THANES to the courtesy of Mr. SUMMEE I.

KIMBALI,, the General Superintendent of the United States Government Life-Saving Service, we are enabled to place before onr readers a general outline of the operations of that excellent Service for the year ended the 30th June, 1898. The United States Service has always looked upon the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION as a sort of foster mother, and the Life- boat Service of the Old Country is proud of her quasi child.

At the close of the year ended the 30th June, 1898, there were 264 stations embraced in the life-saving establish- ment, an increase of five as compared with the previous year. Of this number, 192 were situated on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, 56 on the coasts of the Great Lakes, 15 on the Pacific coast, and 1 at the Falls of the Ohio, Louisville, Kentucky, the whole Service being divided into 12 districts. The periods during which the stationswere manned during the year, such periods being termed the " active season," varied considerably, ranging from 2 and 4 or 4 months to 5 , 8,10 and 12 months.

The great majority of the stations are, however, manned for 10 months only, 14 only as far as we can ascertain being open all the year round. Keepers are on duty, however, at all stations throughout the year.

The reports of the several district officers show 402 disasters to documented vessels within the field of life-saving operations during the year. The number of persons on board these vessels was 3,113, of whom only 12 were lost. The estimated value of the vessels was 5,861,320 dollars, and that of their cargoes 1,307,070 dollars, making the total value of the property imperilled 7,168,390 dollars. Of this amount 6,410,530 dollars was saved, 757,860 dollars lost. The number of vessels totally lost was 59, this number being 5 in excess of the total for the preceding year.

There were also 365 casualties to undocu- mented craft, sailing boats, rowing-boats, etc., carrying 874 persons, 10 of whom perished. The total number of disasters was 767, an increase of 68 as compared with the previous year and the largest number reported in the history of the Service, while happily, the loss of life was considerably less in proportion to the number of disasters than in any previous year. In addition to the number of persons rescued from vessels, 56 were assisted from such situations as must in many cases have resulted in loss of life but for the prompt and intelligent action of the crews of the life-saving stations.

In 577 instances vessels were worked off when stranded, repaired when damaged, and piloted out of dangerous places.

Besides the foregoing, assistance of minor importance was rendered to 324 vessels and small craft. There were. also 226 instances where vessels running into danger of stranding were warned off by the signals of the patrols.

The surf-boat was used 812 times, making 1,099 trips. The self-righting and self-bailing Life-boat was used 114 times, making 129 trips. The gasoline launch (at the City Point Station) was used 83 times, making 86 trips. Smaller boats were used 460 times, making 567 trips. The river life-skiffs at the Louis- ville station were used 27 times, making 29 trips. The breeches buoy was used 10 times, making 107 trips. The life* car was used once, making 3 trips. The wreck gun was employed 15 times, firing 37 shots. The heavy stick was used 35 times. 451 persons were landed by the surf-boat; by the Life-boats, 91; by the gasoline launch, 129; by the river life- skiffs, 39; by other station boats, 148; by the breeches buoy, 106; and by the life- car, 9; and 69 persons were rescued by other means: total 1,042, bringing up the total number of persons succoured by the Service since the introduction of the present system in November, 1871, to 14,255.

The total cost of maintaining the United States Life-Saving Service during the year ended the 30th Jane, 1898, would seem to have been 1,535,407 dollars (335.494Z.): of this fmm 37,730 dollars (7,7522.) went in the salariesof the officials at the head office. Daring the year under consideration the whole of the Life-Saving Service of the United States was for the first time included in a classified service under the Civil Service Regulations..