AT the close of year ended the 30th June, 1908, there wore 280 stations in the United States Life-Saving Service this number being two in excess of the total for the preceding year. The stations were subdivided as before into thirteen districts, 201 stations were situated on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, 61 on the coasts of the great lakes and 18 on the Pacific coast.

Keepers are on duty at the stations throughout the year but many of the stations are manned by surfirien only during what is called the "active season" which may last from say seven to ten months at the most.

One thousand and ninety-four vessels were, during the year, involved in. dis- aster within the field of life-saving operations. Of a total of 5,712 persons on board these vessels only 22 were lost. The estimated value of the vessels was $10,390,955, and of their cargoes $3,139,270 making an aggregate of $13,530,225. The value of the pro- perty salved was $11,666,435 and of that lost $1,863,790. The number of vessels totally lost was 56. The year's record shows 39 more disasters for the larger class of vessels and 217 more for the smaller craft making a total excess of 246 vessels over the number given for the year 1907. The increase in the number of casualties to vessels of the larger class is attributed to the ex- ceptional mildness of the winter season 1906-7 and to the fact that the instal- lation of power in the service Life-boats lias greatly extended tlie scope of rescue and salvage operations malting it possible to render assistance to a larger number of vessels. With respect to the smaller class of vessels the increase is due in a measure to the same reasons but mainly to the fact that the use of "power" launches has become so general. The number of accidents to this type of craft alone during the year was 330 or nearly one-third of the total for all classes of vessels.

Of the 1,094 vessels involved in dis- aster 861 were assisted by the service crews alone, the remainder being aided by the service crews in co-operation with other agencies or by private persons entirely. In addition to the aid given by the service crews as above, help of minor importance was given to 89 documented and 210 undocumented vessels, making the total number of vessels assisted by the service 1,352. The station crews also saved the lives of 56 persons who were in situations of peril unconnected with disasters to vessels, and assisted 156 other persons in similar circum- stances.

Warning signals were made by the beach patrol and station watchmen to 219 vessels running into danger, 199 of the warnings were given at night and 20 in the daytime. Of the vessels warned 97 were steamers.

Of the 56 vessels lost during the year, 12 were steamers, 43 sailing craft and one a small boat. Five of the lost vessels were British, one German and one Norwegian the balance (49) being American vessels.

The surf-boats were used 936 times and made 1,212 trips landing 953 persons; the self-righting and self- bailing Life-boats were used 36 times making 46 trips and landing 63 persons; the power Life-boats 193 times making 204 trips and landing 224 persons; the power launches 148 times making 163 trips and landing 258 persons; the small boats (unclassified) 768 times making 892 trips and landing 478 persons ; the river life-skiffs 51 times making 55 trips and landing 90 persons ; the breeches buoy 8 times making 37 trips and landing 38 persons; the heaving stick was used 32 times.

Thirty-five of the 44 self-righting and self-bailing Life-boats belonging to the service are now equipped with power, engines having been installed in 18 of them during the year. The 9 remaining boats of this type will be similarly dealt with as rapidly as prac- ticable. The adoption of mechanical propulsion for the larger boats is looked upon as an epoch in the methods of the service for they have more than doubled the scope of life-saving at the stations where they are used inasmuch as they multiply the opportunities for rendering assistance to distressed vessels and persons because of the advantage their speed affords, and increasing the effective- ness of rescue and salvage operations by enabling the rescuers to reach scenes of disaster in good physical trim for the performance of their very difficult and perilous work. During the year 17 persons were awarded medals for bravery in effecting and attempting rescues from drowning.

The cost of maintaining the Life- saving Service of the United States during the year ended the 30th June, 1908, was $1,962,524-90 plus $46,100 for the salaries of the officials at the Head Office, making a total of $2,008,624-90 (£418,463)..