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38 man the full fleet when the ice-bound vessels were released. Added to this, the provision of the sea- men’s law, requiring that 40 per cent of the deck crew must carry certificates as able-bodied seamen, had just become operative. The shortage of these certificated “A. B.’s” was variously estimated at from 1,500 to 9,000 with a majority convinced that the shortage would range between 1,700 and 2,000 men. The labor problem was solved satisfactorily by co- operation between the fleet operators and their em- ployes, which made it certain that enough men would present themselves for examination to meet the re- quirements of the 40 per cent pro- vision. Through ad- THE MARINE REVIEW February, 1917 were excellently managed, dispatch at upper lake ports was good, and the railroads operating from lower lake docks furnished cars and motive power in abun- dance during the bulk of the season. Natural causes contributed also to the successful year. The recom- mended drafts for the connecting channels between the lakes were higher all year. The increase in the recommended drafts averaged about 5 inches, enough to add 400 tons to the carrying capacity of the big bulk freighters. Weather conditions were generally good and the time lost through bad weather, collisions, etc., was held at a minimum. Can the fleet this year repeat its 1916 rec- ord? Many observers are confident that it oleae elo] Na] a ‘ 1 d per- Bag) 9) S/e/91o/Slolslolo| aaik le can. They point out er oscuents and. p D] Dl |B] ||) DQ) D/A) A) AH) BQ) Bala) a h ecu a sonal work by the Ssieiel Se alee eee el alee ow effectually the older employes, ttt tf ft te fears = ae eae ay ie a EO ee were dispelled, an ee ce semiit he Py tt tf expect to see the new full fleet i go into tt ttn | tonnage built more u eee ee eS ission. ina ee than offset any delays Natal obstacles ae a arising this summer. xt attacked Ed a ia On the other hand, FR dlrs bei ; | | im | some doubt is felt by ee es = |_| ae et ther interests who chartered by some - a other of. the larger fleet ~ ae predict that delays owners to break chan- ie a | H+ ee be a os ss Seer in the straits o = - Mackinac, St. Mary’s |W greater congestion river and into Jés- 4 oa a a | now prevailing on the ba. The openin Be aes railroads. But which- canaba. pening | = See was thus advanced by 22s eRe ever prophecy proves about two weeks. By 4 Be ae les ead {rlie, ape ts certain Peeping these te (= SO 4 that the lake interests eelsuers at Work fOr 6) 7) cf | ley || will tackle the new days, the fleet was |5 tf fH season’s problems able to move 1,658,- eA ees with the same effi- 411 tons of ore in ae ciency that made last April, or nearly 100 ce ee ad year’s great record per cent more than |, possible. in any other April. _= The chart pub- The record-breaking |_§ lished as a_ special habit once acquired became fixed. May established a new monthly record with 8,449,580 tons, and June followed with 9,507,576 tons, July with 9,750,157 tons, and August with 9,- 850,140 tons. The last month still holds the record, but the movements in Sep- tember, October, No- vember and December were easily ahead of the fleet’s best previous efforts in corresponding months of earlier years. The total ore movement for the season totaled 64,734,198 tons, an increase of 18,415,394 tons over 1915, and of 15,663,720 tons over the previous record set in 1913. The increase from 1915 to 1916 was greater than the complete season’s movement in any year prior to 1900. The secret of the fleet’s success is found largely in the efficiency with which each branch concerned in lake freight transportation, did its share. The fleets of lake trade. BULK FREIGHT MOVEMENT ON THE GREAT LAKES This graphic presentation of the total movement of iron ore, coal and grain on the Great Lakes for the past 21 years shows clearly the consistent growth The chart is based on statistics shown on the large insert, presented with this issue. insert with this issue, shows graphically the bulk freight move- ment on the Great Lakes for the past 21 years. - ihe totad movement in 1916 approximated 102,- 200,000 tons, exceed- ing by 14.4 per cent the previous record set. in 1913). Ee chart shows the total shipments of iron ore, together with the receipts at Lake Erie and Lake Michigan ports; the total movements of both bitumi- nous and anthracite coal; and the grain shipments. The Marme Review is indebted to Charles E. Cole, superintendent of the C. & P. docks at Cleveland, for the original chart from which this insert was made. The index to The Marine Review for the year 1916, Vol. 46, has just been completed. It will be found valuable in quickly finding any article published during the year. Copies of the index will be mailed free to subscribers on request.