Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1919-01-21
Cargoes and
Supercargoes
By Frederic j. Haskin.

| Washington, d. c., Jan. lS.-Onc rca-
son for the congestion at ports and
terminals which delayed shipping during
the war was the lack Of system and
efficiency in loading and unloading.
There we're delays that, in the opinion
of experts, could have been avoided.
TO eliminate this congestion and con-
fusion, and enable the United States
Merchant Marine to enter the great peace
time shipping competition with the high
est possible efficiency, the division OF
! operations of the United States Shipping
! Board is now organizing force oi men
! who will be its representatives on the
government-owned merchant ships
| Everything pertaining to the sea seems
| to have some tinge of romance III may
| be slight but IL is always there. When The
| Shipping Board made it's plans for es-
| tablishing this new office, they did not
! give it the title of business manager or
! efficiency expert" The newcomer at the
| captains table viii be known by the
ancient and sea-worthy title of super
cargo
| NEED INTELLIGENT MEN.
This opens another door of opportunity
! to widc-awakc Americans who are ANXIOUS
| 10 broaden their experience, and TO take
an active part in building up the foreign
| trade of the United States.
| Ambitious, intelligent men are wanted.
| A certain amount of sea-experience and
| training is desirable although not neoes-
| sary Some know ledge OF steamship b'lsi-
ness and overseas commerce IN general IS
essential Men who have served IN the
| Quartcrmastcr Corps, as transport OF
| ficers or clerks, are promising material, as
1 kta n Inn
| experienced in working with or directing
stevcdores should also be interested III this
new position as supcrcargo.
| The supercargo is subject TO the cap
| tain's authority in all matters relating 70
! the safety Of the ship or her cargo, but in
| no other. He will eat at the captain s
| table and hC assigned to quarters as
| nearly MS possible equal TO the captain 3.
| His position on the ship will indeed he =
| very responsible and respected one
The nav is good Sl75 . month IN ad-
| dition TO subsistence, The experience
| will he invaluable 20 those who wish to
| learn the shipping business. Two years Of
! supercargoing will teach man more about
| the practical side Of the business than any
| office loh In existence. With tins ex-
| pcricnce as foundation, men will be able
| to hold important positions with private
! companies There is also an excellent or
! portunity for promotion IN the govc-n-
ment service. Agencies IN important
| ports All over the world Will be establish
ed by the Shipping BOARD, and IT Is
| natural to suppose that many of these
posts viii be filled hy former supercargoes.
BOARD orrSe SCHOOL.
Application can be made only IN Wash
| ingt0n al the present tame A school has
| been established by the Shipping Board
to give two weeks of intensive training to
! successful applicants This course will be
heightened to about four weeks. At the
| successful completion of this course the
supercarCo Is immediately assigned to a
| ship.
The following If q bret outline of the
| duties Of the supercargo. If, after reading
f, them YOU think you want to be one, for
! ward your application 70 the Isvrlon OF
I Operations, United States Shipping Board,
I " ashlngton, ID. g.
/ The first duty Of the supercargo Is to
/ study and become thoroughly familiar
| with the amount and class of cargo on his
ship. He must learn the ports, and Just
! what cargo will he discharged and loaded
At each one Together with the master
and first officer he viii draw preliminary
plan Of stowage The supercargo must
find out from the chlef engineer II he has
received the quantity and grade of coal
/ or fuel oil contracted for. snd must satisfy
himself that the bunkerage Is sufficient
Before sailing he must go over all
documents and check UP copies OF bills
Of ladlDg, bills Of health, and copies Of
stowage plans.
Enroute, the supercago viii prepare
such forms Of manifests, crew lists and
store lists rs NAV be required by authorl-
ties at ports of call, and must make up
talv books II is his duty 10 notify the
Shipping Board agents at each port of
the hour of arrival Of his ship, and the
class of cargo for discharge there, and
must make all arrangements for tugs, If
required, for docking, stevedores and
gangsters.
He must ascertain the system Of de
livery OF cargo 10 be employed Before
taking on fresh cargo it Is his duty to see
that the vessel Is clean and fit, and that
the cargo Is slowed ID such manner
that it will not shift enroute.
MUST KEEP LOG.
The supercargo must keep log, enter
ing therein a list of people met, such as
agents, port authorities, shippers and
consignees. He may also enter any sug-
gestions for betterment He must keep 8
list Of vessels that are in port at the time of
docking, including data relative 10 their
nationality, type, lightweight and cargo
being handled The supercargo must OBJ
tain copies of port regulations, rates of
pilotage and other useful data. A complete
report must be forwarded to the Shipping
Board Headquarters.
The supercargo is not TO be placed on q
ship to tell tales or be dictator. He will
be there to represent the Shipping Board,
and to render every possible help in the
efficient management of the ships bust
ness.
A great deal Of time and consequently
money is lost yearly through the failure
of ships TO discharge their cargo imne-
diatelv upon docking. Sometimes a ship
viii lie in the harbor several days before
unloading. This waste runs into large
sums. Previously the loss was met by
the companies, and il they didn't care,
who was TO say anything?
Now that the government owns such a
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