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Swayne & Hoyt

House flag
Company type	steamship company
Founded	1890s
Founder	Robert H. Swayne,
Defunct	1940
Headquarters	San Francisco, United States

Swayne & Hoyt was an American steamship company based in San Francisco, California, and in operation from the 1890s to 1940.

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.

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.

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.

On February 27, 1897, the S&H warehouse was the scene of the "biggest opium seizure in California" ($200,000 of Chinese opium).

In 1926, the company was operating the American-Australian-Orient Line which sailed to Australia, New Zealand, and Asian ports. Also in the mid-1920s, Swayne & Hoyt was engaged in trade between Pacific ports and the east coast of South America.

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. 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.

Robert H. Swayne died 8 August 1936.

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.

Fleet

Pacific Coast Trade

• new schooner Forest Home from C. A. Hooper & Co for $52,000 in September 1900
• 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. 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
• the steam schooner Albion River launched March 29, 1902 in Everett, Washington The Albion River was built in Everett in 1902 for the Albion River SS Co. and managed by Swayne & Hoyt. The Albion River was a total loss after running aground at Bodega Head on April 3, 1903, but the machinery was saved and put into a new S&H steamer building at the time at Eureka.
• the (steel hulled) steam schooner Redondo arrived on August 30, 1902, 73 days after sailing from New York. To be converted to oil burner. 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).
• steam schooner Albion built at Grays Harbor, arrived 8 May 1902 after maiden voyage from Port Hadlock
• 4-masted schooner Annie E. Smale built by Kruse Shipbuilding Co. of Coos Bay arrived March 19, 1903 from maiden voyage. Wrecked at Point Reyes on July 9, 1910.
• schooner Pomo, launched 7 October 1903 at the Bendixsen shipyard for S&H, to be fitted out as a steamer. Replacement for the Albion River.
• steamer W. H. Kruger was S&H property when she towed the Pomo to San Francisco.
• on March 28, 1903, the Swayne & Hot fleet consisted of 5 steamers and 4 sailing vessels.
• steamer Casco launched September 1906 by Kruse in Coos Bay and fitted out with machinery in San Francisco.

Inter-coastal and Foreign Trade

The referenced recollection of Lloyd Swayne is not accurate.

• built by Craig Shipbuilding Company Long Beach
  • some kind of shared Swayne & Hoyt ownership, Craig (shared) ownership or otherwise close association presumably applies to these long-term charters
  • Alvarado, owned by the Pacific Transport Co., managed by S&H, based in San Francisco 1920 till 1922 (Lloyd's)
  • Eldorado, owned by the Western Transport Co., managed by S&H, based in San Francisco(1920 till at least 1928) (Lloyd's)
• 4 ships of 3,500dwt
  • Iris, 3,500dwt former tender sold by the government for $96,100 to S&H in July 1920
  • built by Albina Engine & Machine Works
    • all originally owned by the Pacific Mail Steamship Company in the early 20s
    • sold by (unspecified) to Hammond Lumber in 1923, these 2 Points are a false positive
      • Point Adams, Astoria
      • Point Bonita, San Pedro
    • bought from the Pacific Mail Line in October 1924, after having been on the Pacific Gulf route for some time as a charter. sold to McCormick SS Co. in 1929
      • Point Judith, Charles L. Wheeler, Jr.
      • Point Lobos, Ernest H. Meyer
• 7 ships of 5,500dwt
  • all built by the Submarine Boat Corporation
  • names changed again by the Coastwise Line in March 1937
  • bought from the USSB in 1926 by Swayne&Hoyt
    • Bound Brook, Point Bonita, Coast Banker
    • Continental Bridge, Point Fermin, Florida (to the Record Steamship Line ca. 1934)
    • Holyoke Bridge, Point Reyes, Coast Trader
    • East Chicago, Point Sur, Coast Shipper
  • bought from the USSB (FY27) by Swayne&Hoyt
    • Federal Bridge, Point Montara, Coast Merchant
  • bought from the USSB (FY28) by Gulf Pacific Line
    • Neshobee, Point Gorda, Coast Miller
    • Riverside Bridge, Point Arena, Coast Farmer
• 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. Sold in January 1931 to McCormick
  • Minooka, Point San Pablo
  • Houston, Point San Pedro
• 13 ships of 7,500dwt
  • built by Todd Tacoma
    • Ossining, Point Lobos from USSB for $100,000 in April 1932
    • Remus, Point Judith (renamed September 1934 after recently acquired from the USSB for $65,000)
    • Red Hook, Commercial Traveler, Nelson Traveller, Point Estero
    • Hoboken, Commercial Spirit, Charles Nelson, Point Vincente (ran aground on Bona Island on March 26, 1939 and was not repaired)
    • Pallas, S.A. Perkins, Point Clear
  • built by Todd Seattle
    • Point Bonita (Sacramento)
  • Redwood Line ships (names changed May 1931)
    • built by Downey, bought by S&H from the Finkbine-Guild Transportation Co.
      • Osakis, Manhattan Island, Point Brava
      • Dio, Point Caleta
      • Abron, Point Chico
      • Sabotawan, Point Palmas
      • Dochet, Point Salinas
    • built by Todd Seattle
      • Delight, Point Ancha
  • (one missing)

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.

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.

Pacific Coast Tramp Trade

Lines

Albion River Steamship Company

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.

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.

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.

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, which were to operate alongside 2 cargo ships.

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. The Iris was added to serve the route on September 11, after finishing repairs in Long Beach.

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.

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.

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. Alvarado departed New Orleans on October 13 for Cartagena and crossed the Panama Canal on October 28. Swayne & Hoyt announced in November that despite rumors the new service would be made permanent.

Gulf Pacific Line (1926-)

The successor to the Pacific-Caribbean-Gulf Line, effective September 1, 1926.

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.

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).

Water Carrier Agreements

Agreements approved by the Department of Commerce or the Shipping Board (SB).

Pacific Australia Line

Las Vegas (Los Angeles SB), Vinita (Long Beach SB), West Cahokia (Western P&S), West Islip (Ames), Hollywood (Southwestern), all owned by the USSB.

Agency

For the Calmar Line in Seattle, Portland, Oakland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, from at least Jan 1931 to at least Dec 1933.

Gulf Intercoastal Conference

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (October 2023)

Notes

1. The USSB report appears to be inaccurate

References

1. ^ "Swayne & Hoyt Hail Down House Flag". The Log. May 1940. p. 23.
2. 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. OCLC 10329892.
3. "Articles of Incorporation". Sacramento Daily Union. 8 August 1896. p. 2.
4. "Big Opium Seizure". Chico Record. 2 March 1897. p. 3.
5. "Large shipping deal in making". Los Angeles Times. 18 October 1927. p. 11.
6. "Shipping and Los Angeles Harbor news". Los Angeles Times. 15 December 1925. p. 19.
7. Swayne & Hoyt, Ltd. v. United States, 300 U.S. 297 (1937)
8. "Another Pioneer Passes". Pacific Marine Review. September 1936. p. 17.
9. ^ "Water Front News". San Francisco Call. 16 September 1900. p. 40.
10. "Tillamook jottings". Tillamook headlight. 14 September 1899. p. 1.
11. "Fail to Launch New Vessel". San Francisco Call. 29 March 1902. p. 3.
12. "Steam Schooner Launched". San Francisco Call. 30 March 1902. p. 27.
13. "With Many Passengers on Board the Albion River Goes on the Beach". San Francisco Call. 4 April 1903. p. 3.
14. "Albion River a Total Wreck". San Francisco Call. 13 April 1903. p. 5.
15. "California". American Lumberman. Vol. 1469. 18 July 1903. p. 26.
16. "Schooner From Toledo, Ohio". San Francisco Call. 31 August 1902. p. 36.
17. "Steamship Victoria Runs Ashore on Island in the Straits of Pechili". San Francisco Call. 11 April 1903. p. 7.
18. "Victoria's Crew Repels Pirates". San Francisco Call. 20 June 1903. p. 7.
19. "New Lumber Steamer". San Francisco Call. 9 May 1902. p. 10.
20. "New Schooner Arrives". San Francisco Call. 20 March 1903. p. 13.
21. "Schooner Loses Bearings and is Wrecked On Shore". Morning Press. 10 July 1910. p. 1.
22. "The Launching Was a Success". Humboldt Times. 8 October 1903. p. 5.
23. "California". American Lumberman. Vol. 1482. 17 October 1903. p. 47.
24. "Bark Adderly Not Cleared Yet". Humboldt Times. 17 October 1903. p. 3.
25. "Adding to Fleet". Humboldt Times. 28 March 1903. p. 3.
26. "California". American Lumberman. Vol. 1636. 29 September 1906. p. 63.
27. ^ Swayne, Lloyd (1975). "SWAYNE & HOYT, INC. AND THE INTERCOASTAL TRADE" (PDF) (Interview).
28. "Two Steamers Are Sold By Government". San Pedro News Pilot. 27 July 1920. p. 1.
29. "Charter Markets". Pacific Marine Review. September 1923. p. 450.
30. "Shipyard Notes". Pacific Marine Review. November 1923. p. 553.
31. "Port Notes". San Pedro News Pilot. 23 October 1924. p. 9.
32. "Who's Who - Afloat and Ashore". Pacific Marine Review. April 1929.
33. "Port of Portland Notes". Pacific Marine Review. April 1937. p. 38.
34. "Reconditioning Work on Swayne & Hoyt Fleet at Norfolk". Pacific Marine Review. September 1926. p. 402.
35. Tenth Annual Report of the United States Shipping Board. 1926. p. 91.
36. Eleventh Annual Report of the United States Shipping Board. 1927. p. 108.
37. Twelfth Annual Report of the United States Shipping Board. 1928. p. 109.
38. "Gulf-Pacific to Name Ships for Calif. Points". San Pedro News Pilot. 28 January 1929. p. 11.
39. "Freights, Charters, Sales". Pacific Marine Review. March 1931. p. 135.
40. "(advertisement)". The Traffic World. Vol. 47, no. 5. 31 January 1931. p. 254.
41. "Swayne & Hoyt Buy New Ship". San Pedro News Pilot. 8 April 1932. p. 14.
42. "Swayne and Hoyt To Name Acquire Ship Point Judith". San Pedro News Pilot. 11 September 1934. p. 8.
43. Annual Report of the Governor of the Panama Canal (FY 1939). United States Government Printing Office. 10 October 1939. p. 43.
44. "Alterations And Corrections". Radio Service Bulletin. No. 170. May 1931.
45. "Authorize Change of Vessel Name". The Traffic World. Vol. 47, no. 15. 11 April 1931. p. 919.
46. "Gulf Pacific Line Sells Five Ships". The Log. December 1939. p. 23.
47. "Point Ships Going Off Run". San Pedro News Pilot. 12 February 1940. p. 2.
48. "Schooner Forest Home on Fire off the South American Coast". San Francisco Call. 21 March 1901. p. 5.
49. "Forest Home Returns". San Francisco Call. 13 July 1901. p. 8.
50. "Storm Damages Forest Home". San Francisco Call. 20 January 1902. p. 6.
51. "Full of Incident". Los Angeles Herald. 1 April 1903. p. 3.
52. "Several Weeks Without Food on Stormy Sea". Sausalito News. 21 February 1903. p. 1.
53. "Late Shipping Intelligence". San Francisco Call. 25 April 1903. p. 9.
54. "American Schooner Forest Home Finishes Another Stormy Voyage". San Francisco Call. 10 December 1903. p. 12.
55. Stanley T. Borden (December 1961). "The Albion Branch". The Western Railroader. Vol. 24, no. 12. p. 5.
56. "A New Shipping Board Line". Pacific Marine Review. July 1920. p. 111.
57. "Swayne & Hoyt, Inc. 430 Sansome Street, San Francisco". Pacific Marine Review. January 1921. p. XXIII.
58. "Direct service to East Coast of South America from San Francisco". Weekly Commercial News. Vol. 60, no. 18. 1 May 1920. p. 9.
59. Fourth Annual Report of the United States Shipping Board. 1920. p. 258.
60. "Sailings". Weekly Commercial News. Vol. 61, no. 1. 3 July 1920. p. 10.
61. Panama Canal Record. Vol. 14. 1920–1921.
62. "Sailings". Weekly Commercial News. Vol. 61, no. 3. 17 July 1920. p. 10.
63. "Sailings". Weekly Commercial News. Vol. 61, no. 5. 31 July 1920. p. 10.
64. "Sailings". Weekly Commercial News. Vol. 61, no. 14. 2 October 1920. p. 10.
65. "Sailings". Weekly Commercial News. Vol. 61, no. 7. 14 August 1920. p. 10.
66. "Sailings". Weekly Commercial News. Vol. 61, no. 13. 25 September 1920. p. 10.
67. Panama Canal Record. Vol. 14. 1920–1921.
68. "Three New Services". Pacific Marine Review. December 1922. p. 791.
69. Seventh Annual Report of the United States Shipping Board. 1923. p. 183.
70. "Fast Steamers on Honolulu Service". San Francisco Call. 14 July 1920. p. 15.
71. "Orient Travel Swamps Big Liners". San Francisco Call. 20 August 1920. p. 21.
72. "A Gulf-Pacific Line". Pacific Marine Review. August 1920. p. 108.
73. "(advertisement)". The Traffic World. Vol. 26, no. 7. 14 August 1920. p. 327.
74. "Shipping Board Plans Big Changes". San Francisco Call. 7 October 1920. p. 23.
75. "Marine News Port of San Diego". San Diego Union and Daily Bee. 17 October 1920. p. 6.
76. Panama Canal Record. Vol. 14. 1920–1921.
77. "Gulf Service Permanent". Pacific Marine Review. November 1920. p. 104.
78. "(no title)". The Traffic World. Vol. 38, no. 10. 4 September 1926. p. 538. {{cite magazine}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
79. "Ocean Shipping News". The Traffic World. Vol. 46, no. 16. 18 October 1930. p. 966.
80. "New Steamship Service". The Traffic World. Vol. 50, no. 10. 3 September 1932. p. 429.
81. "Water Carrier Agreements, Cancelled". The Traffic World. Vol. 52, no. 13. 23 September 1933. p. 508.
82. ^ "Water Carrier Agreements, Cancelled". The Traffic World. Vol. 53, no. 15. 14 April 1934. p. 702.
83. ^ "Water Carrier Agreements". The Traffic World. Vol. 52, no. 15. 7 October 1933. p. 604.
84. ^ "Water Carrier Agreements, Cancelled". The Traffic World. Vol. 52, no. 17. 21 October 1933. p. 702.
85. "Water Carrier Agreements". The Traffic World. Vol. 48, no. 6. 8 August 1931. p. 296.
86. "Water Carrier Agreements". The Traffic World. Vol. 52, no. 10. 2 September 1933. p. 383.
87. "Water Carrier Agreements". The Traffic World. Vol. 52, no. 11. 9 September 1933. p. 431.
88. "Water Carrier Agreements". The Traffic World. Vol. 52, no. 14. 30 September 1933. p. 568.
89. "Water Carrier Agreements". The Traffic World. Vol. 52, no. 18. 28 October 1933. p. 753.
90. "Ocean Shipping News". The Traffic World. Vol. 53, no. 7. 17 February 1934. p. 311.
91. "Water Carrier Agreements". The Traffic World. Vol. 53, no. 9. 3 March 1934. p. 416.
92. "Water Carrier Agreements". The Traffic World. Vol. 53, no. 10. 10 March 1934. p. 471.
93. "Water Carrier Agreements". The Traffic World. Vol. 53, no. 20. 19 May 1934. p. 969.
94. "Water Carrier Agreements". The Traffic World. Vol. 54, no. 25. 22 December 1934. p. 1082.
95. "A Pacific Coast Shipping Directory". Pacific Marine Review. January 1923. p. 20.
96. "(advertisement)". The Traffic World. Vol. 53, no. 12. 24 March 1934. p. 587.

• Defunct shipping companies of the United States
• Companies based in San Francisco
• Defunct companies based in California
• Ship chartering