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384 Census of Seamen A census of the able seamen in the United States is to be taken by the department of commerce under authority of the La Follette seamen’s act. Acting Secretary of Commerce Thurman has addressed a letter to all the collectors of customs requesting them to collect the necessary data and forward it to the bureau of navigation. Beginning Nov. 4, no vessel of 100 gross tons and upward will be per- mitted to depart from a port of the United States unless 40 per cent of its deck crew, exclusive of officers, etc., are rated as able seamen. An able seaman is defined as any one who is 19 years of age or older and who has had three years’ service on deck at sea. Able sea- ment will also be required to pass an examination as to eyesight, hearing and physical condition. The department’s letter to the col- lectors is as follows: — “Your attention is called to the fol- lowing provisions of section 13 of the seamen’s act of March 4, 1915, which will take effect on and after Nov. 4, 1915: “Sec. 13.. No vessel of 100 tons gross and upward, except those navi- gating rivers exclusively and the smaller inland lakes, and except as provided in section one of this act (fishing or whaling vessels or yachts), shall be per- mitted to depart from any port of ‘the United States unless she has on board a crew not less than * * * 40 per cent in the first year * *. * of ther deck crew, exclusive of licensed officers and apprentices, are of a rating not less than able seamen. Able Seamen Defined ““Every person shall be rated an able seaman and qualified for service as such on the seas, who is 19 years of age or upward, and has had at least three years’ service on deck at sea or on the Great Lakes, on a vessel or vessels to which this section applies, including decked fishing vessels, naval vessels or coast guard vessels. * * * Provided that: upon examination, under rules pre- scribed by the department of ‘commerce as to eyesight, hearing and physical con- dition, such persons * * * are found to be competent.’ “1.—The department wishes as soon as practicable a list of the vessels in your district which will be subject to the section, together with the number of the deck crew of each, so that it can arrange for the examination as to eye- sight, hearing and physical condition of able seamen, and for the issue of cer- tificates to such, and may determine approximately the number of such ex- THE MARINE REVIEW aminations and certificates required for the several seaports of your district. “2. You will, therefore, please pre- pare and send to the bureau of naviga- tion as soon as practicable, lists giving the names of vessels in your district of 100 gross tons and upward, except those navigating rivers exclusively and the smaller inland lakes and except fishing or whaling vessels or yachts, together with the total deck crew of each, and the port whence the vessel is employed. These lists will be prepared separately and forwarded each as soon as finished as follows: “(a) Steam vessels. (The number of the deck crew may be ascertaihed from the outstanding certificates of inspection filed with you, i. e. total of quarter- masters, seamen and deck hands). _ “(b) Square rigged vessels. “(c) Schooners, etc. “(d): Barges. “(e) Motor boats, tons, subject: to the section. “3 in lists (5b), €c), (Cd), Ge), where vessels are not subject to inspection by the steamboat inspectors, please state separately the number of mates. “4. Apprentices are so rarely carried on American ships, except those under the ocean mail act of 1891, that they need not be separately stated in the re- turn now asked for, except in the case of such contract mail steamers.” in progress at the yards of the Baltimore Dry Docks & Ship Build- ing Co., Locust Point, Baltimore, Md. ies improvements are now Two ship building slips, each capable of constructing a vessel 325 feet long, 50 feet beam and 32 feet depth, are being built on the. harbor front. These slips are parallel, with sufficient space between them for an overhead crane which will serve both. All of the submerged por- tions of the slips will consist of timber piles, the sections above water on their lower extremities being reinforced con- crete. The upper ends are being con- structed of timber, which will’ be re- placed with concrete. A 20-ton revolving overhead electric crane, operating be- tween the slips, will have a boom’65 feet in length, which will move 40 feet above the slips on a runway 340 feet long. The contract for the crane and runway has’ been awarded to* the American Bridge Co., New York, at about $25,000. At the. rear: Of, the slips” a-. ship- fitting shop is to be erected, connecting with the crane runway by a standard gage track which will run_.through the present repair shop, connecting at its if any, over 100 ‘count of the restricted water front. October, 1915 Soo Commerce The August movement of freight through the canals at Sault Ste. Marie was the heaviest of the year, totaling 10,540,781 tons as against 9,719,237 for July. The movement to Sept. 1 of the present year was 37,404,152, while in 1914 the movement to Sept. 1 amounted to 34,615,959 tons. Of the August, 1915, movement of 10,540,781 tons, 748,810 tons passed through the Canadian canal and 9,791,971 through the American canal. Following is the summary:: EAST BOUND To Sept. 1, To ere big 1914. Copper, net tons...... 40,278 79,254 Grain, oth. than wheat, zx Shel Sy esas te ans 32,355,517 19,050,451 Bidowe stones net: CONS: ir cae tvacks airy colores Ploursbatrels. iso vanes 5,144,212 3,878,605 Iron ore, net tons..... 20,633,194 25,962,787 Pig iron, net. tons... 2. 115575 50 Lumber, M. ft. B. M 288,283 289, 348, Wheat; bushels...i 000. 59,976,153 41,064,758 Unclass. frt., net tons. 169,863 172,829 Passengers, number 24,499 21,725 WEST BOUND. 1 Yoo! Coal, anthracite, net tons. 1,426,591 1,274,174 Coal, bituminous, net tons 7,990,621 6,552,627 Plour;) barrels oo ica os 517 100 Gram.) pushelgiis cei ce lie cet tees 31,250 Mfctd. iron, net tons.. 162,332 115,810 Iron ore, net tons..... PR Ae Raiiagin Salts sbartelse sancti. 496,108 393,853 Unclass. frt., net tons. 662,227 680,106. Passengers, number 27,225 21,294 SUMMARY OF TOTAL MOVEMENT East bound, net tons... 24,300,139 28,721,967 West bound, net tons. 10,315,820 8,682,185 34,615,959 37,404,152 Vessel passages ...... 11,8 860 11,766 26, 598, 745 29, 803, 389 Registered tonnage *... other end with a spur from the Balti- more & Ohio railroad. This ship-fitting shop will be 220 feet long and 60 feet wide, and will be constructed of. steel. The contract for its erection was awarded to the Chesapeake Iron Works, Baltimore. The Hilles & Jones Co., Wil- mington, Del., secured the contract for the tool equipment, at about $25,000. A 5-ton overhead electric crane will be supplied by the Northern Engineering Co., Detroit. Miscellaneous Improvements Miscellaneous repairs to the equip- ment of the yard, recently made, amount to $40,000, and $60,000 is to be invested in additional repairs in the near future. The timber work in one of the dry dry docks is being replaced with re- inforced concrete. This dock will be ° provided with a slip for constructing small craft up to 150 feet in length. The slip is to be so situated that launch- ings may be made directly into the dock. This arrangement was necessary on ‘ac- The slip will be served by a 5-ton .crane equipped with a 50-foot boom.