AT the close of the fiscal year which ended on the 30th June, 1903, there were embraced in the Life-saving Service of the United States no less than 273 stations, 196 of which were established 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 River, Louisville, Kentucky.

It is found on examination of the tables issued by the Government that only in a comparatively few instances— or at all events in the minority of cases —the stations are kept open all the year round, the periods of operations generally ranging from three to ten months.

The number of disasters to documented vessels within the scope of the service was 346. On board these vessels there were 3,682 persons, of whom 20 were lost. The number of vessels totally lost was 57. In addition to the foregoing, there were 351 casualties to undocu- mented craft, sailing boats, pulling boats, &c. These carried 655 persons, 4 of whom perished.

The estimated value of the docu- mented vessels incurring disaster was $7,101,605, and that of their cargoes $1,746,610, making the total value of the property involved $8,848,215. Of this amount $7,683,580 was saved, and $1,164,635 lost. The value of the property involved in the cases of un- documented vessels was estimated at $202,935, of which $198,465 was saved and $4,470 lost.

The life-saving crews saved and assisted in saving 438 imperilled vessels.

Of this number 287 were saved without other assistance. In the remaining 151 instances, the life-saving crews co-operated with tugs and other agencies.

j Besides this they afforded assistance to 573 other vessels, thus rendering aid 1 altogether to 1,011 vessels of all kindsincluding small craft. In addition there were 218 instances in which vessels running into danger were warned off by station patrolmen.

The surf-boat was used 878 times, making 1,180 trips. The self-righting and self-baling Life-boat was used 90 times, making 123 trips. The gasoline launches at the City Point Station (second district) were used 71 times, making 80 trips. Smaller boats were used 474 times, making 537 trips. The river life-skiffs at the Louisville Station (tenth district) were used 41 times, making 44 trips. The breeches buoy was used 9 times, making 86 trips. The wreck gun was employed 12 times, firing 30 shots.

The heaving stick was used 25 times.

There were landed by the surf-boat 1,086 persons; by the life-boat 60; by the gasoline launches 102 ; by the river I life-skiffs 46; by other station boats 174; and by the breeches buoy 79.

The net cost of maintaining the United States Life - Saving Service : during the year ended the 30th June, ' 1903, was $1,721,727 plus the sum of $42,780 for salaries of the officials I at the head office. Total $1,764,507 ! (£362,570)..