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prevailing weather. | : can determine in what respect the tide is affected by the land configuration, depth of water, ete, "TAE. MARINE. REVIEW moaning wind, beyond the uncertain headlight on the doomed vessel, all combined to make an impression never to be for- gotten. "Lower away," is the next order given. The life- boat dropped swiftly into the dark abyss, which caught the boat in her fierce embrace, and with a wild heave the boat is tossed on the crest of an enormous sea, then swallowed up by the gloom of the night. By this time the decks were crowded with passengers of both sexes, all partially dressed. Half an hour passed without sound or sight of the men who left the vessel. "God send the brave hearts safely back," was the unspoken prayer of the multitude, for never did men risk their lives more generously than did these brave fellows. The captain paced the bridge restlessly, while the Ionian rolled ponderously upon the heaving waters. another boat," came from the captain's lips. Instantly another crew took their stations by their boat ready to embark upon - a second attempt. This was unnecessary, for out of the dark- ness came.a shout of "Ship ahoy." Then, "We cannot get near the distressed vessel for wreckage," roared the voice of the officer. Will you stand by her till daylight, till we make another attempt, now in this darkness and rough sea, it is impossible. "Very well," said the Captain, "come on board." The boat dashed violently against the ship's side several times, and after some dangerous work was brought on board. All through the darkness the great liner lay head-on the wild -gea, riding like a sea-gull.. At daylight the life-boat started away again with the same crew, and by wondrous skill. again got clear. This attempt was completely successful. We could see her hovering around the stricken barque, taking her crew when they could, the doomed ship tossing and plunging against the cold, gray sky. Then the life-boat's head was turned homeward. They had rescued everyone of the crew, fifteen in all. The vessel proved to be the barque, Trio, of Lonsberg, thirty-one days out, and dismasted eleven, and absolutely at the mercy of the sea. 3 One of the Jonian's seamen, Kennedy, was injured, being thrown violently backward by the sea. The Norwegian sailors were soon aboard the Ionian, and were received amid the cheers and acclamations of the passengers. were speedily made comfortable, and their gallant rescuers went about their duty as if nothing unusual had happened. Let us hope that the Norwegian government may recog- nize those noble and heroic spirits, who so bravely risked their lives to save those of their suffering fellow creatures. It speaks well of the JIonian's officers and crew. Their promptitude and discipline was magnificent. MACHINE TO COMPUTE TIDE. A machine to facilitate the computation of the tides for a 4 - year in advance has lately been installed in the office of the Coast Survey Service at Washington and has simplified this difficult task very greatly. This machint takes into account nineteen factors in tide computation, and when these are duly recorded on its nineteen dials at the starting point, "the balance of the computation for every day i in the year becomes a quick mechanical process. The machine does the work more accurately than when done by computers--as the ele- ment of human fallibility does not enter into its work. . The first thing to do in computing the tides is to plot, in co-ordinate curves, the results of a long series of observations These show the tides as of tides at the particular place. they are. The astronomical elements are known and if these be subtracted the remainder will be the total of all the other causes (inertia, etc.). To get.at the other elements involved, long series of observations must be made to calculate the When that is eliminated the calculator "Stand by to lower The rescued frequently remarked on the importance SUEZ CANAL COMPANY. The annual report of the directors of the Suez Canal Co. states that the traffic on the. canal, which was excep- tionally active during the first months of 1905, subse- quently showed a slight decrease for the year. The re- ceipts declined about 2,100,000f. If it was considered that 1904 had benefited by one of the most considerable in- creases the company had to record, and followed a series of years during which the progression of the receipts had - been almost uninterrupted, the results of last year might be considered as entirely satisfactory. Those results permitted the company to maintain at 141t. net the amount | of the dividend, and to make a further appropriation of three millions to the special reserve, to which five mil- lions were applied in 1904, in order to meet the reduction of 75 centimes per ton effected from Jan. 1: last. The total receipts last year amounted to 117,308,196f. 82c., which showed, compared with those for 1904, a dim- inution of 1,868,201f. 63c. The total expenses, which amounted to the sum of 40,984,184f. 48c., comprised 4,000,000f. for amortization and 250,o00f. for the insurance fund, and were 54,285f. 86c. less than in 1904. The bal- ance of receipts over expenditure showed a diminution of 1,813,915f. IIc. on 1904, and amounted to 76,324,012f. 34C¢.,. or after an appropriation of 3 per cent or 2,289,720f. 37c. to the statutory reserve, 74,034,201f. 97¢., which, with 154,9o01f. ' 93c. brought over from 1904, amounted to a net sum of 74,189,193f. 96c. The company proposed to fix at 71,173,- 521f. 12c, the profits to be distributed and to carry 3,000,- ooof. to the special reserve, leaving a balance of 16,672f. 18c., and making up the total sum of 74,189,193f. Qoc. -- By the distribution of 71,173,521f. 12c., the dividend to shareholders came out at 126f. 33 I-3c. per share, repre-_ senting with the interest of 5 per cent on capital, a gross. dividend of 151f. 33 I-3c., or 141f. net. During the year 1905 4,116 vessels, representing a ton- Z nage of 13,134,105 tons, passed through the canal. Com- pared with 1904, there was a decrease of 121 ships and 267,730 tons, all in merchant shipping. The average ton- nage per ship, which had remained stationary in 1904, rose from 3,163 tons to 3,191 in 1905. The company had for the canal traffic, and the influence exercised on the receipts, by the increase in the average tonnage of vessels. It was only by looking back that an idea might be formed of the 'transformation that had been gradually accomplished, In 1885 the average tonnage was 1,748 tons; in 20 years it had increased about 80 per cent. crease in the dimensions of the ships using the canal, the navigation, by means of the works carried out, had been rendered safer and more easy. The decrease in the number of groundings furnish proof of the improve- ments realized. The proportion of groundings to the number of vessels passing was in 1885 "43 per 1,000, and it was only 17 per 1,000 in 1905. ' \ The company had just ordered a second ie similar to the one in service since 1899, and they would, therefore © soon have at each extremity of the canal a vessel of great . power, able in cases of 'grounding to afford rapid and S ficient assistance to ships. The traffic on the' canal was disnurbed i in 1905 ty an event of exceptional gravity. A fire broke out on Sept. 5 on the steamer Chatham, the cargo of which comprised. about 80 tons of dynamite and 120 kilogrammes of des)" tonators. The fire could only be overcome by flooding the hold in which it was burning, and in consequence of. the giving way of the bulkheads the ship sank ina short time. With great precaution navigation was carried on | by day alongside of the wreck, and steps were at first | Notwithstanding the in- ie, LAr