Sea Captains: San Francisco 1800s

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Thomas Wright

A gentlemen from California, Capt. Thomas Wright, son of the well-known and enterprising steamboat man, Capt. J. T. Wright, has just concluded a contract with the Central American Republic for the exclusive privilege of the coasting trade for the term of ten years.

San Francisco Bay. 1899.

The Captain gets five hundred thousand dollars bonus to carry the mails once a month to Panama during the term of contract. The company is called the Central American Steam Navigation Company. The first steamer will commence running on the 15th of October.

If all the Californians are of the same stripe as the Captain you must have a great country up there. He astonished the natives in this part of the world, and the cry is now viva, viva los Americanos.

The soil and climate of the interior of the republic is the finest in the world; fruit of all descriptions grow in abundance. Fine woolen cloth is manufactured which is generally worn by the natives. They are very partial to the American cotton goods which is introduced by the English merchants by the way of Europe.

Click for the full story of goods being shipped during California's early days.

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The U.S. Coast Guard issues all Captain Licenses for U.S. Ports.
Note: Other countries have different regulations, i.e. the RYA (Royal Yachting Association), conducts certification for Britain and Ireland. As of 2011, they did not recognize the USCG certification; certification through their courses was required.

Master Unlimited is a licensed mariner in ultimate command of a vessel any gross tons. The captain is responsible for its safe and efficient operation, including cargo operations, navigation, crew management and ensuring that the vessel complies with local and international laws. All persons on board, including officers and crew, other shipboard staff members, passengers, guests and pilots, are under the captain's authority and are his or her ultimate responsibility. The STCW defines the Master as Person having command of the ship.

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