This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/Vh.2ADI/2144.1 Message Board Post: It was common for ship captains to form mining companies to travel by ship from Eastern ports to San Francisco calling themselves mining companies. Look on-line at <Bristol California Mining and Trading Association> I did and found some interesting ship logs