The first column on the left shows the page of the revised statement where the claim is found. The second shows the name of the vessel to which the claim refers. The third shows the tonnage of the vessel. The fourth shows how many days the vessel had been on its voyage. The fifth shows what is claimed for the vessel, its outfit, and provisioning, including insurance. The sixth shows the claim for probable gross profits, including the insurance on the same. The seventh shows the claim for profits earned, including insurance on the same. The eighth shows the claim for personal effects, presented by the captain or first mate. The ninth shows the amount claimed for wages, and certain damages and losses which are not losses of property, together with the claims presented in some few cases for the loss of travelers' effects. The last shows the total amount of the claim presented for each vessel. In cases in which it is evident that double claims have been advanced it has been so stated, and that which is called net claims, at the end of the table, is the difference between the gross claims and the double claims. Page of state-] ment. Name of vessel. TABLE NO. IV.-Claims relative to merchant-vessels destroyed by the Alabama-Continued. EXPLANATION OF THE TABLE. I. As regards the fourteen whalers the table shows that the sum of $564,870 in paper is claimed for the vessels and outfits; but $155,467 must be deducted from this sum, as constituting double claims, which leaves a balance of $409,233 in paper. Moreover, the sum of $1,031,257 in paper is claimed for expected gross profits, from which $11,442 must be deducted as constituting double claims, which leaves a balance of $1,019,815 in paper. For gross earned profits the sum of $253,905 in paper is claimed, from which must be deducted $13,142, as constituting double claims, which leaves a balance of $240,763 in paper. The claims for the vessels, outfits, and probable and earned gross profits, therefore, amount, after deducting the double claims, to $1,669,811 in paper. We estimate the losses for which this claim is made at $458,538 in gold, of which $365,000 represent the value of the vessels and outfits at the beginning of their voyages, and $93,538 represent a profit at the rate of 25 per cent. per annum, together with the wages from the beginning of the voyage up to the time of the capture. The table also shows that there is a claim for the personal effects of captains, (and in one or two cases for those of the mates of vessels,) which amounts, after deducting the double claims, to $13,496, and for the damages to $152,300 in paper. As to the claims for personal effects, we have allowed them in full. As regards the claim for damages, it is composed almost entirely of the following items: $9,000, claimed for the first time in the month of April last, by the mate of the Levi Starbuck, for loss of time; $7,000, claimed by a harpooner, for personal injuries; this claim, however, which is only based upon a letter addressed to the Secretary of the Navy, is supported by no affidavit, and is advanced without any explanation. The other item is a claim for $135,000, in the case of the Ocmulgee, which, it is asserted, is for losses of merchandise on board and profits. We can demonstrate that these claims should be rejected. II. As regards the forty-four merchant-vessels the table shows the following facts: The sum of $1,615,290 in paper is claimed for the vessels, outfits, and provisions, after deduction of the double claims. The sum of $782,617 in paper is claimed for gross freights, after deduction of the double claims; which makes a total of $2,397,907 in paper for the vessels and freights. We estimate the losses for which this claim is presented at $1,171,469 in gold, of which $1,130,400 represent the value of the vessels and outfits at the beginning of the voyage, and $41,069 the interest on this value and the wages from the beginning of the voyage up to the day of the capture. The sum of $1,831,076 in paper is claimed for cargoes and profits, insurance and commission on these same cargoes, as well as for damages arising from the non-arrival at the port of destination, after deduction of the double claims, which can be easily shown for the moment. We have reduced this claim to $1,626,043 in paper, and we are able to show that this reduction is, in all probability, far from sufficient. The table shows, moreover, that the sum of $90,233 in paper is claimed for personal effects of captains, (and, in one or two cases, for those of mates likewise,) and $66,571 in paper for damages and sundry losses. As to the personal effects of the captain or of the crew, we have allowed them to pass in all cases save five. We can show that, in these five cases, the claims are evidently exaggerated, and we have, therefore, reduced them. As regards the claims for damages, &c., most of them are composed of extravagant demands advanced by the captains of the vessels for wages or for the loss of about twelve months of their time; of a claim of $10,000, presented by a traveler on account of delay; and of another claim of $10,000, also preferred by a traveler for the loss of his position as consul, together with other claims evidently inadmissible. The estimated allowance for loss of personal effects, damages, &c., is $77,803 in paper. So that the total allowance, provisionally estimated, for vessels captured by the Alabama is $1,630,007 in gold for the vessels, outfits, freights, and profits, and $1,717,842 in paper for other claims. |