Bellingham Herald of 7 Feb 1933 says:
Captain James W. Tarte, one of the earliest and most popular mariners on Puget Sound, who arrived at Sehome, now a part of Bellingham, July 31, 1869, died early Tuesday at his home, 1900 Dakin street. He was 83 years of age November 1, 1932, and had been ill three months. Captain Tarte, who was prominent in church and fraternal circles, is survived by his widow, Mrs. Clara Ludlow Tarte; four sons, James Ludlow Tarte, Alameda, Cal., Walter Tarte, San Francisco; Harold Gano Tarte, Oakland, Cal., and Bay Ludlow Tarte, Bellingham; one daughter, Mrs. N. C. Davenport, Seattle; three brothers, W. R. Tarte and William Tarte, Bellingham, and Albert Tarte, Vancouver, Wash.; one sister, Mrs. W. H. Smith, Bellingham, and eight grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at the First Baptist church Saturday at 2:30 p.m. The pastor, Rev. W. E. Loucks, will officiate.

Captain Tarte had been a member of the local Baptist church since 1889. Born in England in 1849, Captain Tarte came to Puget Sound in 1863. His first marine service was on a sloop that carried passengers between Victoria and Esquimalt, B. C. He remained in that district until he came to Bellingham Bay, arriving in a large canoe with his father and other members of his family.

At Bellingham he joined the schooner General Harney. Later he was mate on the steamers Colfax, Nellis, Addie, Despatch and other vessels. He was mate and pilot on the steamer Eliza Anderson, operating to New Westminster, B.C., and he opened the Port Moody-Seattle route, using the Evangel. Subsequently he operated the Evangel between Seattle, Victoria and Port Angeles. Finally he left this route to carry the mail on the steamer Brick between New Whatcom and Blaine. One reason for Captain Tarte’s popularity was his custom of entertaining a certain number of school children on a free excursion every Saturday. Captain Tarte’s last command was on the steamer Bessie, of the state fisheries department, during Governor A. E. Mead's administration. He served both as captain and as deputy fish commissioner. His last active service as a mariner was as mate of the tug Daniel Kern during two trips to Clallam Bay. He was then 80 years of age.