used principally for carrying fire
wood.
Livestock for Midway.
The rearing of cattle, hogs and
chickens will have the attention OF the
members of the cable colony on Mid
vav Island. twelve hundred miles to
he westward. When the Commercial
Pacific Cable Company schooner
Flaurence Ward sailed yesterday after
noon for Midway, she carried several
hogs and a bull and other livestock.
The island already has heifers, sent
here some time ago. Gradually the
)lace is being planted with trees, soil
from this island being taken there to
iorm a surface layer on the sand, of
which most of the island is composed.
The schooner took three passengers,
young men, who join the cable staff
here. The schooner carries about six
months supplies, most of which will
De stored away in the company's ice
house.
Last of the Pines.
The Matson liner Lurline arrives this
morning from 1tllO. anu Oh OClObCi ~
will leave for San Francisco. The
.argo brought from Hilo for the Coast
comprises about 1900 tons of sugar
md about 500C eases of canned pine
apples. the latter shipped by the Ha-
vail Development Company. From
the vessel will take on mis-
.ellanous list of freight, including
hree or four thousand cases of canned
lines. which will clean up the pine out
nut for the season as far as the Mat |
on Company is concerned.
The HilOnian, which leaves for San
Francisco on October 6, will take 400
ons of refined sugar, 500 tons of raw
uoar. 1000 cases of canned pine !
ppIes, and about 1000 lunches of ba-
lanas. Both vessels VIII have large
passenger lists.
Alameda Fire Small.
When the Alameda arrived yesterday
,orning from San Francisco one of the |
rst questions Captain Dowdell was
sked to answer was the nature of the
re on board about which cable was
eceived here last week Friday even
no. The officer stated that it was a
mall blaze in the stokeho1d, and a |
and extinguisher was all that was |
10 /