THE extensive and increasing commerce of the United Kingdom renders unfortunately shipwrecks on its shores a matter of daily occurrence. Indeed, their frequency is so great, that in the aggregate the public at large fail to realise the terrible consequences arising from them ; but they are nevertheless keenly felt in many a home and counting- house throughout these realms. As it is, the sad tale of disaster at sea comes to us too often weakened by the lapse of time, and the distance of the scene of the catastrophe: instead of having the harrowing sight of a shipwreck before our eyes, we have only dry statistics, which raise no emotion and even rarely arrest attention.

The materials from which the important Wreck Register of the Board of Trade is compiled are derived from returns furnished by the officers of the Coastguard service and the Receivers of Wrecks stationed on the coasts of the United Kingdom. After having been analysed and tabulated by the Board of Trade, they are printed, accompanied by a Wreck Chart, and presented annually to Parliament. The Register for the past year is a very complete one, and reflects much credit on its compilers, who have evidently devoted much time to its excellent arrangements. Amongst other information which it contains, are tables descriptive of the means adopted for saving life on the coasts, and containing lists of the stations supplied with the mortar and rocket apparatus. In addition to aiding in the maintenance of life-boats on the coast, the Board of Trade now undertakes the supply and maintenance of the mortar and rocket apparatus, which it has lately completely renovated.

Compared with previous periods the Register informs us that the wreck experience of the past year is favourable; yet if we analyse it carefully we shall find that, without reckoning collisions, there were no fewer than 384 vessels, or more than one a-day, totally lost on or near these islands last year. The whole of the wrecks and casualties for the year 1857 may be thus classed:— Vessels.

To view full article click 'View original layout'