The San Francisco call., 1913-08-23
HOMER BRINGING
$1,000, 900 CARGO
Steamer Under Charter to
Government Is Due Next
Week From Seal Islands
Proceeds of Furs on Board
Will Be Turned Into
u. S. Treasury

The steamer Homer is expected tc
arrive early next week from the Pribi-
ioff islands with large shipment OF
sealskins consigned to the United
States government The Homer left
Dutch Harbor August 13 and the triT
70 this port is expected to take about
u days.
Uncle Sam enjoys a monopoly just
now of the sealing business in Alas
kan waters. The nurseries on the
beaches of the Seal islands are guarded
from poachers by government agents
and armed guards. A certain number
of Seals are killed every year by gov
ernment employees The seals are
skinned and cured. Several times
every year the steamer Homer, char
to the Seal islands with supplies for
the station.
Once a year the accumulation OF
skins is shipped out on the Homer and
sent to London to be finished for mar
ket and are sold by the department
of commerce and labor to the highest
bidder. The money that used TO main-
tain a large fleet of sealing schooners
with enough over to build a number
of tidy fortunes, now goes into the
treasury of the United States.
The Homer's cargo will not occupy
much space in the steamers hold and
will not smell very sweetly, but will
represent more than $1,000,000.
Burnside Now Good as New
The government cable steamer Burn
side has been given thorough over
hauling at the Bremerton navy yard
and is now ready for service again.
Before being laid up the Burnside was
in a sad plight. The vessels boilers
were in such condition that on the
last work the Burnside did 1t was
necessary to engage a tug TO tow the
cableship which was unable to gener-
ate enough steam to work the pro-
were practically ripped out of the
former army transport. New boilers
were installed with a complete oil
burning system. On its trial trip, after
difficulty in making speed of IL knots
an hour. The repairs cost about $780,
600 and the vessel is said to be good
as new and knot faster than before
Illness Overtakes Paul Rossiter
According to advices received by the
Pacific Mail company. Paul Rossiter,
chief engineer of the liner Korea, now
on its way to the orient, was taken
sick shortly after the vessel left this
port and his condition became so seri-
leave him at Honolulu for medical
treatment. 1t is understood here that
he is getting better and is coming
home as passenger on the liner
China. which is due Monday. Ros-
sitter is the senior engineer in the Pa
cific Mail service and one of the best
known men IN the IrdnS-PdclHc trade
As an engineer he stands among the
first and every one that knows him
is his friend
Wireless advices from the China fn-
dicate that the liner will arrive Mon
day afternoon about o'clock.
Water Front Notes
Receipts of lumber yesterday by sea
amounted to 1,925,000 feet
The army transport Thomas, home
ward bound from Manila, is expected
to arrive about August %.
The Pacific Coast Steamship com
pany's liner President Captain Paul.
sen, arrived yesterday from southern
California and will sail this afternoon
for Seattle with a full complement o1
passengers.
The American Hawaiian Steamship
company's freighter Missourian is due
today from Sa1ina Cruz
Trans-Pacifc liners due next week
include the China and Thomas from
the orient, the Honolulan from Homo
zulu. the Hilonian from HiIo and the
Sierra from Honolulu.
Change of Masters
Steamer Nebraskan-G B. Knight
old master; George Wright, new mas.
ter.
EnrolIments
Steamer Doris-H. e. Olsen, master