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A QUERY. To the Editor:--Is it corfect to use knots in speaking of distance, as the total distance covered was. 2,000 knots at an average speed of 22 knots per hour? (1s: it might to say knots per hour? I believe you have explained this in your columns but I have forgotten the explanation. MARINER, Knots relate to speed only. and not to distance. When knots are spoken of in regard to distance it méans nautical miles, as knots is a measure of speed, and not of distance. Knots signify speed per hour, that is, it is not necessary to say so many knots per hour for the word knot means speed per hour. The proper way of writ- ing or speaking the above would be "The total distance covered was 2,000 miles at an average of 22 knots." The words speed and knots per hour are superfluous. Knots means "nau- tical mile per hour," so that it is un- necessary to put "per hour" after {t, and too, it should never be used in referring to distance. The knot de- pends for its existence on the nauti-~ cal or sea mile, of which it is a part. The knot and the nautical mile are of the same measure, but one relates to speed only while the other may be used in expressing both speed and distance. The nautical mile and the hour are the units for measuring the knot. . The knot. and nautical mile are equivalents only in containing the same number of feet as a measure- ment. Although the tendency today is to exactness in scientific terminolo- gy, thus leading to clearness of state- ment, there is a growing practice of making an improper use of the word by those who ought to know better. The prevailing idea is that knot and nautical mile are one and the same thing, and the word knot is used to prevent any possible confusion with fhe: statute or jand mile. To use speed per hour with knot is as un- necessary as ta say 5 stattte miles at 5,280 feet to the mile. THE MAGNETISM OF STEEL HULLS. To the Editor:--Since you like to hear from your readers and have in- vited them to send in things of inter- est, I have taken the liberty of send- ing you the following article concérn- ing the magnetic properties of steel . ships. I have noticed a number of times that the MARINE REVIEW has called attention to the importance of this * matter, and I should think that lake ship yards and the masters of new boats would look into this subject a little more than they do. However, "TA MARINE. REVIEW I am sending it- to you for this very purpose, knowing» that nearly every master will read and digest it with interest, : A' NAVIGATOR. The magnetism of steel' hulls has recently been given a comprehensive demonstration at Bremen, Getmany. The first observation, taken 10 weeks after the double bottom of a ship had been placed and_ riveted, showed the' magnetic. power to be 25 per. cent. <A month later the induced magnetism had grown to 34 per cent, and-so on until just before launching, a magnetic power of 57 per cent. of the horizontal force of the earth was: reached. When launched the boat was swung into a position nearly in reverse direction to that which she was built with the result that in a period of 20 days the magnetic power had decreased to .15 per cent. As ,a_ conse- quence the. 'standard. compass on, the flying bridge went to sea without an adjusting mag- net, and the steering compass with only one. A sister ship after launching .was not swung and her head pointed in the same direction during completion as when build- ing. The result was an increase in the mag- netic power to 68 per cent of the earth's power, consequently seven adjusting magnets were required to coynteract the effect and make the compass point somewhere near cor- rectly. ; MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. Capt. John McDermott, master of the ,barge Iron City, who fell into the hold of that vessel recently, died last Saturday as a result of injuries received at that time. The tug Excelsior which was sunk in the lower Detroit river recently, was raised last Friday, and taken to Oades: ship yard: at Detroit for re- pairs. It took a six-inch syphon to keep her clear of water. in bad shape. The new steamer Edwin N. Ohl, built for W. H. 'Becker, left the Wy- andotte yard of the American Ship Building Co. on Saturday last on her maiden trip. She was the first vessel to be inspected under the new ruling concerning hatch covers and fasten- ers, She was proved 'Satisfactory in every particular. The tupeAv Cy Harding or lighter Reliance of. the Great Lakes Towing Co.'s fleet will be stationed in the Detroit river during the balance of the season. The lighter Newman will be stationed at' Port Arthur. This will put the Great Lakes Towing Co. in. first class -shape: to..care-<tor the accidents of the fall months. The... Pittsburg..Coal Co,., has an- nounced its intention to construct the largest coal dock in the world at Du- luth, to meet the growing demand for coal in the northwest. This project will mean much for the development of that vast territory, as it will assure a plentiful supply of coal the year around. The dock will be located next to that of the United States Steel Corporation, which is the largest dock of any kind in the world. The steel for the big new. dock will be made by the Steel Corporation in Pittsburg. The tug is - 33 The tug Satisfaction of Shéboygan has been sold by Groh Bros. to An- derson & Smith of Marinette, Wis. The last fragment of the Washing- ton -street tunnel at' Chicage, was dredged out last week and_ fully twenty feet of water is now available. This obstruction has for years been a very costly annoyance to vessels. . The steamer H. H. Brown, belong- ing to the fleet of the Northwestern Transit Co., Detroit, left the dry dock at Buffalo last week after receiving repairs amounting to $35,000. Twen- ty-seven new plates have been put on. the steamer, The Pittsburg Coal; Co's steamer Alcona collided with the swing bridge between Tonawanda island and _ Isl- and street on the main shore of the Niagara river last Thursday and nar- rowly escaped landing the structure into the stream. The bridge was shoved from the track on which it was turned, the wheels broken, and the structure left balancing. on the abutment. Several planks in the bow of the Alcona near the gunwale were crushed, The wooden steamer Case owned by the Gilchrist Transportation Co. of Cleveland was sunk in the Detroit river abreast of Amherstburg on Wednesday of last week by the steel steamer Mariska of the Pittsburg Steamship Co.'s fleet. The Case has a hole 4 ft. wide. in her .starboard side,' extending from the rail. to the keel. Capt. Harris W. Baker of De- troit has been awarded the contract: for raising the steamer at a cost of $2,500. Work will be begun at once. DULUTH GRAIN SHIPMENTS. Duluth, Oct. 29.--Receipts and shipments from Duluth for the week ending Oct. 26, 1907, weré as follows: 'Receipts. Shipments. Wheats ecu haves a ey 2,181,766 2,377,424 COmi bi San re ea we 5,741 53,282 Oats 30. ce Sa 160,236 140,109 RVG Cane oe Ps Se ee 48,592 56,000 Barley soe a 662, 315 572,290 Pla ee ees I, 343, 670 687,289 eo ue Capt. Crawford Large, a life long resident of Ashtabula, O., died in that city' this week. He was one of the oldest sailors on the lakes, having be- gun sailing in 1853. He quit sailing many years' ago and has since held various offices in Ashtabula. The annual meeting of the Associa- tion of Passenger Steamboat Lines will be held at the New Willard hotel, Washington, on Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 10 and 11. George A. White, of the Hudson River Day line, is president, and W. F. Herman, of the Cleveland. & Buffalo line, is secretary of this association.