Charlevoix county herald., 1919-07-04


tivities Specialized and eroadened
Far Beyond Duties Of His Forerun-
nsr Of oIdsn Days-Many April.
cants for the Work.
The supercargo Of today is a "come-
back" upon the seas, but to a field Of
activities specialized and broadened
so far beyond the duties Of his fore
runner of the olden days that should
one of those dignified old gentlemen
step out of the Icy reserve that prob
ably still surrounds him In shadow
land and see supercargo Of the Uni
ted States shipping board In action.
he would step right back again with
out waiting even to register a COM
plant about how times have changed.
The mere supervision Of cargo is
but one Of the multitudinous duties
Of these modern trade scouts Of the
seas. They must have eyes for every
thing from the depth of water and
condition Of the dock to the length
of skirt affected by bellies of the
boulevards; from the quality Of bunk
er coal to the shade of face powder
most adaptable to the complexion Of
the country.
The supercargoes are q highly Sc
lective body Of men organized by the
United States shipping board and put
through course Of intensive training
to fit them for the duties they are now
performing on the ships under con-
troll Of the board. 1t is expected that
our merchant marine Of the future
will draw from this corps many Of the
broad visioned executives who will be
called upon to handle big shipping
business and keep American COM
merce to the forefront among all the
nations Of the earth.
When the shipping board finally de-
termined upon the organization Of
the corps Of supercargoes and the es-
tablishment of the new service a call
was issued for young men Of special
qualifications to take up the work.
The response was spontaneous and
well-nigh overwhelming.
Selection Was Made.
Out Of the thousands of applicants
$50 men have been selected and train
ed In groups Of fifty. They are now
at work In the new. field and are lend
ing invaluable aid In the solution of
vital problems affecting the operation
Of ships.
The supercargo is first expected to
acquaint himself with the organization
and history of the United States ship
ping board and the general duties Of
supercargo as they relate to ship
and its cargo. Then he Is taught
enough about marine insurance to
learn what bearing 1t has upon the
profitable operation Of ships. After
that he must learn what Is expected
of him In observation and reports up
on other matters.
Once aboard ship the supercargO
must still prove himself worthy Of the
important position for which he Is
training. He must show himself tact
full, both In his relations with the Off
GERS and crew Of the vessel to which
he Is attached, and with the officers
and workmen Of ports and harbors
where his vessel may touch. He Is
expected to make report embracing
practically everything of interest that
happens at sea, In port and ashore un-
til his vessel Is again tied up In her
home port.
Nothing Theoretical.
There is nothing theoretical about
the work of the supercargo. He must
not only be practical but show him
self alive to every opportunity to ben
eft the interests of the United States
in the shipping world. He must es-
tablish this by his work or admit him
self unified for further duty as a SUI
percargo. In the heyday of sail upon
the seas, when the United States was
really power among maritime ma
tions and the telegraph and cable
were virtually unknown, Ii was neces-
sary for shipping interests to have
travelling representative aboard ship
who directed the disposition and pur
chase of cargo, and ordered the sail
ings of the vessel as they affected the
taking on and discharge of cargo. He
was known as the supercargo.
The supercsrgo of today, will per-
form the same duties under the ad-
vantage of direct telegraphic, wireless
and cable contact with ship operators.
He also will act In conjunction with
the captain Of the ship In berthing the
ship and In all business pertaining 70
the operation Of the ship with the OBJ
ject of reducing 10 a minimum the
overhead charges. In his other duties,
which have been called those of
! shipping and trade scout, the super
cargo must act without infringing up
ON the work of any other government
agency.
1t is rather a big order to find men
possessed of such qualifications, but
with 1900 young men Of the best
type to pick. from, and countless thou