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Se a ar “i j MARCH 22, Igo0. REGULATIONS FOR TOWS. The bill (H. R. 9243) introduced in the House of Repre- sentatives at Washington on the 6th inst. by Mr. Alexander, provides for the regulations as to the limit of the length and width of towsin inland waters. The bill reads as follows: “That the Secretary of the Treasury’ is hereby authorized and empowered, in his discretion, to make, issue and en- force regulations, which shall have the force of law, to limit the length of hawsers between vessels towing and being towed in train, and the limit of widths of tows of vessels abreast, within any of the inland waters of the United States designated as such inland waters by the Secretary of the Treasury, under the provisions of Sec. 2, of chapter 102 of the laws of the United States, approved February 19, 1895. “Any vessel towing or being towed upon which a viola- tion of such regulations shall be committed, shall be liable to a penalty of not less than $50 nor more than $250, one- half to go to the informer; and the master or person acting as master, of such vessel shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction shall be punished by fine or imprison- ment, or both; such fine to be not less than $50 nor more than $250, and the imprisonment not more than six months, at the discretion of the court. “‘The supervisor of any port, or other official designated by the Secretary of the Treasury to enforce such regulations, or his deputy, shall have authority to make such seizure and arrest in the same manner and by the same procedure as ap- ply for seizure and arrest for the violations of the revenue “laws of the United States: Provided, That whenever such seizure or arrest is made the person or persons so arrested or interested shall be brought forthwith before a commis- sioner, judge or court of the United States for examination ’ of the offenses alleged against him, and such commissioner, judge or court shall act in respect thereto as authorized by law.’’ —<$ Or ILLINOIS STEEL CO.’S FLEET. The fleet chartered for the season by the Illinois Steel Co. Chicago, comprises the following boats: Steamers Gogebic, Jesse Spalding, Phenix, Panther, G. G. Hadley; schooners Biwabik and Massasoit. The Gogebik, Biwabik, Spalding and Phenix have been engaged on flat season charters. The Panther, Hadley and Massasoit are taken on tonnage charters, for the season. The negotiations were closed on the basis of $1.25 for iron ore from the head of Lake Superior to Lake _ Brie, the basis of all season chartering done since last fall. Between Escanaba and South Chicago the rate is about 45 cents, free out. Last year it was about 23 cents, the lowest rate in the history of the lakes. The Massasoit is now on salt water and will be brought to the lakes as soon as theice will permit. The Gogebik, Biwabik, Spalding, Phenix and Panther have grain cargoes on board: “They will de- liver these and then enter at once on theseason’swork. All of the seven boats will carry iron ore or manufactured iron, according to the needs of the company. F. T. Bentley, traffic manager for the Illinois Steel Co., said that he believed that there is scarcely a single boat of 2,000 tons capacity on the lakes available for the general trade. He said the iron ore shippers had made their plans to move fully 20,000,000 tons this season, and had chartered boats enough to doit. He thought the grain business from Chicago will go to the railroads even more than it did last year, as grain shippers would find when the season opened that there were simply no boats for them. a oe oe EASTERN FREIGHTS. Messrs. Funch, Edye & Co., New York, report the situa- tion of the eastern freight markets asfollows: The develop- ment of this week’s chartering for steamers has further con- firmed our previously expressed belief in the existence of a continued short interest on the freight market, comprising “in the Gulf ports cotton and general cargo as well as timber ‘and participated intoa lesser degree by grain shipments at the Northern ports. Boats have been offering more liberal- ly, but so far found ready takers at rates inapplicable to the execution of new business. Grain steamers offered on the market at 3s. gd. to Cork f. 0. are not in much demand, whilst the enquiry for larger boats to picked ports, on terms of fixtures reported, is fairly active. There is some demand sor steamers to carry case oil tothe far East, evidently re ferable to the limited amount of sail tonnage offering for this business. The market for sail tonnage remains practically unchang- ed, ruling very firm for long voyage business, also for River Plate freights. THE MARINE RECORD. THE LATE CAPT. NICHOLSON. The death of Capt. Joseph Nicholsonin Detroit this week has called forth deep regrets on all sides. Bounded by the date September 25, 1826, and March 18, 1g00, Capt. Nicholson’s life was divided into four periods. - For 18 years he resided in Ireland, and as an amateur nav- igator gained experience on the Irish sea. For one year he servedin the salt water marine. Leaving at Quebec the ship on which he had come asa sailor from a British port in 1845, he thenceforward made his home on this continent, and for 20 years was identified directly with the lake marine, holding between 1845 and 1865 some of the most important commands in the fresh water fleets. For a dozen years after 1865, he maintained a connection with vessel interests, be- ing aninspector in the marine insurance service. From 1878 until his death, he was superintendent of the Detroit House of Correction. ; Capt. Nicholson’s career was a success because he was a man of great force, of great knowledge of human nature, of great industry and of great diplomacy, A native humor and kindliness softened a character which,} without possession of those qualities, might have shown a too great ruggedness and positiveness. Perhaps he had enemies and detractors, but if so they were few in number,and were probably con- fined to those with whom he had made the mistake of placing them under too great obligation to himself. —_— eo WELL MERITED APPROBATION. (THE TOLEDO! BLADE. ) The first man to do anything in the way of docking ves- sels was Capt. A Gilmore. He came to Toledoin 1846, after- ward went to Oswego, and returned to Toledo in 1850. In the winter of 1846-47, he built the schooner Alvin Bronson at Maumee. In 1851, he built a section dock for repairing vessels, in connection with a shipyard. He built a ferry boat at a point just beyond where the Oliver House now stands. In 1852 he built the schooner Rebecca at the place named, also the schooners M. L. Collins, Sebastopool and Miami Belle. He had what are familiarly called boxes, on Swan creek, which were used for a length of time. After- ward boxes were put up near Finley’s brewery by a firm, which went out of business, and Mr. Gilmore established himself there. As the size of vessels increased, he found that point too contracted and removed to that which is now known as Gilmore’s shipyard. The dock there was not sufficiently large to accommodate modern sized vessels, and it was enlarged. The plant is now in the active charge of his three sons, and is a fine one. The next dry dock established was that of the Craig Ship Building Co., the dock being of proportions to let in the largest craft afloat. The development of the dry docks of Toledo has been in accordance with the increase of the size of lake craft. A peculiar kind of dock was that established by Mr. Mose Bowe near Finley’s, after Gilmore removed. It was a system of screws. The boat to be docked was floated in, and lifted by screws along each side of the dock with attachments to the floats beneath. They would look quite primitive now compared with the modern style dock of the Craig Ship Building Co., or Gilmore’s. ——$———— i a eae” ICE REPORT OF THE LAKES. LAKE MARINE SERVICE. DETROIT, MicH., March 20, 1900. SUMMARY OF ICE CONDITIONS. The reports indicate that the ice has increased in all the lakes during the past week. In Superior the fields are larger and the ice hasincreased in thickness. The ice in St. Mary’s river has increased about 2 inches. In Green Bay the ice is still firm and somewhat thicker. In Michigan the ice fields have, under the influence of strong westerly winds, moved over to the east shore, blockading the harbors south of Lud- ington. The steamer City of Louisville opened the season on the St. Joseph-Chicago route, and encountered large ice fields off St. Joseph, which made entrance to harbor very difficult. The ice in the Straits has increased 4 inches during the week. More ice is reported in northern Lake Huron than at any time this winter. The conditions in the St. Clair and Detroit rivers remain the same. In Erie there is an increase in the amount of ice from all reporting stations. More ice is reported over eastern Ontario than last week. The cold freezing weather of to-day will cause the ice to stiffen up. ; : In comparison with same period last year, there is not quite so much ice in Lake Superior and the ice is not as thick, while in Michigan, Huron and Erie there is more ice and it is generally solid; during this period last year there was lit- tle ice in Lake Michigan, and in Erie the ice was moving in large fields. LAKE SUPERIOR. Duluth—Harbor ice ranges from 25 to 36 inches; outside ice is gradually increasing in area and thickness; the field extends out of sight. = Bayfield—Ice 20 inches; conditions unchanged. s Washburn—Ice increasing; 21 inches. : Ashland—Cold weather of iatter part of week increased ice to 28 inches. . Eagle Harbor - Conditions about the same as last report, except that ice is increasing in thickness. Marquette—The ice has increased to 16 inches, and no wa- ter in sight. : é Grand Marais—Large ice fields moving to and froin the lake; it is piling up on the shore. Whitefish Point—Ice in the bay increased to 17 inches and is solid; large ice fields moving with the wind, back and forth, above the point. Sault Ste. Marie—Ice continues to make slowly and is now between 25 and 26 inches in the river. LAKE MICHIGAN, Manistique—No ice in harbor. Gladstone—Ice solid and no thawing yet. Escanaba—Ice increased slowly to 28 inches in thickness. Menominee—Ice firm in harbor and bay. Green Bay—Ice increased to 10 inches and is solid. Sturgeon Bay—No change; ice very firm. ~ Kewaunee-—No ice in the harbor, or in the lake to inter- fere with navigation. Milwaukee—Floating ice in river; thawing rapidly. Racine—Harbor is clear, but there are large fields in the lake, which are breaking up. Chicago—Ice fields have been carried away from southern end of lake by strong southerly winds; a few fields are visi- ble in the distance, but they offer no obstruction to naviga- tion. South Haven—Harbor solid; the ice in the lake extends as far as can be seen. Holland—Channel clear of ice; about 4 miles of drift ice in Lake Michigan off the mouth of the harbor. Grand Haven—Harbor ice broken up; field ice on this shore extends far out into the lake, completely blocking the harbor. Ludington—Slush ice at entrance of harbor; boats clear-. ing daily. ‘ Glen Haven—Lake is full of drift ice as far as can be seen; it is not very heavy and has come in during the last few days of cold weather. Mackinaw City—Steady cold weather has increased the _ thickness of ice to 24 inches. LAKE HURON. Mackinaw Island—No material change; ‘continued cold weather during the week; ice gone from east end of island. Detour—Ice extends to Lighthouse Point; ice in river from 14 to 20 inches thick. Cheboygan—Ice in the Straits still quite strong, Alpena—Thunder Bay appears to be frozen over; ice from 4 to, 16 inches thick; solid ice between mainland and Middle and Thunder Bay Islands; drift ice beyond as far as can be seen; the most ice observed this winter, Oscoda—Large ice fields moving to and fro with the winds; fish tugs unable to get out with nets. Port Huron—Open water reported about 10 miles above station; ice at mouth of lake from 12 to 15 inches; St. Clair river open from lake to 5 miles below city. Detroit River—River full of loose ice; ferry Promise made trip to Bois Blanc Island on Friday without much difficulty. Ice in Lake St. Clair 19 inches thick and firm. LAKE ERIE. Toledo—The channel is open in several places; ice ranges from 5 to 6 inches; bay still frozen over. Sandusky—Bay full of solid ice ranging from 11 to 24 inches; floating ice in lake outside harbor. Put-in-Bay—No change since last report; ice 14 inches. Huron—No material change since last report; ice increased in thickness somewhat. : Cleveland—Large moving ice fieldsin the lake; harbor ice 3 inches. Ashtabula—Ice solid as far ascan be seen; harbor ice from 12 to 14 inches. 5 Erie—Harbor ice continues solid at 11 inches; in the lake the ice extends as far as can be seen. Buffalo—Harbor ice solid and about 15 inches thick. LAKE ONTARIO, Fort Niagara—River is still jammed with ice from Lewis- ton to Youngstown; no ice in the lake except along shure. Charlotte—Harbor ice 9 inches; few fields of drifting ice in the lake shifting with the winds. 4 North Fair Haven—Harbor solid, ice 15 inches; smal amount visible in the lake. Sodus Point—Harbor ice 10 inches; large amount of ice floating in the lake. Oswego—Ice in harbor 14 inches, with large fields of floating ice off the harbor; very little ice in sight. Cape Vincent—No change since last report. NORMAN B. CONGER, Inspector, Marine Agent. OD oe THE independent tug lines are picking up boats at a pretty lively rate. The Maythams, of Buffalo, bought three tugs last week. The last tug to be added to their fleet is the D. N. Runnels, which they bought from D. N. Runnels of Port Huron. Capt John P. Nagle, of Toledo, has purchased the tug Fannie Tuthill from Capt. James Rooney and the the Shieley from the firm of George H. Breyman Bros. They will be added to the other towing tugs of Capt. Nagle.