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CASTING OFF THE LINES." REPARATORY to taking our friends and those who examine this book "Around the Lakes." -- we would like to remark several things. No excuse is necessary for a business concern issuing a book of inforrmation along the line in which it is engaged. This has often been done, and well done too, as is proven by that Volume issued by a large boiler concern., the book on "Steam." The fact that the illustrations in this volume refer chiefly to the Detroit Dry Dock Company need not detract in the least from the value of the information contained, as the history of that company is to no small extent the history of lake commerce. Over one-fourth of the book is devoted to a list of vessels and to statistics of general character on the lake business. These have never been included in a single volume, and in fact much of it was prepared originally for this book. The feature of including the dimensions of lake vessels in a list, where the name and business address of the owner or managing owner is given, is new. The combination of statistics of the lake carrying trade in one table is something that Will prove valuable to statisticians, as the figures can be relied upon. The attractive form in which this volume is put forth is due to F. M. Barton, much of the statistics having been prepared by J. M. Mulrooney. These gentlemen edit The Marine Review, Cleveland, 0., to which we are indebted for much of the information contained. THE DETROIT DRY DOCK CO., Secretary.