During its tenure, the company witnessed the opening of the Panama Canal in 1914 and the massive shipbuilding program of World War I orchestrated by the United States Shipping Board which peaked in 1918 and 1919.
History
In 1850 the ship brokerage firm of Hughes and Hunter was established in San Francisco. In 1865 it became Hughes & McDaniel and, in 1871, Hughes, McDaniel and Edson. In 1873 McDaniel dropped out, in 1879 Hughes dropped out. The company continued as C. A. Edson & Co. Robert H. Swayne and John C. Hoyt, former employees, took over business in 1887.[1]
Swayne & Hoyt was engaged in trade with Japan by 1896, when the company was recorded as protesting duties assessed on ceramic goods it had imported in February 1896.[2]
Swayne & Hoyt was incorporated in August 1896 as a warehouse, commission and mercantile business in the state of California with principal area of business in San Francisco, with a capital stock of $100,000 of which $25,000 had been actually subscribed.[3]
On February 27, 1897, the S&H warehouse was the scene of the "biggest opium seizure in California" ($200,000 of Chinese opium).[4]
In 1926, the company was operating the American-Australian-Orient Line which sailed to Australia, New Zealand, and Asian ports.[5] Also in the mid-1920s, Swayne & Hoyt was engaged in trade between Pacific ports and the east coast of South America.[6]
By the late 1930s, Swayne & Hoyt was engaged in intercoastal shipping between U.S. ports on the Gulf of Mexico and on ports on the Pacific coast via the Panama Canal.[7] Swayne & Hoyt v. United States challenged the legality of an order of the Secretary of Commerce to cease offering 6-month contracts to clients at a reduced rate if the clients only use the same shipping company for all their shipping during that period. The case was dismissed on the ground that Section 16 of the Shipping Act of 1916 forbids preferential treatment of any kind and that the arrangement violates unrestricted competition and furthers the establishment of a monopoly. The court conceded though that the arrangement had benefits to both the suing shipowners and their clients.
The business closed officially on April 30, 1940, also the date of the last traditional annual company dinner party. Final employment figures were 500 seagoing personnel and 220 in the home and branch offices.[1]
"Swayne & Hoyt" mentioned in the California Digital Newspaper Collection (cdnc.ucr.edu)
1890s
1900s
1910s
1920s
1930s
1940s
1950s
16
87
393
2,331
1,480
102
1
Fleet
Pacific Coast Trade
new schooner Forest Home from C. A. Hooper & Co for $52,000 in September 1900[9]
the steam schooner W. H. Kruger was built in Grays Harbor in 1899 for the Truckee Lumber Co., engine installed in San Francisco, carrying capacity of 400,000 ft of lumber. Launched circa January 1, 1900.[10] She received a 42nhp 2-cylinder engine from the Fulton Iron Works. Lloyd's has O.C. Haslett as owner in 1902 and S&H in 1903.
the barkentine Gardiner City, built in 1880 was with the Simpson Lumber Co. in 1901 and with S&H in 1903, according to LLoyd's.
the German ship Ebenezer (the former American Jacob L. Ridgeway, also the chosen new name) for $30,000 in September 1900[9]
the steam schooner Albion River[11] launched March 29, 1902 in Everett, Washington[12] The Albion River was built in Everett in 1902 for the Albion River SS Co. and managed by Swayne & Hoyt.[13] The Albion River was a total loss after running aground at Bodega Head on April 3, 1903,[14] but the machinery was saved and put into a new S&H steamer building at the time at Eureka.[15]
the (steel hulled) steam schooner Redondo arrived on August 30, 1902, 73 days after sailing from New York. To be converted to oil burner.[16] Built by Craig Shipbuilding Company in Toledo.
the British-flag steamer Victoria and she also ran onto a beach in April (Little Bamboo Island in the Straits of Pechili), on April 9, 1903, and was subsequently sold for scrap ($3,500).[17][18]
steam schooner Albion built at Grays Harbor, arrived 8 May 1902 after maiden voyage from Port Hadlock[19]
4-masted schooner Annie E. Smale built by Kruse Shipbuilding Co. of Coos Bay arrived March 19, 1903 from maiden voyage.[20] Wrecked at Point Reyes on July 9, 1910.[21]
schooner Pomo, launched 7 October 1903 at the Bendixsen shipyard for S&H, to be fitted out as a steamer.[22] Replacement for the Albion River.[23]
steamer W. H. Kruger was S&H property when she towed the Pomo to San Francisco.[24]
on March 28, 1903, the Swayne & Hot fleet consisted of 5 steamers and 4 sailing vessels.[25]
steamer Casco launched September 1906 by Kruse in Coos Bay and fitted out with machinery in San Francisco.[26]
Inter-coastal and Foreign Trade
The referenced recollection of Lloyd Swayne is not accurate.
sold by (unspecified) to Hammond Lumber in 1923,[29][30] these 2 Points are a false positive
Point Adams18, Astoria23
Point Bonita18, San Pedro25
bought from the Pacific Mail Line in October 1924, after having been on the Pacific Gulf route for some time as a charter.[31] sold to McCormick SS Co. in 1929[32]
2 ships of 5,000dwt built by Mobile S.B. Co, renamed in January 1929, after recently bought from the USSB and while being reconditioned in Mobile.[38] Sold in January 1931 to McCormick[39][40]
In December 1939 five ships were sold to the Ocean Dominion Steamship Corporation of New York (aka the Aluminum Line): Point Brava, Point Caleta, Point Chico, Point Palmas, Point Salinas, i.e. all the Downey-built ships. The reason given by The Log was lack of freight on the line.[46]
In February 1940 the Point Bonita, Point Arena, Point Judith (then located in the Gulf) and Point Clear, Point Ancha, Point Lobos (then on the West Coast) were sold to the Greek steamship operator A. G. Pappadakis.[47]
was incorporated May 31, 1902 by Robert H. Swayne, who also incorporated the Albion & Southeastern Railroad on May 8, 1902, and had bought on April 1, 1902, the Albion River Railroad from the Albion River Lumber Co. for $67,500. The goal was a transport service from Bonneville to Albion and from thereon by ship to San Francisco.[55]
Pacific Argentine Brazil Line (1920-)
Established in 1920, first announced in May, to be on a monthly schedule, through the Magellan Strait and return through the Panama Canal or this route in reverse. Initially four newly launched ships, the Pallas and Rotarian by Todd Tacoma, the West Notus and West Norranus by Southwestern Shipbuilding in San Pedro, all owned by the USSB, all going on their maiden voyage for the Line.[56][57][58]
Seattle - San Francisco - San Pedro - Magellan Strait - Buenos Aires - Montevideo - Santos - Panama Canal - San Pedro - San Francisco - Seattle
Swayne & Hoyt was classified as a Class 8 manager and/or operator (25,000 to 49,999 dwt) by the USSB in 1920, with 32,600dwt (2 * 7,500 + 2 * 8,800 = 32,600). Barber SS Lines was the largest at that time, Class No. 2 with 344,187dwt and there was a total of 42 Class 8 operators managing 1,437,336dwt worth of USSB-owned ships.[59]
At the end of 1922 the composition of the ships was changed, three combined Passenger / Cargo liners with refrigerated cargo holds were allocated by the USSB: President Hayes, President Harrison and Susquehanna,[68] which were to operate alongside 2 cargo ships.[69]
Pacific Caribbean Gulf Line (1920-1926)
Establishment of the line was first announced on July 13, 1920, by Charles Brown of S&H. First ship was to be the Eldorado sailing from New Orleans in August, followed by the Alvarado in September.[70] The Iris was added to serve the route on September 11, after finishing repairs in Long Beach.[71]
The Colombian ports of Cartagena and Barranquilla were also served on a regular basis, Cuba and other West Indian ports were considered opportunities from the start, if the business conditions allowed. Round-trip time was on the order of two and a half months.[72]
A perennial advertisement in Traffic World started appearing in August 1920, listing (updated) approximate departure dates of named ships. The J.H.W. Steele Company (630 Common Street, New Orleans, La.) acted as agents in Gulf ports.[73]
The Alvarado was delayed due to lack of freight. The New Orleans Chamber of Commerce was urging shippers to make use of the new service.[74]Alvarado departed New Orleans on October 13 for Cartagena[75] and crossed the Panama Canal on October 28.[76] Swayne & Hoyt announced in November that despite rumors the new service would be made permanent.[77]
The successor to the Pacific-Caribbean-Gulf Line, effective September 1, 1926.[78]
Effective November 1, 1930 the Redwood Line with 6 ships and the Gulf-Pacific Line with 7 ships merged with stocks on ships exchanged on a tonnage basis. Gulf Pacific was operating 9 ships (presumably this refers to the Point San Pablo and Point San Pedro) at the time on the line. The transfer was applied to ships sailing from Puget Sound, after November 1.[79]
Final roundtrips of the Redwood Line (Panama Canal Records)
Name
From
1930
To
From
1930
To
Dio
Seattle
11 Jul
New Orleans
New Orleans
8 Aug
Tacoma
Sabotawan
Seattle
16 Jul
Mobile
Houston
17 Aug
Seattle
Dochet
Portland
29 July
New Orleans
New Orleans
30 Aug
Tacoma
Delight
Seattle
16 Aug
New Orleans
Houston
13 Sep
Los Angeles
Manhattan Island
Portland
27 Aug
New Orleans
New Orleans
29 Sep
Seattle
Abron
Longview, Wa.
14 Sep
Mobile
Houston
12 Oct
Tacoma
Dio
Seattle
27 Sep
Mobile
Houston
2 Nov
Seattle
Sabotawan
Seattle
5 Oct
New Orleans
New Orleans
16 Nov
Seattle
Delight
Eureka
26 Oct
Mobile
Lake Charles
1 Dec
Tacoma
Dochet
Seattle
2 Nov
New Orleans
Houston
13 Dec
Seattle
M. Island
Seattle
23 Nov
New Orleans
Houston
2 Jan
Seattle
Gulf Pacific Line (Panama Canal Records)
Name
From
1930
To
From
1930
To
Point San Pablo
Portland
25 Jun
New Orleans
New Orleans
2 Aug
Seattle
Point Fermin
Seattle
12 Jul
New Orleans
Corpus Christi
16 Aug
San Francisco
Point Montara
Vancouver, B.C.
22 Jul
New Orleans
Tampa
2 Sep
Vancouver, B.C.
Point Sur
Portland
2 Aug
New Orleans
New Orleans
14 Sep
San Francisco
Point Arena
San Francisco
16 Aug
New Orleans
New Orleans
28 Sep
San Francisco
Point Reyes
Portland
3 Sep
New Orleans
Corpus Christi
12 Oct
Vancouver, B.C.
Point Gorda
Seattle
10 Sep
New Orleans
Corpus Christi
25 Oct
Seattle
Point San Pablo
Vancouver, B.C.
28 Sep
New Orleans
New Orleans
8 Nov
Vancouver, B.C.
Point Fermin
Portland
10 Oct
New Orleans
Corpus Christi
22 Nov
Seattle
Point Montara
Portland
30 Oct
New Orleans
Tampa
6 Dec
Seattle
Point Sur
San Francisco
8 Nov
New Orleans
Corpus Christi
20 Dec
Tacoma
Name
From
1930
To
From
1931
To
Point Arena
Portland
25 Nov
New Orleans
Corpus Christi
6 Jan
Seattle
Point Reyes
Portland
8 Dec
New Orleans
Houston
23 Jan
Vancouver
Abron
Seattle
14 Dec
New Orleans
Houston
15 Jan
Seattle
Point Gorda
Portland
22 Dec
New Orleans
Corpus Christi
9 Feb
Seattle
Dio
Seattle
31 Dec
New Orleans
New Orleans
1 Feb
Seattle
Name
From
1931
To
From
1931
To
Point Bonita
Vancouver, B.C.
13 Jan
New Orleans
Corpus Christi
26 Feb
Seattle
Point Fermin
Seattle
16 Jan
New Orleans
Delight
Seattle
24 Jan
New Orleans
New Orleans
21 Feb
Seattle
Dochet
Puget Sound
5 Feb
Mobile
Houston
12 Mar
Vancouver, B.C.
Point Montara
Portland
5 Feb
New Orleans
Tampa
15 Mar
Seattle
The Point Ancha, sailing September 20, 1932 marked the beginning of a new passenger and freight service between Pacific Coast ports and Baranquillo, Kingston, Tampico (definite), Cartagena, Curaçao (Dutch West Indies), Vera Cruz, Port-au-Prince and Manzanillo (probable).[80]
Water Carrier Agreements
Agreements approved by the Department of Commerce or the Shipping Board (SB).
No.
Est.
Cancel
With
Cargo
Type
A
B
trans
Notes
Sep 33
Christenson-Hammond Line, McCormick SS Co, Nelson SS Co
^Synopsis of the decisions of the Treasury Department on the construction of the tariff, navigation, and other laws for the year ended December 31, 1896. Washington, D.C.: G.P.O. 1898. p. 945. OCLC10329892.