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What the British Are Doing Short Surveys of Important Activities in Maritime Centers of Island Empire HE six months ended June is considered by Scottish shipbuilders to have been one of the most unsatisfac- tory half-yearly periods experienced for a long time. The vessels launched from Scottish ports numbered 114, rep- resenting 173,891 tons, ‘whereas in the corresponding period of last year 140 vessels of 324,557 tons were put into the water on the Clyde and the east coast. The last half year has commenced badly, with a coal strike in progress and poor demand for ships. The world’s shipping trade gives little encouragement to the owners of passenger and cargo vessels to increase their fleets, and the con- tracts placed have been almost wholly for vessels considered absolutely neces- sary for the maintenance of essential services. * * * AMMELL LAIRD & CO., Birken- head have launched the first of three geared turbine steamers and cargo steamers ordered for the Blue Star Line London. This is one of nine being constructed for the line’s South American service bringing up the total fleet to 27 vessels of over 200,000 tons. The ship launched is the AuMeEpA of 14,000 tons gross. She will have accomodation for 180 first class passengers and will be fitted with refrigerating plant for the carriage of frozen or chilled meat. Mr. Dewek, the general manager states that when the new vessels are completed the firm will run a fort- nightly service between London and the capitals of Brazil and Argentina. * * * REPORT which appears to be well authenticated is that the SINNOTT TT LLL ay HE {NpDIANA of the Goodrich ‘Transit Co., Chicago, is now making Manistique, Mich., a port of call on its weekly trip from Chicago to west Lake Michigan ports and Mackinac. ee aa AJ. RUFUS PUTNAM, formerly federal engineer at Chicago, but government proposes to withdraw the trade facilities act, which has been largely utilized for the financing of important industrial schemes. The ALMEDA, it is explained, was _ built with the financial aid of this measure. W. L. Hichens, the chairman of Cammell Laird, has strongly con- demned this piece of government policy, stating that the act has done extremely useful work for the coun- try, especially to the shipbuilding in- dustry. * * * ‘WO lightships now building by the Caledon, Shipbuilding and En- gineering Co., Dundee, for the Cor- poration of Trinity House, London have some special features embody- ing the latest ideas. Each is fitted with two fog signals, compressor and dynamo sets of 4-cylinder semi- diesel Gardner engines each directly coupled to a quadruplex Reavell com- pressor at one end a dynamo at the other and three electric light sets of 2-cylinder semi-diesel Gardner’ en- gines coupled to a dynamo. The electric lamp will have a light of about one million candle power, this being a new feature of vessels of the type. latest diaphone type and is operated by compressed air generated through large air receivers. * * EY LTHOUGH orders are scarce at the shipyards, a large number of inquiries are pending which it is be- lieved would be translated into orders if normal supplies of coal, iron and steel were available. The builders still have sufficient confidence’ to carry out improvements in their equip- ‘now on the staff of the Commercial club of Chicago, has sailed for Eu- rope to make a comprehensive survey of port facilities. ew & ASTERS of foreign vessels call- . ing at Great Lakes ports are com- plaining of the desertion of their 54 The fog signal is of. the . ment preparatory to handling future business. Cammell Laird & Co. have lately purchased several big cantilever cranes on the site of the derelict na- tional shipyard at Beechley for re- erection at the Birkenhead yards. * ok Bo GREAT deal of public attention has been attracted to the joint re- port issued by the Shipbuilding Em- ployers federation and shipyard trade unions. In regard to costs of pro- duction they find little reason to com- plain of over charges in connection with steel forgings, and castings for which it is said keen prices are quoted. But they find that for such goods as lead, upholstering, paint, electric ca- bles, ropes and light castings, prices are from 100 to 200 per cent above prewar figures. In some cases, also, they find that lower prices are quoted to foreign competitors than are named to home purchasers. They believe these excessive prices are largely due to price fixing associations. Strong complaint is also made about heavy taxation. They have asked the government to investigate the opera- tions of price fixing rings with a view to more moderate terms. The committee found that whereas skilled labor on the Tyne cost £2 15 s 6d a week, this could be obtained at Rotterdam for £2 4s 6d. and Hamburg £1 15s 8d, and the cost of unskilled labor is much lower. In Germany the working week is 54 hours compared with 47 in Britain, while Dutch shipwrights often work 56144 hours. The committee strongly comdemn the withdrawal of the trade facilities act which has been very useful in the financing of shipbuilding. UNA What s Doing Around The Lakes QC INLUULUUUUULUAL seamen. Recently seven of a crew of 18 of a Norwegian tramp which brought spruce pulp to Milwaukee deserted. ee ee Cree PIRIE SCOTT & CO., one of Chicago’s largest depart- ment stores, has purchased a diesel-