THE Blue Book recently issued by the Board of Trade furnishing abstracts of the shipping casualties which occurred on or near the coasts of the United Kingdom, from the 1st July, 1903, to the 30th June, 1904, is not less inter- esting than its predecessors. Its admirably arranged tables show only too plainly and sadly, not simply the terrible loss of property which the casualties entailed, but—which is of paramount importance—the large num- : ber of lives which were in jeopardy and many of whom perished. The number of those who lost their Jives would of course have been greatly increased had it not been for the excellent rescue work done by the crews of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION and by the Rocket Brigades.

In accordance with our usual practice, we think it desirable to draw the special attention of the public to the more im- j portant statistics which are furnished in the " Wreck Abstracts," and in doing : so are sure that the information given will afford interest to all, but more especially to those who support the LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION and aid it in recognising the services of their gallant Life-boat crews and others.

The total number of the shipping casualties occurring on or near the coasts of the United Kingdom in the year 1903-4 was 4,668. a small increase of 311 as compared with the total for the previous year. The number of lives lost as the result of the casualties was 269, a considerable decrease of 70 as compared with the corresponding figures for the year 1902-3, when the number of the lost lives was 339.

The 4,668 casualties in question in- cluded all descriptions of accidents befalling vessels of any class, viz.— collisions, founderings, strandings, miss- ing vessels, etc., and are classified thus : (1) Total loss; (2) serious casualties; (3) minor casualties. In the cases of total loss and serious casualties there was an unfortunate increase of 81 as compared with the year 1902-3, the total number being 1,371. There was also an increase of 230 in the number of minor casualties, the total of these being 3,297. It is, however, very satisfactory to note that, notwithstanding the in- crease in number under all the heads ofcasualties, the number in which life was lost was only 88, a decrease of 6 aa compared with the preceding year.

The cases of collision, as usual, repre- sented a large proportion of the 4,668 casualties, the total being 1,671, or 219 more than in the previous year. The cases of total loss, excluding collisions, fell from 270 to 269, and, curiously enough, the number of serious casual- ties was 668, the same as that in the year 1902-3. The total number of minor casualties, also irrespective of collisions, increased from 1,967 to 2,060.

Of the 4,668 casualties, 4,210 befel British and Colonial vessels, and 458 Foreign vessels, the former showing an increase of 304 as compared with the previous year, and the latter a small increase of 7 casualties.

The localities of the casualties, ex- cluding collisions, were :—East coast of England, 739, or 57 more than in the year 1902-3; south coast, 531, a large increase of 117 as against the preceding year; west coast of England and Scot- land and east coast of Ireland, 1,118, a decrease of 98 as compared with the year 1902-3; north coast of Scotland, 125, a decrease of 22; east coast of Scotland, 170, an increase of 13; other parts, 314, also an increase of 25; total, 2,997, or 92 more than the previous year.

The loss of life resulting from 'the 4,668 casualties, including all descrip- tions of casualty, and allocated to the several districts before-mentioned, was as follows :—East coast of England, 67, or 1 less than in 1902-3; south coast of England, 46, or 2 more than the pre- vious year ; west coast of England and Scotland and east coast of Ireland, 74, a decrease of 27 ; north coast of Scotland, 21, an increase of 7 as compared with the corresponding figures for 1902-3 ; east coast of Scotland, 13, a decrease of 4 ; other parts, 48 : total, 269.

It will be observed on reference to the chart of the United Kingdom, issued year by year, that a black dot has been entered against each spot on the coast where any serious shipping casualty oc- curred during the year which ended the 30th June, 1904, and, in addition, the precis* position of each of the 282 Life- boats of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION.

It will be seen that the Life-boats are so stationed as to be able to render the best and most ready assistance to the crews of distressed vessels.

Between 1861 and the 30th June, 1904, —6,524 British, Foreign and Colonial vessels were wrecked on or near the coasts of the United Kingdom, in each case involving loss of life, the total number of lives lost as the result being 28,040. Of the 269 lives which perished during the year 1903-4, 218 were from British and Colonial vessels, and 51 from Foreign vessels. As compared with the preceding year, these figures show a decrease of 14 as regards British and Colonial vessels, and 56 in connection with Foreign vessels. Of the 269 lives lost, 51 were in vessels which foundered, 100 in collisions, 34 in stranded vessels (a large decrease of 80), 40 in missing vessels (a decrease of 17 as compared with the previous year), 44 in explosions, washed overboard, etc. It is interesting to note that of the 269 lives lost during the year 1903-4,15 only were passengers, the great majority of those who perished being officers or members of the crews of the shipwrecked vessels.

Each year the number of vessels having casualties on or near the coasts of the United Kingdom must necessarily vary. The following table furnishes the i statistics for the last half-century :— i 1854 (last six months), 458; 1855, 1,141; 1856, 1,153 ; 1857, 1,143 ; 1858, 1,170 ; 1859,1,416 ; 1860, 1,379 ; 1861, 1,494 ; 1862, 1,827 ; 1863, 2,001 ; 1864, I 1,741; 1865, 2,012 ; 1866, 2,289 ; 1867, 2,513; 1868,2,131; 1869, 2,594; 1870, 1,865; 1871,1,927; 1872,2,381; 1873 (first six months), 1,206; 1873-4,2,191 ; 1874-5, 4,259 ; 1875-6, 4,554 ; 1876-7, 5,017 ; 1877-8, 4,436 ; 1878-9, 3,716 ; 1879-80,3,138; 1880-1,4,297; 1881- 2, 4,367 ; 1882-3, 4,363 ; 1883-4, 4,405 ; 1884-5, 3,764 ; 1885-6, 3,596 ; 1886-7, 4,224 ; 1887-8, 4,004 ; 1888-9, 4,272 ; 1889-90,4,344; 1890-1,4,198; 1891- 2, 4,710 ; 1892-3,3,499 ; 1893-4, 4,951; 1894-5, 4,917 ; 1895-6, 4,620 ; 1896-7, 5,277; 1897-8,4,964; 1898-9,5,040; 1899-1900,4,067; 1900-1,4,008; 1901 -2, 4,124; 1902-3, 4,357; 1903-4, 4,668.

Total, 166,188.It is found, on examination of the "Wreck Abstracts" for the last 51 years, that, during those years, as many as 31,879 persons perished from ship- wreck on or near the coasts of the United Kingdom. These figures are terrible indeed to contemplate, but it is well to note at the same time that this sad total of lives lost would have been more than doubled had it not been for the 35,224 lives saved by the Life-boats of the ROYAL, NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT IN- STITUTION and the other means which it uses and recognises. It will be seen, therefore, that the total of lives saved exceeded that of the lives lost by 3,345.

H.M. Coastguard, by means of the rocket apparatus, assisted by the rocket brigades—all under the able manage- ment of the Board of Trade—continue to carry on efficiently and successfully their life-saving work, and there are now 312 life-saving stations under their charge. The number of lives saved during the year 1904-5 by this means was 173, an increase of 31 as compared with the total for the previous year.

The Committee of Management of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTI- TUTION are at the present time greatly in need of increased financial support to enable them to carry on efficiently the important and national life - saving service committed to their charge.

They would urge all who have the interests of their country at heart to assist them generously and promptly, and they feel that the grand result of the INSTITUTION'S work during the last 81 years amply justifies the appeal which they so confidently and earnestly make..