TRADE IN THE PACIFIC

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2525, 28 July 1915, Page 8

TRADE IN THE PACIFIC

AMERICAN SHIPS UNDER THE ; NEW LAW. ' Maritime, commerco on the Pacific between Asia and North America will, within the next few months (says the San Francisco correspondent, of tho "New Zealand Herald"), bo'in all probability confined to Japaneso and English ships. This will be the chief result of the seamen's law signed by President Wilson last March, the most important clause of which requires that 75 per cent, of the crew of a steamsln'p in all departments shall understand the language of the officers. Tho Pacific Mail Company, which for years has maintained a fleet of big passenger ships between' the port of San Franoisco and Oriental ports, announces that after November 2 next—two days after the new law goes into effect—its entire trans-Pacific son-ice will bo suspended. This is the-largest company engaged in the trans-Pacific trade, but its smaller competitors aro following tho same course.

W. L. Marvin, author of "A History of-American Merchant Marine," in an articlo headed "Hauling Down the American Flag," states: "Tho Japanese steamers come to American ports, but their crews understand the language of their Japanese officers. The British Pacific Company, that sails out of the Canadian port of Vancouver, is not subject to our_ seamen's law. British' and Japanese ships, unhindered, will continue to run, "and after November 2 nest any American citizen travelling from an American port to the Orient will have to sail under Japaneso colours—because the lawmakers of the United States have forced the Stars aud Stripes from the Pacific Ocean."