I found this in the New Orleans Commercial Bulletin- February 2, 1857.

"FOR PENSACOLA AND MILTON, VIA NEW Basin- The regular packet schooner POWHATAN, Caro Master, will sail as above with dispatch. For freight or passage, apply on board, or to JOHN HURLEY & CO. 90 Tehoupitoulas St."

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and The Pensacola Gazette- March 8, 1856.

"Arrived,

Schooner Powhatan, Caro, New Orleans- Cargo to C. P. Knapp & Co..."

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This is a clue to its size. Via New Basin means it was small enough to travel to New Orleans via The Rigolets, Lake Pontchartrain and through the New Basin Canal but big enough to carry passengers and freight. The canal being 60 feet wide, and allowing a vessel of 6 foot draft. Records from Jackson County, Mississippi show the typical 19th Century packet schooner built for this trade was thirty-eight to fifty-six feet long and 9 to 30 tons in weight.

J. R. Plummer"-Built in Jackson County, Miss. in 1850. Description: 38- 14/95 tons; 50 ft. 6 in. x 19 ft. 4 in. x 4 ft. 3 in. Flush deck, two masts, square stern, billethead. Previously enrolled No. 11, July 18, 1850 at Shieldsborough, Miss.(now Bay St. Louis)

2- Enrolled No. 96, July 31, 1851. Owner: John Rodriguez of Jackson Co, Miss. Master: Pierre J. Marquis, New Orleans.

3- Enrolled No. 77, Apr 19, 1854, Port of New Orleans; Owner & Master: Norbert Vignie, New Orleans.

4- Enrolled No. 159, Nov 22, 1856. Owner & Master: George Moore, St. James Parish, La.

5- Enrolled No. 91, Dec 19, 1857. Owner & Master: William H. Titus

6- Enrolled No. 119, Sept 1, 1858. Owner and Master: Ambroso Gidolfo, Amite River, Livingston Parish, La.

"Lady Alfred", official number 140435*, 42 feet and 15 tons, built at Ocean Springs in 1880. This vessel was probably a fishing schooner.

"Hortense", official number 95652*, 57 feet and 24 tons, built at Ocean Springs in 1881, probably for Antonio Marie (1832-1885). Hortense was the name of the spouse of Paul Fergonise (1861-1893). She was born Hortense Ryan (1864-1900+), the daughter of Edmond Ryan (1823-1875+) and Adelle Bosarge (1828-1909). This boat was a freight schooner.

"Orita A.", official number, 155110*, 39 feet and 9 tons, built at Ocean Springs in 1885, by James Anglada (1856-1928) for his spouse, Gertrude Marie Anglada (1860-1891). She was the daughter of Antonio Marie (1832-1885) and Maria Arthemise Rodriguez (1840-1912). This vessel was probably a fishing boat and named for their daughter, Orita Marie Anglado (1884-1962), who would marry Henry W. Cook (1875-1964) in April 1899. (The History of JXCO, Miss., 1989, p. 273)

"S.J. Dickson", official number 116096*, 53 feet and 30 tons, built at Fort Bayou in 1886. This freight schooner was wrecked near New Orleans in the Mississippi River by the 1901 Hurricane.

"Young American", official number 27652*, 32 feet and 5 tons, built at Ocean Springs in 1892, by Paul Fergonise (1861-1893) for Mrs. Johanna Fergonise (1826-1900+). This boat was probably used for fishing. Paul and brother, Frank Fergonise (1865-1893), were drowned near the southwest pass of the Mississippi River in October 1893, during the killer, Chenier Caminada Hurricane. (The Biloxi Herald, October 7, 1893, p. 1)

"Alpha", official number 107643*, 38 feet and 9 tons, built at Ocean Springs in 1901, for use by the State Oyster Inspector. It is interesting to note that John Duncan Minor (1863-1920) in addition to his public service as Sheriff of Jackson County (1896 and 1902-1904), Mayor of Ocean Springs (1911-1912), and Alderman Ward Four (1913-1920), was a member of the Mississippi Oyster Commission from 1904 to 1914. This body functioned to protect and preserve local oyster reefs and bedding grounds.

"Ox", official number 155435*, 41 feet and 12 tons, built at Ocean Springs in 1902, and most likely a fishing vessel.

"Iduma", official number 201722*, 44 feet and 11 tons, built at Ocean Springs in 1905, by John Ramsay (1873-1953) for his own use. It was named for his sister-in-law, Iduma Walker, the spouse of Wesley Knox Ramsay.