lisions.—It appears then, that the number of wrecks, casualties, and collisions from all causes on and near the coasts of the United Kingdom and in the surrounding seas, reported during the year 1873-4, was 1,803, being 401 less than the number reported during the year 1872-3.

The following list shows the annual average number of wrecks on our shores reported from June 1854 to June 1874:— 1854 (last six months), 458; 1855,1,141; 1856, 1,153; 1857, 1,143; 1858, 1,170; 1859, 1,416; 1860, 1,379; 1861, 1,494; 1862,1,488; 1863, 1,664; 1864, 1,390; 1865,1,656; 1866, 1,860; 1867, 2,090; 1868,1,747; 1869, 2,114; 1870, 1,502; 1871,1,575; 1872,1,958; 1873 (first six months), 967; 1873-4, 1,803; making a total number of wrecks in twenty years of 31,168, representing at the least the actual loss of forty millions sterling, and, what is still more lamentable, the actual loss of 14,457 lives from these very ship- wrecks.

For more than twenty years the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, nobly aided by the Press of the United King- dom, has ceaselessly raised its voice against this terrible waste, in too many instances, of human life. At last public attention has been arrested, and every practicable means are now happily em- ployed by Government and various other agencies to check the yearly desolation in the seas and on our coasts.

It appears that about one out of four- teen of the casualties in 1873—4 resulted in loss of life. Of course the particular number of wrecks, casualties, and col- lisions reported for any one year is in- creased or diminished according to the prevalence or absence of gales of wind of remarkable violence and duration.

The gales which did most damage to shipping on our coasts during the first six months of 1873 were as follows:— January 1st to 3rd, from 8. to S.W., felt on all our coasts. January 18th, a sudden gale from 8. in the N. and E., westerly in the W. January 25th, from S., felt on S. and W. coasts. February 1st to 3rd, from E. to S.E., felt principally on the W. and S.W. coasts of England. This was the most serious gale of the half-year, and 99 wrecks and casualties are reported to have occurred during its continuance.

A gale from E., experienced on the S. and S.W. coasts, occurred on the 15th of March, but was attended with much less serious consequences to shipping.

In the year 1873-4 the gales on our coast during which the greatest number of casualties to shipping were reported to have taken place occurred on the under- mentioned dates, and with the wind from the following directions:—August 27th and 28th, from N.W. to W.; felt on W.

and S. coasts. October 20th to 23rd, beginning on the W. and N. coasts, and attaining its greatest force in the N. On the 21st and 22nd the wind was from W., and was felt on almost all coasts. No- vember 1st, from S.W. to N.W., felt on W.

and N. coasts. November 9th and 10th, from E., felt on W., S., and E. coasts; very strong winds blew in the Bristol Channel. November 22nd, from W., greatest violence felt in the N. and N.E.

December 16th, from W., felt on N., N.W., and N.E. coasts. December 29th and 30th, from S., beginning on S.W., and extending to the N. coasts. January 18th, from W., greatest severity felt over Scotland. February 10th and llth, from S.E., felt on W. and S. coasts. February 25th and 26th, from S. to S.S.E., felt on nearly all coasts, and was especially severe over Scotland, More casualties were re- ported to have occurred during this gale than during any other gale of the year.

On March 19th, a gale, generally from W., but from N.W. in the N., was ex- perienced on all coasts. April 1st to 3rd, from S.W., felt on all coasts; and April 12th and 13th, from S. to S.W., felt on W. coast, subsequently veering to N., from which quarter it was most severe.

On further analysing the Wreck Ke- gister, we find that the number of ships lost or damaged in the 1,803 wrecks, casualties, and collisions reported as 410 THE LITE-BOAT.

[NOVEMBER 1, 1875.

having occurred on and near the coasts of the United Kingdom during the year 1873-4 was 2,191, representing a tonnage of upwards of 507,000 tons. The number of ships in 1873-4 is less than the number in 1872-3 by 501. The number of ships reported is, as has been formerly stated, in excess of the number of casual- ties reported, because in cases of collision two or more ships are involved in one casualty. Of the 2,191 ships, 1,609 are known to have been ships belonging to Great Britain and its dependencies, with British certificates of registry, 151 (with a tonnage of 29,940 tons) are known to have been British vessels not registered under the Merchant Shipping Act, and 363 are known to have been ships be- longing to Foreign countries and States.

Of the remaining 68 ships the country and employment are unknown. Of the British ships 1,170 were employed in the British coasting trade, and 590 were em- ployed in the (over sea) Foreign and Home trade. Of the ships belonging to Foreign countries and States, 9 employed in the British coasting trade met with casualties.

The site of each one of these casualties is clearly defined on the accompanying Wreck Chart of the British Isles, with the aid of which one can somewhat realise the fearful shipwrecks that took place during the winter's storms. The posi- tions of the 250 Life-boat Stations of the Institution are also denoted on that Chart.

Of the total number of wrecks, &c.

(1,803), reported as having occurred on and near our coasts during the year 1873-4, 381 were collisions, and 1,422 were wrecks and casualties other than collisions. Of these 1,422 wrecks, strand- ings, and casualties other than collisions, 346 were wrecks, &c., resulting in total loss, and 1,076 were casualties resulting in partial damage more or less serious.

The whole number of wrecks and casual- ties other than collisions on and near our coasts reported during the year 1872-3 was 1,732, or 310 more than the number of wrecks, standings, and casualties, other than collisions, reported during the year 1873-4.

The annual average in the United Kingdom for the eighteen and a half years ended June 1874, is—for wrecks other than collisions resulting in total losses, 464; and for casualties resulting in partial damage, 774. As against this the numbers for the year 1873-4 are for total losses 346, and for partial damage 1,076.

Of the 346 total losses from causes other than collisions, 128 happened when the wind was, as appeared from the Wreck Ee- ports, at force 9 or upwards (a strong gale), and are classed in the returns as having been caused by stress of weather; 93 appear, from the reports made by the officers on the coasts, to have been caused by inat- tention, carelessness, or neglect; 30 arose from defects in the ship or in her equip- ments (and of these 30, 19 appeared to have foundered from unseaworthiness); and the remainder appear to have arisen from various other causes.

Of the 1,076 casualties—i.e. cases of partial damage, from causes otter than collisions—525 happened when the wind was, as reported, at force 9 or upwards (a strong gale), and are included as having been caused by stress of weather; 180 arose from carelessness; 91 from defects in the ship or her equipments; and the remainder appear to have arisen from various other causes.

It is discouraging to observe that the total number of ships which foundered, or were otherwise totally lost, on and near our shores, from defects in the ships or their equipments, during the year 1873-4, is 30; and the number of casualties arising from the same causes, during the same year, and resulting in partial damage, is 91.

In 1873-4 there were on and near the coasts 165 wrecks and casualties to smacks and other fishing vessels. Ex- cluding these, the number of vessels employed in the regular carrying trade that suffered from wreck or casualty during the year is 2,026. The life lost NoviaiBKB 1, 1875 ] THE LIFE-BOAT.

411 during the year 1873-4 in the various wrecks is as follows:—In fishing vessels, 76; in vessels of the collier class, 195; and in other ships, 235.

Again, it appears that in the nine and a half years ending Jane 1874 disasters on and near the coasts of the British Isles to comparatively new ships bear a very high proportion to the whole numher, 1,733 vessels under the age of three years having come to grief in that period.

During the year 1873-4, 182 wrecks and casualties happened to nearly new ships, and 354 to ships from 3 to 7 years of age.

Then there are wrecks and casualties to 481 ships from 7 to 14 years old, and to 615 from 15 to 30 years old. Then follow 302 old ships from 30 to 50 years old. Having passed the service of half a century, we come to the very old ships, viz., 41 between 50 and 60 years old, 13 from 60 to 70, 6 from 70 to 80, 5 from 80 to 90, 2 from 90 to 100, and 2 upwards of 100. The ages of 188 wrecks are unknown.

Of the 2,191 vessels lost or damaged on or near the coasts during the year 1873-4, 270 were steamships, 92 were rigged as ships, 609 schooners, 216 brigs, 288 barques, 212 brigantines, and 151 smacks; the remainder were small vessels rigged in various ways. Of the 2,191 vessels referred to, 1,022 did not exceed 100 tons burden, 660 were from 100 to 300 tons, 323 were from 300 to 600 tons, and 186 only were above 600 tons burden.

Of the 270 steamships, 226 arc known to have been built of iron; and of the 1,921 sailing vessels, 42 are known to ha re been built of iron, and 8 to have been composite vessels.

The parts of the coasts on which the wrecks and casualties happened during the year 1873-4 are as follows, the greatest number occurring, as usual, on the East Coast:—East Coast, 716; South Coast, 241; West Coast, 545; K and W. Coast of Scotland, 66; Irish Coast, 213; Isle of Man, 7; Lundy Island, 5 ; Stilly Isles, 10. It is, however, a remarkable fact, that, whilst the greatest number of wrecks happened on the East Coast, the largest loss of life occurred in the Irish Sea.

From the Wreck Eeports it appears that the winds that have been most de- structive to shipping on- and near our coasts during the year have been from the west, winds from this quarter being much more frequent than those from the east.

We are concerned to see from the tables, that in 1873-4, 1,002 wrecks hap- pened when the. wind was at force 6 or under, that is to say, when the force of the wind did not exceed a strong breeze, in which the ship could carry single reefs and topgallant sails; that 314 hap- pened with the wind at forces 7 and 8, or a moderate to fresh gale, when a ship, if properly found, manned, and navigated, can keep the sea with safety; and that 423 happened with the wind at force 9 and upwards, that is to say, from a strong gale to a hurricane. In other words, 1,002 happened when the wind was such that a ship could carry her topgallant sails; 314. when a ship ought to be well able to hold her course; and 423 with the wind at and above a strong The total number of casualties reported in rivers was 397, of which 26 were total losses; bnt these cases are not accurately and promptly reported.

As regards collisions off the coasts dur- ing the year 1873-4, 20 of the 381 colli- sions were between two steamships, both under weigh, and 29 of the 223 in harbours and rivers were also between two steam- ships, both under weigh.

PAET II. Loss of Life.—As regards the loss of life, the returns show that the number of lives lost from wrecks, casual- ties, and collisions on or near the coasts, during the year 1873-4, is 506. This is 222 less than the number lost in the six months ending June 1873. The lives lost during the year 1873-4 were lost in 130 ships; 87 of them were laden vessels, 40 were vessels in ballast, and in three cases it is not known whether the vessels were laden or light: 95 of these ships 412 THE LIEE-BOAT.

[NOVEMBER I, 1875.

were entirely lost, and 35 sustained par- tial damage. Of the 506 lives lost, 61 were lost in vessels that foundered, 76 through vessels in collision ; 200 in ves- sels stranded or cast ashore, and 101 in missing vessels. The remaining num- ber of lives lost (68) were lost from various causes, such as through being washed overboard in heavy seas, ex- plosions, &o.

Nine of these lives were lost in wrecks or casualties which, although they hap- pened before July 1873, are included in these returns, the reports having been received too Me for them to be included in the returns for the first six months of 1873. The 293 lost through the sink- ing of the ship Northfleet will account for the number lost during the first six months of 1873 so far exceeding the number lost during the whole year 1873-4.

PAST III. Saving Life.—As regards th.6 means of saving life from shipwrecks on our coasts, it is encouraging to know that they are now of the most efficient character.

The BOABD OF TKADE, at an expense of about 8,5002. a year, taken from the Mercantile Marine Fund, contributed an- nually in the shape of dues by ship- owners, maintains at different coastguard stations 289 rocket and mortar apparatus, which were last year instrumental in saving 175 lives from various wrecks. Much dar- ing, and skill are often exhibited by the officers and men of the Coastguard and Volunteer Life Brigades in working suc- cessfully the rocket apparatus.

Shore and ships' boats did also nobly their part last winter in saving life from wrecks.

Foremost, however, amongst the means for saving life on the coasts of the Uni- ted. Kingdom, must be classed the 250 Life-boats comprising the noble fleet of the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, which Society contributed last year to the saving of 713 lives from various shipwrecks. "Well did the DUKE OF EDINBUBGH, a few months since, express public feeling concerning the Institu- tion, when His Royal Highness said:— " There is not one of us who does not feel the deepest admiration for the gallant services performed by those boats in every storm, and the brave and devoted men who work the Life-boats" deserve every encouragement at our hands. It is true that the Institution has provided them with the best class of Life-boat—the re- sult of long years of actual working and experience on our coasts—and the So- ciety also grants the crews rewards on a liberal scale, if it is possible to put a price on the services that are often rendered by these gallant Life-boat men. At no former period in the history of the Institution have there been such numerous and peril- ous services as those performed last win- ter. It appears that in the months of December, January, and February, no less than 295 lives were saved by the Life-boats from ships wrecked or in dis- tress on our shores. How these services have been so successful is mainly on ac- count of the dearly-bought experience of the brave men who are ever ready to go afloat in the boats, and wko for years past have been efficiently trained to accomplish successfully their humane object. As an il- lustration, I may here allude to one case last winter, where a Life-boat had hardly landed with her living freight from the very jaws of death when she was sum- moned again to launch, her crew vying with each other once more to face the storm, whilst others were eager to share their .glorious work. In other cases the brave fellows, in their anxiety that valu- able time should not be lost, have seized their Life-belts, rushed into their boats— some insufficiently clad—and, after several hours of exposure to the cold, alternately drenched by salt water and by rain, and without food or drink, landed in an equal or greater state of exhaustion than the rescued men they had brought safely to land. Such, then, is the great work which, the Life-boat Institution carries on on the coasts of the United Kingdom; and I may mention that every one of the 250 Life-boats belonging to the Institution NOVEMBER 1, 1875.] THE LIFE-BOAT.

413 has been presented to it, either by the bene/actions of the living, or by the lega- cies of its departed friends. I find that a Life-boat station cannot be provided for much less than 1,0001. at the outset, in- cluding the" cost of the Life-boat, trans- porting carriage, equipment, and boat- house, and that about 701. a year is after- wards needed to keep up the establish- ment in a state of efficiency. You will thus see that the Institution must have an income of from 30.000Z. to 40,000?.

a year if the great and sacred work which it has undertaken to perform is to be car- ried on in the future in as efficient a man- ner as that which has distinguished its past career. All the maritime countries of the world are now gradually following the example of this Institution, and plant- ing Life-boats on their coasts; and no- tably I may mention that on the shores of France, Germany, and Russia, scores of Life-boats have been stationed during the last few years, and nearly all of them on the model of the stations of our great English Life-boat Society.".