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candescent type and each rated 3,560,- 000 candlepower, 900 watt. Two highly interesting auxiliary power installations were made during the year in the twin screw, diesel driven, river towboats HUCKELBERRY Finn and Tom Sawyer, that are not only unique in themselves but also present a fundamental powering plan showing great promise for future de- velopment and application. In a care- ful evaluation of the operating condi- tions, costs, weights, and space avail- able, it was found desirable to dis- pense with prime movers for the auxiliary generators as far as possible and to make use of the main propell- ing units for the purpose, if found practicable. The fact that the boats were to be operated at varying speeds and subject to reversal for long periods required that the installation have the greatest flexibility and be more or less automatic in its operation. The plan finally evolved was a com- bination of three auxiliary direct cur- rent generators, two to be driven from the propeller shafts by means of belt drive, and one by a diesel engine for standby, peak loads, and port use, with a storage battery floated on the line. The condition of operation stip- ulated that the belt-driven sets be cap- able of generating their rated output at from 58 to 100 per cent speed, in either direction of rotation, serve in the dual capacity of power units and trickle chargers to the batteries whjle underway, automatically disconnect from the line and transfer the load to the battery when the speed dropped below 58 per cent, return themselves to the line when the speed was re- sumed, and automatically switch the connections during reversal of the main units. In addition to the fore- going, the three generating units were to be capable of being paralleled on the line and automatically maintain constant voltage. The equipment furnished, which ac- complished all of the foregoing ob- jectives consists of two 30 kilowatts, 700/1200 revolutions per minute, 120/135-volt, shunt wound generators, arranged for either ahead or astern operation by means of field reversing switches mounted on the ends of the generator shaft; one 30 kilowatts, 700 revolution per minute 120/135-volt shunt wound generator for direct con- nection to an auxiliary diesel engine; and a switchboard made up of six sec- tions. An experimental system of electric drive was made during the year on a road type of ferry accommodating 12 cars, and operating across the Sacra- mento river near Prinecton, Calif. A motor drive was substituted for the usual type of gasoline engine drive, and the power taken from a trolley wire which was suspended across the river. The trolley wire is designed so that it can be lowered to the bed of the river to allow river traffic to pass, and to automatically shut off the current 22 when a short circuit occurs upon con- tact with the water. The installation which is municipally operated and maintained by Gleen and _ Colusa counties, received approval of the in- dustrial accident commission and the railroad commission of California. The operating costs proved to be about one-half that incurred with gasoline engine drive, and the installation has created a great deal of interest among ferryboat operators. The possibility of stabilizing large ships by means of a new type of thyra- tron tube control equipment utilizing vacuum tubes and a small gyroscope, was discussed by Dr. E. F. W. Alexan- derson, consulting engineer of the Gen- eral Electric Co., during the year be- fore members of the American Society of Naval Engineers. Experimental work was also carried out on a sonic locator, or echo ear, for use by ships in a fog. The apparatus reveals the lo- cation of ships that are invisible, of shore lines, and even of floating ob- jects as small as a rowboat or buoy. The principle upon which the sonic lo- cator operates is the measurement of distance through a determination of the exact length of time that it takes for an echo to return from a whistle blast. The apparatus also serves as a direction finder. Continued research has been con- ducted during the year into the appli- cation problems involved in further in- creasing the overall economies of ma- rine steam plants. A few of the inves- tigations so made concern the use of high pressure, high temperature steam, the adoption of higher turbine speeds, the attainment of more effec- tive heat balances, a better coordina- tion of the main and auxiliary power equipment, the use of alternating cur- rent motors for auxiliary drives, and ways and means of effecting weight and cost reduction of the equipments. From the studies so made, it appears that even greater economies’ than those so far established are possible. Port of Boston Trade Continues Steady Port figures for the ten months of 1932 ending Oct. 31, available at the maritime association of the port of Boston, show an increase of 4525 in the number of passengers arriving from foreign ports in comparison with the same period in 1931. This year arrivals from overseas or transatlantic cecuntries were 7497, from Newfound- land 388, from Canada 31,583, and from the West Indies, Central America and Bermuda 5228, a total of 44,691 passengers. Last year, overseas ar- rivals numbered 6296, Newfoundland 756, Canada 30,252, and West Indies, Central America and Bermuda 2862. A slight falling off in the number of arrivals for the ten months is noted in the figures. This year, there ar- MARINE Review—January, 19033 rived from foreign ports 1201 steam- ers, 90 schooners and gasoline boats. and nine airplanes, a total of 1300. For the corresponding period last year, arrivals were 1208 steamers, 114 schooners and gasoline boats, and nine airplanes, a total of 1331. Apple exports from Boston so far this year have been substantially more than during the corresponding period of the past five years. Up to the pres- ent, this year 21,687 boxes and 6270 barrels have been shipped from here te England and Germany, compared with 1947 boxes and 866 barrels for the same period a year ago. The in- crease is largely due to the campaign inaugurated by Frank S. Davis, man- ager of the Maritime association, to stimulate the interest of New Eng- land growers in preparing their fruit so that it would meet the requirements of foreign buyers. In his efforts, Mr. Davis has had the hearty co-operation ot the state departments of agricul- ture, the New England Agricultural colleges, and the steamship lines op- erating out of this port. It has been stated that, on account of improved quality, the prices paid for New Eng- land apples abroad compare favorably with the prices paid for fruit from other sections of the country. Ask Shipping Regulation It is the opinion of coastal and in- tercoastal shipping men that the shipping act of 1916 should be amended as promptly as possible at this session of congress to place do- mestic marine carriers under the regulation of the shipping board. This opinion was expressed on Dee. 9 by Lewis Luckenbach, vice president of the Luckenbach Steamship Lines, owning 21 freight ships plying be- tween Atlantic, Gulf and _ Pacific ports. This bill was passed, by the sen- ate last June but was not acted on by the house, having been referred to the committee on merchant marine, radio and fisheries. “The federal regulation of our coastal and intercoastal shipping is earnestly desired by practically the entire domestic shipping world and has been publicly endorsed and rec- ommended by the shipping board,” said Mr. Luckenbach. He continued, “Immediate favorable action by the House on this bill, already passed after long study by the senate, would be beneficial to the entire nation. It will allow water carriers and rail roads to stabilize their affairs with a definite knowledge of competitive rates, which would be of great mu- tual benefit.” The directors of the Todd Shipyards Corp. at their monthly meeting de- clared a quarterly dividend of 25 cents per share, payable on Dec. 20 to stockholders of record Dec. 5.