Navigating the Lower Saint Lawrence in the 19th Century.


Quebec Mercury #52. Saturday, May 2, 1835.
 
      His Majesty's consul at New York, has for sometime past directed his attention to an enquiry into the cause of the numerous disasters which have occurred to British vessels trading to the North American colonies, and the result has been, as we are informed, that such evils are attributed to two causes, viz: incompetency of the masters and other officers, such being employed because being obtained at lower wages, and the use of ardent spirits by the crews. Above one hundred American ships engaged in the South Pacific fisheries, the voyage being nearly of three years duration, do not use one gallon of ardent spirits, and it has been shown that the health of the crews, their comfort, order and morality has been much improved by this exclusion, while the success of the voyages has been promoted. From this, Mr. Buchanan is of opinion, that if a similar step was adopted with British vessels, like beneficial effects would follow. The Committee at Lloyds' having forwarded to the consul their proposition for a new survey and classification of vessels, with a view to render them more efficient, he was led, from a deep conviction of the evils arising to British commerce, to submit to the Committee the importance of an examination and classification of masters and mates, as more essential to the promotion of the interests and reputation of British vessels, and having brought the subject before the Committee of the General Ship-owner's Society of London, in consequence of the number of shipwrecks during the last year, and loss of life in the trade with the St. Lawrence, the Committee has come to the resolution of acting on the Consul's suggestion, and has lately addressed a letter to him on the subject. We have been favoured with a copy of the Consul's suggestion to remedy the evils adverted to, which are of the first importance. We sincerely hope his efforts may be crowned with success.  
      His Majesty's Consulate,  
      New York, April 9, 1835.  
 
 
    To the Committee of the General Ship-owner's Society, 
  Corn Hill, London.    
      Gentlemen, - I have the honour to acknowledge your communication of the 1st of March last, conveying your acknowledgement for the communication. I felt it my duty to make for the protection of British commerce, in relation to the classification of masters and mates, and the exclusion of the use of ardent spirits from the officers and crews of merchant vessels, in which you have been pleased to admit, that the evils which it is fair, you add, to assume, proceed from the general incompetency of masters of the class alluded to, and from the indulgence in the use of ardent spirits, which appears to be increasing, while you view the subject surrounded with many difficulties, yet in consequence of my suggestions, you have determined promptly to take the subject up.
    I pray I may be pardoned in stating, that, as the subject is of such national importance, I do not deem the difficulties of such a nature as to require any delay in applying a remedy, and with more humility of mind, than manner of urging immediate action, I beg leave to offer for consideration an efficient measure. Addressing practical gentlemen, I decline introducing the minutiæ of detail, as your knowledge of what you deem difficulties, enables you to add what I have omitted, or accommodate what I set forth to the peculiar circumstances of the parties to whom the measure refers. I deem it proper to add, that the naming a naval officer to be appointed by His Majesty, was suggested to me by a gentleman who is president of a marine insurance company in this city, and deservedly stands at the head of the numerous intelligent gentlemen conversant with such subjects, with which this city abounds, as he stated, that although the insurance companies here require, before they insure any vessel placed under the command of a master who has lost a vessel, that the cause of such loss should be fully investigated, yet the importunity resorted to by the accused and his friends, in order to obtain a favourable report, has rendered such investigation almost, if not wholly, valueless. Whereupon the interposition of government is essential to render such an institution superior to the importunity with the persons implicated bring to bear on those who generally undertake the examination.		  
 MEASURE. 
      That in each port hereinafter enumerated, a court shall be appointed, composed of retired ship masters, ship owners or merchants, to consist of not less than two, nor more than five, to be approved by the Committee of the General Ship-owner's Society, and Committee at Lloyds', with whom should be associated a president and secretary. The president to be appointed by His Majesty, and not to be under the grade of a first lieutenant or sailing master of the Royal Navy, and who had served twenty years of actual service. That two of these with the president, shall form a court by which all persons, previous to becoming masters or mates of merchant vessels, above ____ tons, shall be examined as to their eligibility, and thereupon placed in that class, the court shall deem them entitled to be placed.
    That an act should be obtained, authorising such court, and rendering all policies of insurance void, unless the vessels shall be navigated by a master and mate who have passed examination and approved as competent, and placed by the court of examination in that class to which their merits may entitle them. Such classification not to extend lower than three degrees or grades. That in the first degree shall be placed, those of ten years actual employment, who never lost, nor had a vessel stranded.
    That the second degree shall comprise those, who in seven years actual service, never lost nor had a vessel stranded.
    That in the third degree, shall be placed those deemed qualified.
    Those degrees refer to mates as well as masters.
    That in all cases where a ship has been lost or stranded, the master and mate shall not be eligible to navigate a vessel, until the subject shall be investigated by the foregoing court, and a new certificate obtained after full investigation, and thereupon acquitted of blame or negligence, (save as what shall be set forth), and communicated to the underwriters at Lloyds' and other insurance establishment. That in all such investigation, it shall be imperative upon the court, to set forth the fact whether ardent spirits had been used on board such vessel, so lost or stranded.
    That no person rejected at one court, shall be permitted to apply to another within ___ months after such examination, and without producing the ground of rejection by the former court.
    That the fee for an order of reference to the court shall be, for masters 20s. and for mates 10s. and no examination to take place unless such fee be first paid, and order obtained, whereupon the secretary who shall issue the same, shall notify the time of attendance at the court.
    That the fee so paid shall be applied to remunerate the Commissioners and secretary, according as the said Committee of Ship-owners and Lloyds' shall appoint, to be approved by the President of the Board of Trade.
    That the underwriters at Lloyds', and in other quarters be respectfully applied to, in order to effect a general agreement to return 5s per cent of the premium on all insurances made, on any ship and cargo where no loss is to be borne by the underwriters, where the vessels have been navigated by a master, mate and crew who totally abstain from ardent spirits, save medically administered.
    That such return premium shall be distributed among the master, mate and crew in such proportions, according to a scale, as may be apportioned by the said Committee of Ship-owners and Lloyds', such distribution and scale to be approved by the President of the Board of Trade.
    The foregoing outline is offered, with a tender of my service, in any way that may be deemed useful, in the great object of our solicitude, namely, to forward the interests of commerce.
    I have the honour to be, &c. &c. 		 
 J. Buchanan.    
 
G.R. Bossé©
1998-2003.		 Posted:
Nov. 1st, 1998.		 Updated:
July 15, 2003.

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