The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

tions, including Britain herself. The trans- atlantic record for speed, held by the Germans from 1897 to 1907 was not broken until the British government, not only encouraged financially, but pointedly suggested that the Cunard line do something about regaining the blue ribbon of the Atlantic. Similar support and encouragement should be forthcoming from our own government and until it is, it will be futile to hold the United States lines to the letter of its contract. Excursions and Week-end Trips Afloat EEK-END cruises and ‘capsule holi- \Y/ ors" are the clever catch phrases used by foreign lines maintaining services to New York to tap a deep and rich reservoir of new business. The Cunard line has initiated week-end cruises for $50 and up on such a noted vessel as the MAURETANIA, for instance, and from all reports the success of the new venture was immediate and highly satisfactory. To begin with, the idea of week-end cruises centered on the proposition of educating a wide range of people to the benefits and pleasure of traveling on the sea by providing them with an adequate sample. In operation the plan worked out even better than expected. The cruise was quickly sold out. It was repeated with the same results and is being continued. Criticism has been directed against the Cun- ard line for instituting these week-end cruises on the basis that they are, in effect, violations of the coastwise law which does not permit a foreign flag ship to trade between American ports, the contention being that the Cunard line is virtually sailing coastwise from New York with a nominal call at a foreign port and return to New York. The French line, tapping the same rich American reservoir, advertises a ‘‘capsule holi- day” in ‘‘France afloat’’ in a cruise on the §. S. Paris, for six days, at a minimum fare of $75. This voyage will be from New York to Ber- muda, to Halifax and return to New York. Unfortunately, the present condition of our merchant marine is such that practically no American shipping company possesses any ves- sel comparable to those used in these special trips by the Cunard and French line. Such new ships as have been built are scheduled for liner service on such a basis that they cannot be withdrawn so readily for special cruises. The program of American shipbuilding brought about by the merchant marine act of 1928 is only a beginning. Beyond this, with every aid and encouragement the government can give, private American enterprise wil] sooner or later take steps, by providing ade- quate ships, to at least share in the business which originates in our own country. Classification of Pleasure Crate EAR by year our own Classification so- VY ciety the American Bureau of Shipping, has gained in strength and prestige. Re- sponsibility entailed in the classification and inspection of the large program of new ship- building now going on has been met in so thor- ough a manner as to merit the respect of all fair-minded shipbuilders, naval architects and shipowners. Government certificates of sea- worthiness must depend, and are based large- ly on the confidence created by classification. It is therefore interesting to learn that it is proposed to expand the technical staff of the bureau to include a division for classification of pleasure boats. In this way the technical services of its representatives will be available to yards building yachts and motor boats. The - bureau has already supervised the construction principles of some of the larger seagoing yachts, such as the new CoORSAIR and the LYN- DONIA. Recognition has also been accorded to the bureau by the New York Yacht club in cer- tifying the construction of yachts built under the rules of the club. Under the leadership, first of the late Steven- son Taylor and now Capt. C. A. McAllister, the bureau has strengthened its technical staff by adding men highly trained in the theory of naval architecture and marine engineering as well as in its practical application. The func- tion of the bureau will be to examine plans, recommend practices and supervise tests as a neutral organization. Long experience in work of a similar nature for commercial ves- sels will thus be brought to bear in the build- ing of pleasure craft and will equally benefit the builders and owners. The bureau, far from taking an arbitrary stand will work out regu- lations for construction in agreement with the designers, builders and underwriters. The entry of the American Bureau into this field will safeguard the interests of the many qualified manufacturers of high reputation against the claims of equality for inferior products built by those not qualified nor scrupulous. The bureau is to be commended for taking this step as it is bound to add to or- derly procedure, which after all is the very foundation of civilized progress. 20 MARINE REVIEw—June, 1931