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MARINE REVIEW. 7 Where American Merchant Vessels are Owned. Of twenty customs districts in the United States in which the ownership of vessel tonnage on June 30, 1893, exceeded 50,000 tons, eight were on the lakes. In steam tonnage, only one district in the United States, New York, exceeds Cleveland, while the amount of steam tonnage owned in Buffalo is greater than that of all districts excepting New York and San Francisco. The figures are from the latest report made by the commissioner of navigation. Each year the reports from the office of the commissioner show that the lakes are constantly gaining on other sections of the country in ownership of steam vessels of the finest and largest class. Eleven hundred and thirty-four steam vessels owned in the New York district have an aggregate gross tonnage of 441,265 tons, while 177 steam vessels owned in Cleveland (less than one-sixth of the New York number) have an aggregate gross tonnage of 183,346. The table that follows presents some interesting comparisons in this regard. UNITED STATES CUSTOMS DISTRICTS IN WHICH THE OWNERSHIP OF VESSEL TONNAGE ON JUNE 30, 1893, EXCEEDED 50,000 TONS--LAKE DISTRICTS ARE MARKED WITH A STAR. eta i Canal Boats Customs Districts. Sail Vessels. ||Steam Vessels. and Barges. Total. No. | Tons. No. | Tons. No. | Tons. No. | Tons. ING WaVOT Kencsen, warren 1,968 | 482,959 || 1,184] 441,265 951 | 180,460 |} 4,053 | 1,054,684 San Francisco ........... 641 | 183,398 233 | 128,516 Ledlineeeesee 874| 311,914 Philadelphia.-....0..... 432 | 139,304 286 | 105,863 249 33,682 967 | 278,849 *Cuyahoga(Cleveland) 88 53,563 177 | 183,346 y 4,184 274 241,093 BOStOMersc eer 453 | 163,621 127 50,505 3 620 583 | 214,746 EButralObesssneeee 30 14,980 217 127,070 85 30,266 332 | 172,316 *Huron (Port Huron)..| 250 75,747 216 93,390 axilee eae 466 169,137 sWetnOltiescecststeny 120 40,417 147 | 118,026 13 1,722 280} 160,165 Baltimore ........ ere 965 54,640 175 64,444 13 095 || 1,153} 122,178 ISH ADOs JM@Frosc scocsoccocsctee 177 | 102,362 39 7,385 8 10,252 224] 119,997 Se Mil Walk@Cnescencassers 242 33,619 154 62,124 will eevee 396 95,743 ECHICHLO se see eee 163 48,806 188 46,724 BER cs oath ee 351 90, DUS ET SOU Os seer senses. 169 57,311 168 25,510 1 685 338 83,506 *Superior (Marquette) 44 11,570 112 52,693 2 2,622 158 66,885 ING wallaviennsccsesse 104 81,301 56 15,304 123 18,750 283 65,3855 Portland, Me.............. 214 48,772 36 14,434 Pre O ree eee 249 63,206 *Champlain..............0 23 1,422 9 970 592 57,877 624. 60,269 Halll Riviereectsnes-ceeeces: 68 25,137 21 28,967 11 5,468 100 59,572 Perth Amboy ............. 281 22,789 57 9,163 69 23,010 407 54,962 Waldoboro, Me........... 305 48,276 13 2,169 2 171 320 50,616 Tonnage is in all cases gross registered tonnage. ; The order of lake districts, as regards the amount of tonnage owned in them, has not changed materially during the year. Cleveland still leads with Buffalo, Port Huron and Detroit very close together in tonnage, although there is considerable variance in the number of vessels. TABLE SHOWING THE NUMBER AND TONNAGE OF ALL VESSELS OWNED IN THE VARIOUS LAKE CUSTOMS DISTRICTS ON JUNE 30, 1898. ; Canal Boats Customs Districts. |_ Sail Vessels. || Steam Vessels.|| and Barges Total. No. | Tons. No. | Tons. No. | Tons. No. | Tons. Cuyahoga (Cleveland) 88 53,563 177 | 183,346 9 4,184 274 | 241,098 Bilal Ome iss 30 14,980 217 | 127,070 85 30,266 832 | 172,316 Huron (Port Huron)...| 250 75.747 216 9353905 lllnes eeeeea ioe czars eee 466 | 169,137 DWEtROlGsttao tee 120 40,417 147 | 118,026 13 1,722 280 | 160,165 Milwaukee..............c06 242 33,619 154 G2EL 24a eee | seem ieee 396 95,7438 Chicago eee 163 43,806 188 AG [24 weal eeeesseralReseeter cess ees 351 90,530 Superior (Marquette)..| 44 11,570 112 52,693 2 2,622 158 66,885 Chamiplainhe...cee 23 1,422 9 970 592 57,877 624 60,269 Sanauskypeeenseaees 25 13,581 72 33,415 5 934 102 47,930 neh 5. sevtteontesteoeens 3 282 51 Sei es meve alee, sack voneet 54 37,493 Michigan(Gr'dHaven}| 119 9,037 176 23,244 5 1,048 300 33,329 Oswegatchie............... fa 1,627 25 17,974 14 2,944 46 22,545 Miami (Toledo)............ 22 6,947 51 LZ IGOD Rs eee ce.cseleeeeersan aks 73 19,552 SWiLOl cen ctecccseseeeberes 13 3,289 21 3,858 78 9,969 112 17,116 NAP ara ty. can Bes. Sees: 9 3,903 14 7,600 2 25 z VOTO be yeteste recto rece 14 1,122 11 3,205 14 1.453 39 5,780. Cape Vincent.. will ee 2,031 24 1,731 3 279 51 i Duluth... 3 130 45 2,495 _ 1 110 49 2,785 Genesee... > 5 692 17 932 1 128 23 1,752 Dunkirkeeere cr "i 24 4 89 1 124 6 TOtalS.cccs.cssesssveces 1,205 | 317,789. ||1,731 | 828,702 825 | 114,576 ||3,761 |1.261,067 Tonnage is in all cases gross registered tonnage. Formation of Waves--To Lessen their Effect. Notwithstanding the indifference with which the shipping world has taken the recommendations of scientists regarding the use of soapsuds in lessen- ing the destructive effects of waves, the officers of the United States hydro- graphic service seem to attach great importance to reports of experts on the subject. A recent publication from the hydrographic office contains an article by G. W. Littlehales, one of the officers of the service, in which soapsuds is placed first among a number of liquids that are named in the order which cor- responds to the quickness with which they spread on the surface of a body of water. The other liquids following in order are sperm oil, oil of turpentine, rapeseed oil, linseed oil, benzoin, ricinus oil, oil of almonds, oil of olives and petroleum. Of the substances named, petroleum spreads less rapidly than any of the others, its tendency to spread being only about one-half that of olive oil, one-third that of linseed oils one-fourth that of sperm oil, and one-fifth that of soapsuds. This explains, in large part, why seamen have found it inferior to the other oils, especially those of animal and vegetable origin, for calming the sea, According to theory, of all the liquids named, soapwater is the best agent for preventing the growth of waves both on account of its superior spreading power and the reduction of the surface tension that it brings about. Since a course of practical experiments have led Dr. Koppen of Hamburg to recognize its superiority, seamen are asked to try the effect of solutions of various kinds of soap with fresh water, in proportions varying from gy PM ahop Upon stormy seas, and to report the observed effects to the hydrographic office in Washington. With respect to the oils, the table indicates that oil of turpen- tine is the best for spreading and reducing the tendency of the wind to form waves and increase their size. Moreover, oil apppears to have a great advan- tage over soap water, since it weighs less than water and does not mix with it. These qualities enable it, when spread over the surface of water traversed by waves, to maintain itself as a distinct layer whose particles do not take up the orbital motion that the particles of water have in sea waves. Much of the efficacy of oil is due to the formation of this distinct layer with a definite sur- face cohesion between the particles of oil, as the wave mechanism is then to some extent protected from derangement since in a sea wave the particles of water in the crest are moving forward in their orbits, or in the direction in which the wind is blowing, when they reach the surface, and the tractive effect of the wind, being brought to bear upon them at this point, causes the break- ing of the crests and the consequent danger that is experienced in a stormy sea. It is not yet known whether soap water has any effect in lessening the breaking of waves, except that which it may exercise by preventing their growth, but mariners are urged to observe its effects, since it is upon their ob- servations and the results of their practical experience that any improvement in the choice of a substance for calming the sea must finally rest. New Code of Distress Signals. The following from James A. Dumont, supervising inspector-general of steam vessels, explains itself : Editor Marine Review: The board of supervising inspectors at their late meeting passed a resolution which will be printed in their rules and regu- lations, also in the pilot rules, recommending the use on all vessels, steam and sail, of the distress signals recommended by the late International Marine Conference, known as Article 31,as per press copy enclosed, which you may consider of sufficient interest to publish, as they will best become generally known in that way. Very respectfully, Jas. A. Dumont. Washington, D.C. Feb. 17. Supervising Inspector-General. DISTRESS SIGNALS. Article 31. When a vessel is in distress and requires assistance from other vessels or from the shore, the following shall be the signals to be used or displayed by her, either together or separately, viz: Signals in the day time-- 1. A gun fired at intervals of about a minute. 2. The international code signal of distress indicated by N. C. 3. The distant signal, consisting of a square flag, having either above or below it a ball or anything resembling a ball. 4. Rockets or shells as prescribed below for use at night. 5. A continuous sounding with asteam whistle or any fog signal apparatus. Signals at night-- 1. A gun fired at intervals of about a minute. 2. Flames on a vessel (as from a burning tar barrel, oil barrel, etc.) 3. Rockets or shells, bursting in the air with a loud report and throwing stars of any color or description, fired one at a time at short intervals. 4. A continuous sounding with a steam whistle or any fog signal apparatus. To Avoid Duplication of Names. That the new commissioner of navigation, Mr. E. T. Chamberlain, shows a disposition to at least try to prevent further duplication in the naming of mer- ) chant vessels, is shown by the following communication and copy of circular to collectors of customs : Editor MARINE REVIEW: Enclosed please find copy of a circular letter issued to collectors of customs concerning the duplication of the names of ves- sels. It is believed that the voluntary action of those interested in shipping is the simplest, most expeditious and most satisfactory method of preventing the duplication of names, of which complaint has been made. EvuGeneE T. CHAMBERLAIN, Commissioner. DUPLICATION OF VESSELS' NAMES. TREASURY DEPARTMENT, BUREAU OF NAVIGATION, WasHinaton, D. C., Frs. 17. To Collectors of Customs and Others : It is represented to this bureau that the practice of bestowing the same name upon different vessels leads to confusion and annoyance in the identifi- cation of vessels to the disadvantage frequently of the owners and masters of vessels, charterers, compilers of shipping news, underwriters and others that have to do with shipping matters. The matter is one which the owners and masters of vessels and those directly interested in shipping are most concerned and their voluntary action can correct the practice referred to more expedi- tiously and satisfactorily than statute. In first applications for marine docu- ments in which it is desired to bestow upon a vessel a name already borne by one or more vessels of the same port or neighboring ports, collectors of cus- toms are requested to bring this fact to the notice of the applicant to the end that the duplication of names may be checked by the voluntary action of those most concerned. ons EuGENE T. CHAMBERLAIN, Commissioner, Approved: W. E. Curtis, Acting Secretary.