THANKS to the energy of the BOARD or TRADE we are enabled to draw the attention of our readers several months earlier than we had anticipated, to the facts and figures contained in the Blue Book compiled from the Wreck Register for the year ended the 30th of June, 1888.

The study of Blue Books has as a rule little charm for the general public who carefully, not to say wisely, avoid their lengthy contents, important though they may be. We venture to think, however, that there are very few who will not be deeply interested in the statistics which we propose to treat, gleaned as they are from tables which have been arranged in such an inviting way by the BOARD OF TRADE. Every inhabitant of a seagirt land such as ours must, we imagine, wish to know something of the ships and sailors to -whom he is indebted for most of the common necessaries of life, and of the means adopted by such agencies as •the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, to minimise the loss of life and the destruction of valuable property.

It is with no little satisfaction we are able to state that, large as the number of vessels was which met with casualties on our coasts during the twelve months ended the 30th June, 1888, that number —4,004—was less by 220 than that of the preceding year, notwithstanding that more vessels entered and left our ports; and that the number of lives lost as a result of those casualties fell from 645 to 571, a decrease of nearly 12 per cent.

The 4,004 casualties in question were miscellaneous and of all sorts, but may be roughly classified as follows:—Total loss, serious casualties, and minor casualties.

A fair decrease is shown under each of these heads, those of total loss and serious accident combined, furnishing a total of 1,451, a decrease of 131 as compared with the previous year, that of minor accidents giving a decrease of 89, the total being 2,553, from which we Learn that the proportionate decrease i: the number of total loss cases and serious casualties was far in excess of that of th minor casualties. Life, also, was lost from 115 vessels, but, large as this total is, it is satisfactory to know that in the year preceding it was exceeded by 44.

It is clear that the falling off—220— in the number of vessels getting into trouble is not due to a diminution in the number of collision cases, as there were a many as 1,418 vessels so involved, giving a decrease of only 10 from the total of the year 1886-7. Excluding collisions altogether, however, we find that the number of total losses foil from 338 to 319, of serious casualties from 818 to 723 and of minor accidents from 1,645 to 1,549. On examination of the nationality of the 4,004 vessels encountering misfortune, it is found that 3,628 were British and Colonial ships and steamers, and 376 Foreigners; and it is curious to note that while less casualties—223—are reported in connection with British and Colonial vessels, the number of Foreign ships and steamers meeting with accidents increased from 373 to 376, from which it may fairly be surmised that Great Britain and her Colonies have been paying greater attention of late than other countries to the sea-going qualities of their vessels and to the seamanship of the crews.

The localities of the casualties—excluding collision cases—are well worthy of notice, as showing those parts of the coast 'which, suffered most from bad weather during the year under consideration.

The localities were as follows:— East coast of England, 802; south coast, 555; west coast of England and Scotland and east coast of Ireland, 880; north coast of Scotland, 93; east coast of Scotland, 105, and other parts, 156. Total, 2,591, or 210 less than in the preceding year. These figures give a decrease of casualties on all parts of the coast excepting the east coast of England, where the total lose from 732 to 802.

The number of lives lost in consequence of the 4,004 casualties was as follows:— East coast of England, 100, or 42 more than the year before; south coast of England, 228, or 165 more than in the previous twelve months; west coasts of England and Scotland and east coast of Ireland, 132, a substantial decrease of 175 as compared with the year 1886-7; north coast of Scotland, 17, or nearly half —16 less—the record of the preceding year; east coast of Scotland, 24, or 4 less than the year before; other parts, 70.

Total, 571.

The accompanying chart shows, by means of black dots, the precise spots where all the principal casualties occurred during the year ended the 30th of June, 1888, on the coast of the United Kingdom, the localities of collision cases which were not of a serious nature, and minor casualties, not being indicated. In addition will be found marked the exact positions of the 293 Life-boat stations of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, which it will be seen are established at all points where it is most probable ;hat the services of the Boats will be required.

Between 1861 and the 30th of June, 1888, there were 4,473 vessels, British, Colonial and Foreign, wrecked on our shores, resulting unfortunately, in each case, in the loss of life, the total number of persons perishing being 20,563.

As we have already said, it is very satisfactory to be able to point out, that n the year 1887-8 there was a decided decrease in the number of lives lost as compared with the preceding year, the total having dropped from 645 to 571; if these, 333 were from British and Colonial vessels, and 238 from Foreign vessels. Here again, we have to record, hat while the number lost from British and Colonial vessels greatly diminished, Lose perishing from Foreign vessels very nearly doubled. Of the total lives lost 571), 84 were lost in foundered vessels; ' 26, or 138 more than in the previous ear, in collisions; 149 in stranded easels, as against 218 in the previous ear; 29 in missing vessels, and the rest —83—in various ways, such as explosions, being washed overboard, &e.

The fluctuation which takes place in the number of the vessels meeting with casualties each year is remarkable, as will be seen from examination of the following table, dating back to June 1854—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, 1,827; 1863,2,001; 1864, 1,741; 1865, 2,012; 1866,2,289; 1867,2,513; 1868, 2,131; 1869,2,594; 1870,1,865; 1871, 1,927; 1872, 2,381; 1873 (first six months), 1,206: 1873-4, 2,191; 1874-5, 4,259; 1875-6, 4,654; 1876-7, 5,017; 1877-8,4,436; 1878-9,3,716; 1879-80, 3,138; 1880-81,4,297; 1881-2, 4,367; 1882-3, 4,363; 1883-4, 4,405; 1884-5, 3,764; 1885-6, 3,596; 1886-7, 4,224; 1887-8, 4,004. Total, 94,172.

Although it is grievous to consider that in this period of little more than, thirty years 24,402 lives were lost on our coast from shipwreck, it is most pleasing to know that had it not been for the Lifeboats of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, and for the other means rewarded and encouraged by the Institution, the number lost would have been as many again, for the number saved was 24,580 or 178 more than the total of the lost. Since the foundation of the Society in 1824, up to the present time (November 1889), the Life-boats and the other means above referred to have been instrumental in rescuing 34,500 persons from drowning —a very considerable record.

Excellent work, too, was done by the rocket-apparatus of the BOARD OF TRADE during the year 1887-8, the 300 stations provided with the apparatus having saved 271 lives.

In. showing the number of shipping casualties which occur each year on or near our coast, and the terrible amount of human life imperilled as a result of those casualties, we cannot but insist that a Society such as the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, which has in the past done so much to diminish and prevent the loss of life, merits and should have the hearty support of the British Public, and this stormy season of the year presents a suitable opportunity for reminding the Public of its duty and privilege in this matter.