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What the British Are Doing Short Surveys of Important Activities in Maritime Centers of Island Empire a NG April there was a marked increase in tonnage launched on the Clyde. In Scotland 26 vessels of 34,217 tons were launched during April, of which 22 of 33,799 tons were constructed on the Clyde. Con- tracts announced during April in- cluded a turboelectric liner of 19,000 tons gross to be built by Alexander Stephan & Son Ltd., Linthouse for the Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co., a cargo steamer of about 5070 tons for T. & J. Harrison of Liverpool to be built by Charles Connell & Co. Ltd. Scotstoun, a cargo steamer of 1000 tons for the Newcastle & Hunter River Steamship Co., Sydney, New South Wales to be built by the Ayrshire Dockyard Co. Ltd., while a number of vessels of less than 1000 tons were also ordered. * * * @ Beg Furness Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. of Haverton Hill-on-Tees success- fully launched the single screw oil tank steamer WINDSOLITE built to the order of the Imperial Oil Ltd., Toron- to for the carriage of oil in bulk on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence service. The WINDSOLITE is a tanker of a single deck type with poop and forecastle and expansion truck over the range of oil compartments built of the Isherwood combination system of framing to Lloyds highest class for carrying petroleum in bulk. The adoption of the builders multiple drill- ing system has been a feature of the construction, a system which is note- worthy for rapidity of construction and exceptional excellence of work- manship which is of special import- ance in oil tank vessels. ok * * HAT is considered to be the world’s largest dock is to be opened by King George in July. This is the Gladstone dock at Liverpool which has cost over £7,000,000 to build. Connected with the existing system by a lock 645 feet long and 90 feet wide it has a water area of 55%, acres and the sheds on the 2% miles of quayage have a gross floor space of 57 acres. To.allow of un- restricted movement on the quays 62 huge electric cranes are mounted on the roofs of the sheds, those on the roadside being movable on _ tracks. The system includes a graving dock, the largest dry dock in Europe. When completed the largest vessels in the world will be able to enter and leave the docks on all tides of the year, while ordinary sized vessels can go in and out at any time of any day. * * * IR THOMAS ROYDEN BART, speaking at the annual meeting of the Cunard Steamship Co. men- tioined that the total mileage of their passenger steamers was greater by over 100,000 miles than that of the previous year notwithstanding which there was a decrease in operating ex- penses, the two largest components of which were seagoing staff and fuel oil. The Cunard bill for oil fuel was actually larger than that paid by the British Admiralty and its cost at present did not compare favorably with the cost of coal. It had its ad- vantages, however, as the express steamers could make more voyages under oil fuel than would be possible on coal owing to the quicker load- ing of the former while cleanliness and reduced engine room crews were also items to be considered. It was due to oil fuel that the company’s passenger steamers were able to sail at advertised dates during last year’s strikes despite the disturbed condi- tion of business. Sir Thomas ex- pressed the view that with the better state of undustrial affairs that now existed they were justified in look- ing for some improvement in travel across the Atlantic and the freight business would be better than last year. * * * CCORDING to a_ report from Sheffield, prospects in the arma- ment trade are a little brighter than they were, but foreign competition is very keen even in warship construc- tion in these days, and the attraction of a subsidy to Italian yards has drawn prospective purchasers to Italy. It appears that prices quoted by Italian yards for warships are much higher than had been expected and in the case of the Brazilian naval com- mission which visited several Italian yards with the object of inquiring how far Italy’s favored position would benefit the buyer, they came to the conclusion that prices were too high. NAAN ‘gee LAKES excursion boats will begin their runs the last Saturday in June, and the regular summer schedules will become effec- tive at about that time. Traffic offi- cials are putting the finishing touches to rate schedules, and comparatively few changes are being made from last year. In a few cases, however, additional boats are to be routed to take care of the business. 44 What s Doing Around The Lakes MMAR t= HE GOODRICH TRANSIT CO. is putting on the steamship ROOSE- vELT for daily trips this summer be- tween Chicago and South Haven, Mich., the first for that line between those points. The schedule calls for one night boat each way. These points also are being served by the Chicago & South Haven line. South Haven long has been popular as a summer resort, and is an important contact point for a large fruit area. MARINE REVIEW—June, 1927 CTT all Indications are that fruit shipments this summer will be of heavy volume. * * * HOSE who study lake levels, par- : ticularly at Chicago, assert they have information to show that within four years the level of Lake Michigan should reach 581 feet above the sea, which is approximately the average level since 1860. They argue that lake levels are getting back to normal. It is pointed out that since the winter