THERE were 269 stations in this Life- saving Service at the close of the fiscal year which ended on the 30th June, 1900, this total being 4 in excess of that for the previous year. Of this number (269) 194 were situated on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, 58 on the coasts of the Great Lakes, 16 on the Pacific coast, and 1 at the Falls of the Ohio. The majority of the stations are only open for service for a portion of the year, the times ranging from two to ten months.

The total number of disasters to documented vessels within the scope of the stations amounted in the year to 364. On board these vessels there were 2,655 persons, of whom 48 were lost.

The estimated value of the vessels was $6,127,500, and that of their cargoes $3,342,690, making the total value of the property imperilled $9,470,190.

Of this amount $7,234,690 was saved and $2,235,500 lost. The number of vessels totally lost was 61. There were also, in addition to these, 329 casualties to undocumented craft—'Sailing boats, rowing boats, etc.—carrying 781 persons, 5 of whom perished. The value of the property involved in these instances is estimated at $267,070 of which $256,770 was saved, and $10,300 lost. 675 persons received help at the stations, the number of days relief furnished aggregating 1,447.

The statistics given above show that 53 lives were lost during the year within the field of the operations ofthe Service. More than one-half of [ these were sacrificed as the result of j the foolish attempts of the shipwrecked men of two vessels to escape in their own boats, instead of waiting until succour could reach them from the ! shore, or until it became quite certain that their situation was hopeless.

Lauding through the surf in heavy weather is at all times a hazardous operation, and mariners cannot be too often warned against attempting it. I The 27 lives lost so unnecessarily would certainly, as conclusive evidence showed, have been saved had the poor fellows remained on the wrecks until taken off by the life-saving crews. The severest storm of the year was the hurricane of August, 1899, which caused three disasters on the North Carolina coast, attended with a loss of 11 lives. 17 of j the 28 persons on board the vessels were I rescued, and of those lost, 6 were washed overboard during the night and 5 went j down with their vessels. I 595 persons were rescued from | positions of extreme peril otherwise than in connection with vessels, includ- ing one madman who had wandered : into the surf, and one child who had j fallen into a cistern. The number of vessels floated off was 445, repaired, I piloted out of dangerous positions, and j assisted generally by the station crews.

Minor assistance was also afforded to 611 vessels and small craft; 194 vessels, running into danger of stranding, were warned off by the signals of patrol- men, most of them, in all probability, having been saved from total loss or serious danger.

The surf-boat was used 778 times, making 1,066 trips. The self-righting and self-bailing Life-boat was used 128 tunes, making 140 trips. The gasoline launches at the City Point Station (Second District) were used 69 times, making 75 trips. Smaller boats were used 328 times, making 531 trips. The river Life-skiffs at the Louisville Station (Ninth District) were used 32 times, making 36 trips.

The breeches buoy was used 14 times, making 173 trips. The wreck gun was employed 18 times, firing 41 shots.

The heaving stick was used 21 times.

There were landed by the surf-boats 547 persons; by the Life-boats, 52; by the gasoline launches 114; by the river Life-skiffs, 30; by other stations-boats, 200; and by the breeches buoy, 158.

In addition to the number of persons rescued from vessels by the ordinary apparatus of the stations, 32 were saved by lines thrown from vessels to the surf-men on shore, and 37 were carried ashore by the rescuers who waded out after them.

The total cost of maintaining the U.S. Life-saving Service during the year ended the 30th June, 1900, was $1,538,061, and the sum of $39,577 was expended on salaries alone at the head office.