THERE were 272 stations embraced in the Life-saving Establishment of the United States at the close of the fiscal year which terminated on the 30th June, 1902. Of this number 195 were situated on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, 60 on the coasts of the Great Lakes, 16 on the Pacific coast, and 1 at the Falls of the Ohio, Louisville, Kentucky.

By far the larger proportion of the stations are not kept open during the whole year, but are working for periods ranging from 3 or 4 to say 10 months.

The number of disasters to vessels within the scope of the operations of the Service during the last year was greater than ever before, with the exception of the years 1898 and 1901, yet the loss of life was very small. The number of lives lost from documented vessels— those of 5 tons burden or more—was only 19, while 6 were lost from smaller craft—sailing boats, rowing boats, etc.

•—making a total of 25, a number very considerably below the average. All but 5 of those lost from documented vessels, and more than half of the whole number lost from craft of all descriptions, perished in two disasters—5 on the coast of Cape Cod under deplorable circum- stances which involved also the lives of 7 members of the Monomoy Life-saving crew, and 9 one mile outside the entrance of Daluth Harbour, Minnesota and 1J miles from the Life-saving station, where two large vessels came into collision, one of them sinking within 3 minutes and even before the other vessel could render any assistance. Of the remaining 5 lost from documented vessels, 3 were cap- sized whilst attempting to land in their own boats, 1 was scalded to death in the fire-room of a stranded steamer by the bursting of a steam pipe when she struck, and the other was washed overboard.

Most of the casualties to the smaller craft occurred at long distances from the Stations and all of them culminated almost instantly. In no case was life lost through any fault of the life-saving crews.

The amount of property imperilled was greatly in excess of that of any previous year in the history of the Service owing to the unusual number of large vessels involved. No less than 54 vessels of over 1,000 tons burden,—33 being steamers—suffered disaster. 26 of these vessels exceeded 2,000 tons burden and the average tonnage of the whole number was 2,653 tons.

The number of disasters to docu- mented vessels was 385, on board which were 3,424 persons of whom 19 were lost. The estimated value of the vessels and their cargoes was $14,393,010. Of this only $2,267,790 was lost. The number of vessels totally lost was 51.

In addition to the foregoing there were 361 casualties to undocumented craft carrying 796 persons of whom 6 perished.

The value of the property involved in these instances is estimated at $174,120 of which but $6,545 was lost.

The life - saving crews saved and assisted in saving 434 imperilled vessels.

Of this number 334 were saved by them without other assistance. crews also afforded assistance, rendering help of greater or less importance to 661 other vessels, giving aid there- fore, altogether, to 1,095 vessels of all kinds, including small craft. This number does not include the 237 in- stances in which vessels running into danger were warned off by station patrolmen. 210 of these warnings were given at night by Coston lights.

The surf-boat was used 929 times making 1,300 trips. The self-righting and self-baling Life-boat was used 80 times making 109 trips. The gasoline launches at the City Point Station were used 112 times making 117 trips.

Smaller boats were used 473 times making 572 trips. The river life-skiffs at the Louisville Station were used 37 times making 47 trips. The breeches buoy was used 15 times making 249 trips. The wreck gun was employed 22 times firing 42 shots. The heaving- stick was used 30 times.

There were landed by the surf-boat 782 persons, by the Life-boat 65, by the gasoline launches 266, by the river life-skiffs 34, by other station boats 218, and by the breeches buoy 213.

The cost of maintaining the United States Life-Saving Service during the year ended the 30th June, 1902, was $1,654,392 to which must be added the sum of-$42,780 expended in the salaries of the officials at the head office, making a total of $1,697,172 (£348,734).