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TEs NONE and Turner’s Nautical academy. His father was William Griffiths who was superintendent of the Tredegar wharves from 1852 until his death in 1912. James Griffiths began his career at the age of 14 when he was ap- prenticed to the Tredegar Shipping Co. Four years later he was appointed assistant to the manager of that firm, holding that position until 1885. Even at this early date, he had his attention directed towards the Pacific Northwest through business rela- tions with George V. Sims, the first European agent of the Northern Pacific railway. They succeeded in interesting Sir William Pearce, a Glasgow shipbuilder, who established a service from British Columbia in con- junction with the Canadian Pacific railway. This service continued until the Canadian Pacific placed its three celebrated “Empresses” on the route in 1891, when it was transferred to Tacoma where for almost twenty years it operated under a traffic ‘arrangement with’ the Northern Pacific. Captain Griffiths decided to transfex his sphere of ac- tion to the North Pacific. Severing his business rela- tions in England he arrived in Tacoma in 1885, and opened business as James Griffiths & Co., ship brokers, commission merchants and stevedores. Shortly after he organized the Tacoma Steam Navigation Co. During the next ten years his activities covered all the ports of Puget sound and British Columbia, as steamship agent and owner and stevedore. His early connections in- cluded many men prominent in shipping circles. From Tacoma he moved his residence to Port Townsend, in the early days an important shipping center, but since 1896 he has resided in Seattle. In addition to being president of James Griffiths & “Sons, he heads the Coastwise Steamship & Barge Co., operating a large fleet of coasting vessels between Puget sound and British Columbia. The Griffiths & Sprague Stevedoring Co. has for years handled all the freight over the Great Northern terminals at Seattle, which has been the landing pier for the Nippon Yusen Kaisha steamers since they first came to Seattle 31 years ago. In 1916 Captain Griffiths acquired control of the pioneer shipbuilding plant of Hall Bros. at Eagle harbor, across the bay from Seattle, and under the firm name of the Winslow Marine Railway & Shipbuilding Co., it has continued its operation as a repair and construction yard. Here, Captain Griffiths has constructed vessels for his own fleet as well as for other owners. During the world war, he and his various organizations were actively occupied in many directions. His company for several years handled the freight vessels of the power- ful Mitsui & Co. fleet, and was a prominent factor in assisting the government’s shipbuilding program as well as in the rapid dispatch of enormous quantities of freight which passed through the ports of Puget sound during many hectic months. - Two years ago he purchased the 7500 ton steel steamer S. A. PerKINs from the shipping board for service in*the gypsum trade from San Marcos island. During the last winter the steel steamer JAMES GRIFFITHS was acquired from the government and she is now in service in North Pacific waters. The vessels now owned or operated by the various Griffiths corporations number nineteen. Captain Griffiths has two sons, Stanley Arthur and Albert Vernon, who are associated with him in business after serving an apprenticeship which has fitted them to carry on the many intricate details of a large organiza- tion that is constantly expanding. Prominent as he has been in developing shipping from the practical side, Captain Griffiths has been equally ac- tive in creating a play-interest in North Pacific waters. Yachting is his hobby. In his pleasure he is as enthusias- tic as he is in business affairs. He was one of the found- ers of the Seattle Yacht club and served several years as its commodore. He has also served as admiral of the. Pacific International Yachting association and in 1926 was admiral of the Pacific Coast Yachting association, embracing the three major inter-sectional associations in these waters. Among yachtsmen he is known from Alaska to Mexico having cruised the entire stretch of coast in his own pleasure vessels. His latest and finest yacht, SurJA III, diesel powered, was built at his ship- yard and is recognized as one of the best equipped and most luxurious pleasure cruisers in Pacific waters. Cap- -tain Griffiths finds real happiness and enjoyment in yacht- ing. For years he has been formeost in arousing a sport- ing rivalry between yachtsmen of the various sectiow_ of the North Pacific. In addition to being a devotee of yachting, Captain Griffiths is an enthusiastic farmer. After forty years of strenuous activity in all phases of shipping, he now finds more time to enjoy his hobbies. He makes extended cruises and in recent years has traveled in foreign countries. However, he is still serious- ly engaged in business and gives it his personal attention. When away from home he always keeps in touch with his offices. Surrounded by a host of friends, he always finds sat- isfaction in helping some younger man to make his way up the business ladder. His has been a life of struggle but he has had the satisfaction of seeing his dreams ful- filled and Puget sound shipping grow from almost noth- ing to its present wide proportions. From his arrival here, he has had faith in the future of North Pacific and his good judgment and foresight have been fully vindicated. He has always displayed keen business in- sight, a broad grasp of affairs to which has been added a practical knowledge of his business. He has ever been to the fore in any movement that would further the interests of his home. state or of the North Pacific. In the fullness of his success, Captain Griffiths is as happy as a boy at play, whether he is directing his fleets or cruising for pleasure. Truly he stands forth as one who has accomplished much during the short span of a life, one who has builded wisely and well, not alone for the present but for the future. 4 ee ooo zz————_—_——RaIo—e Build River Boats A recent contract received by the engineering department of the Dravo Contracting Co., Neville Island, from the International Petroleum Co., Tor- onto, Canada, calls for the construc- tion of six steel oil barges for South “America for operation on the Mag- dalena river trade. They are to be 40 each 100 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 6.6 feet deep, and will be equipped with pipe lines and pumps. They will require approximately 600 tons of steel plates. The boats will be de- livered down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, the gulf and the Panama canal. The company received word that the dredge now under construction for the Ohio River Gravel Co., will be MARINE REVIEW—May, 1927 named the Wheeling and will be placed in operation on the Ohio river in the vicinity of Wheeling. be completed in time for operation this summer. The U. S. S. lighthouse tender WAKEROBIN under construction at the Neville Island yard of the Dravo company is now completed. The com- pany also started the construction of It is to -