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14 MARINE REVIEW. A Light on Pelee "Middle Ground." Editor MARINE REVIEW: Some time since various articles appeared in your columns relative to the proposed light above mentioned, as well as other matters connected with the same. There can be no question but that this light is needed, but it by no means follows that the light- house on Pelee island should either be removed to the "middle ground" or closed altogether; both are needed for general as well as local naviga- tion. The light on the "middle ground" can be secured by proper and persistent efforts in that direction, if laid before the department of pub- lic works at Ottawa. Another matter has been much dwelt upon--that is the new shoals found south-east of the '"'Dummy" light. These can be largely, if not entirely, avoided by taking the old course and going west and south of the "middle ground." I say the "old course" for old sailors will remem- ber that thirty and forty years ago almost all vessels stood in close to Pelee island light, west of the "middle ground," and only of late years has this new fashion of a more easterly and northerly course in standing through the north passage been adopted. The chart shows good water clear through the channel on this old course, and the only thing re- quired is to keep Pelee island light well aboard at a distance of say 1% to 2 miles. From Pelee island light to the "middle ground" is just four miles, and the shoal lies in a line from the "Dummy" light to Pelee island light house. F. B. McCoRMICK. South Port, Pelee Island, March 30, 1896. Stocks of Grain at Lake Ports. The following table, prepared from reports of the Chicago board of trade, shows the stocks of wheat and corn in store at the principal points of accumulation on the lakes on March 28, 1896: Wheat; bushels. Corn, bushels. Chicago: ciieheetase. ie 18443 000 6,030,000 FD) GUHME SSO soc a0dssocesdbites 20s 218,452,000 140,000 Mil WAKE. «<0 .ccc0ccscescecescecsesssosees « 419,000 1,000 Detroit.ccis.cccetsnessosce<seet each caweons wie « 264,000 11,000 TOCA Oi. issesescssscosccvencseoseecuecesces se 645,000 905,000 Buffalosscsscsscssnssosscteeees eee 1,292'000- - 85,000 Total...i0.: senate 34,445,000 7,172,000 As compared with a week ago, the above figures show at the several points named an increase of 53,000 bushels of wheat and 555,000 bushels of corn. On March 28; there was afloat at Chicago 716,000 bushels of wheat, 6,169,- 000 bushels of corn and 1,123,000 bushels of oats; at Buffalo, 65,000 bushels of wheat, aud 163,000 bushels of oats; at Duluth, 512,000 bushels of wheat, and at Milwaukee 176,000 bushels of wheat and 280,000 bushels of oats. In General. Hiram S. Maxim has consented to write a series of important illus- . trated articles on the evolution and manufacture of automatic firing guns, the first of which appears in the current issue of Industries and _ Tron, London. A dry dock 669 feet long at Port Orchard,Puget sound, is to be turned over to the government during the present month. The dock is 130 feet wide at the top; depth at sill 30 feet, and depth from top of dock to floor 39 feet. The abutment is of stone and the entrance is built with concrete and masonry. Construction was begun in December, 1892. The French government has issued advertisements to the inventors of the world inviting a competition the result of which will be the adop- tion of a type of submarine boat for the French navy. Information to this effect has just reached the navy department. This course was fol- lowed by the United States eight years ago and after considerable ex- perimenting resulted in the adoption of the type of boat now under con- _ struction at Baltimore. The French now have about half a dozen sub- marine boats, but from the advertisement it is evident that none of them has given satisfaction. Upon completion of the fifteen torpedo boats, for which the present _ congress is expected to make appropriations, the navy department expects to have housesin readiness for storing them. It is planned to keep most of the fleet of torpedo boats in ordinary, and the department has asked congress for an appropriation of $150,000 with which to build sheds at Portsmouth, New York and Norfolk. Each shed will accommodate ten boats. Advertisements calling for bids on the new boats will be _ most general in their character and will give builders the widest latitude in their construction. The kind of boiler to be used will be left to the discretion of the contractors. All that the department will require will _ be a'staunch and serviceable boat capable of giving a prescribed speed. Reduced rate tourist tickets to California points are now on sale by all agents of the Nickel Plate road. Our trains make excellent connec- _ tons at Chicago with through trains to the coast. 22--Mar, 31. eee, eae Trade Notes. There are few concerns on the great lakes that are in receipt of More orders from salt water vessel builders than the Lake Erie Boiler Works at Buffalo.--Marine Journal, New York. A foundry 169 feet square, having steel frame work throughout and equipped with overhead runways and trolleys, will be built for the - Michigan-Peninsular Car Co. of Detroit by the Berlin Iron Bridge Co, of Fast Berlin, Conn. Purchasing agents for ship building companies will do well to apply to Page Bros & Co., No, 228 Cambridge street, Boston, Mass., for @ Copy of their new catalogue of oil and electric fixtures for marine use, It is the most elaborately illustrated catalogue published recently. The battleship Iowa, which was launched at Cramp's ship yard, Phila. delphia, and which was described recently in the Review, is equipped with an entire output of Blake pumps, including fire, feed, bilge ang water service pumps. Alike to all other battleships and cruisers built by the Cramps, this vessel will also be equipped with Blake vertical twin air pumps for the main condensers. H. M. Bean, ship builder of Camden, Me., informs: the REVIEW that he has under construction a four-masted centerboard schooner. for Capt. J G. Crowley of Taunton, Mass., which is of 215 feet keel, 44 feet beam and 21 feet depth and of about 2,600 net tons capacity. This vessel is double-decked and is valued at $60,000. He is also building another schooner of the keel type, 190 by 42 by 20 feet, capable of carrying 1,900 net tons and valued at $50,000. Graphite Paint Gives Satisfaction. The Detroit Graphite Mfg. Co. of Detroit, Mich., received an order June 16, '895, for their Superior Graphite Paint from Capt. Robert Hornbrook of Evansville, Ind., to paint the canvas reof of the steamer Norman. As these goods were unknown to Capt. Hornbrook, they were shipped to him on trial to be paid for when he was entirely satisfied with results. On Dec. 12, he wrote: "Your paint has given me the best of satisfaction through the warm weather, but I understood that I was not to pay for it until March so as to see how it will stand cold weather." March 21, 1896, the Detroit Graphite Mfg. Co., received the following letter. re ae EVANSVILLE, IND., Mar. 19, 1896. DETROIT GRAPHITE MFG., Co.: Enclosed find order for for paints bought of you June 16. The paint has given me the best of satisfaction. It stands wear and weather better than anything I have ever used on any of my roofs. Yours truly, ROBERT HORNBROOK. Sailors' Superstitions. The old superstition as to lucky and unlucky days has largely passed away. Foreign mails start and arrive on Fridays without any regard for beliefs which were at one time accepted as beyond argument by most sailors. Some thought otherwise, as will later appear. Generally speak- ing, all saints' days and church holidays were regarded as unlucky, and certain days in each month were rather distrusted. In an old almanac of 1615 we find that July 19, 20, 24 and 31 were noted as "no good anchor- age." Sunday was always looked upon as lucky, presumably in reliance on the maxim "the better the day the better the deed," and the fact of our Lord's resurrection having taken place on that day. Monday had no particular reputation for good or evil. Tuesday was the same, except among Spaniards, who said, '"Don't marry or go to sea or leave your wife" on that day. Wednesday was the day of Odin, the Norse god, and lucky: Thursday was named after Thor, the Norse god of war, and was auspicious. Friday was the day dedicated to Freya, Notse goddess of love, and having reference to women was not liked on this ground. 'The true reason for avoiding Friday was of course the fact of the crucifixion having taken place on that day, and sentiments of special veneration for the day became converted into a feeling of fear for the results which would follow its violatian. The Spaniards, on the other hand, had a cot siderable veneration for Friday, and believed that some occult influence enabled Columbus to successfully clear out of port and discover land on that day. Saturday was generally considered auspicious. __ The origin of the phrase "a capful of wind" can be traced to a Norse king, Eric VI., who died in 907 A.D. He was credited with the useful power of directing the wind to blow where he wished by the simple method of turning his cap to that point of the compass. His powers weté much appreciated and trusted, and resulted in his being known as "windy -- cap." There is no evidence as to whether he could regulate.the force of the wind as well as the direction: presumably he could, or his faithful believers would not have been so many. A "bag full of wind" is another common expression, and indicates something like a gale. This has bee# traced down to the classical legend of Kolus and his captive winds com -- e fined in bags.--Nautical Magazine, London. 7 | cainenons seinen ements casts maaan taininst t t i | k : f