THE Life-Saving Service of the United States comprised at the close of the fiscal year which ended on the 30th June, 1904, 273 stations, no increase in the number having taken place during the year. Of those stations 196 were situated on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, 60 on the coasts of the Great Lakes, 16 on the Pacific coast, and I at the Falls of the Ohio River, Louisville, Kentucky.

As pointed out in previous years, the great majority of the stations are not kept open all the year round, but only for such periods as are deemed really necessary; and these vary from three months to ten months. Caretakers are, however, kept on duty at all the stations for the entire year.

Three hundred and fifty-nine docu- mented vessels suffered disaster within the scope of the operations of the Service during the year. There were 2525 persons on board these vessels, of whom 2504 were saved, 21 only being lost.

Among the smaller and undocumented vessels, sailing and pulling-boats, etc., 411 casualties were reported, involving 803 persons, of whom 790 were saved and 13 lost.

The estimated value of the documented vessels was $4,698,855, and that of their cargoes $1,757,925, making the total value of the property imperilled $6,456,780. Of this amount $5,089,950 was saved and $1,366,830 lost. The number of disasters involving the total loss of documented vessels was 50. The property value of the undocumented vessels and boats was estimated at $248,750, of which $240,130 was saved and $8,620 lost.

During the year assistance was ren- dered by the Service to 1061 vessels of all kinds. In 480 of these cases they were saved from situations which other- wise must have resulted in partial or total loss, and of this number (480), 384 were saved by the unassisted work of the Life-Saving Service, no tugs, etc., being at hand to help. To the above total of 1061 vessels may be added 161 other vessels which were discovered by the patrolmen or look-out men running into danger, and were warned of their peril in time to avert disaster. These cases occurred—148 at night and 13 during the day-time, in thick weather.

The Surf-boat was used 867 times, making 1107 trips. The self-righting and self-baling Life-boat was used 61 times, making 104 trips. The gasoline launches at the City Point Station (Second district) were used 136 times, making 155 trips. Smaller boats were used 555 times, making 697 trips. The river life-skiffs at Louisville Station (Tenth district) were used 36 timesmaking 40 trips. The breeches buoy was used 12 times, making 142 trips.

The wreck-gun was employed 19 times, firing 45 shots. The heaving-stick was used 32 times. There were landed by the Surf-boat 679 persons : by the Life- boat, 150; by the gasoline launches, 291; by the river life-skiffs, 43; by other station boats, 269 ; and by the breeches buoy, 147.

The net cost of maintaining the United i States Life-Saving Service during the j year ended the 30th June, 1904, was j $1,766,446, plus the sum of $45,715 for j the salaries and wages of officials at the head office. Total $1,812,161 (=£377,535.).