Possible Clues:

• Crack Northern priest in US city for retirement
• Witticism about English vessel
• Crack I found in front of large vessel
• Aboard ship pirate ultimately welcomed — that's funny
• Concise comedy
• 'I wonder what the word for 'dots' looks like in Braille,' e.g
• Funny city in Nevada carrying river northward
• Mitch Hedberg's 'I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it,' e.g
• Opposite of a shaggy-dog story
• Single-ship gag?