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é MARINE REVIEW. Legislative Measures. In February last Congress passed a bill requiring all vessels to have names on each bow as well as the stern. The act called for compliance with its provisions within the year 1891. . Now another bill has been introduced by Senator Frye proposing an amendment to the act of last winter to the effect that the names "shall be printed or gilded, or consist of cut or carved or cast Roman letters." The object is very probably to admit of cut or carved letters being used. If this second bill passes its require- 'ments can be complied with at any time within the year 1892. Ves: sels already having names on their bows have, of course, complied with the law. 'he amendment also provides that the "'draft of every registered vessel shall be marked upon the stem and stern post, in English feet or decimeters, in either Arabic or Roman numerals. The bottom of each numeral shall indicate the draft to that line." Among bills in the senate that have evidently been suggested by the commissioner of navigation is one providing for the measurement of vessels. 'This measure was before the last Con- gress. It defines registered tonnage--and dutiable tonnage for foreign vessels--as the entire internal cubical capacity, in tons of 100 cubic feet each, and provides that surveyors, who are usually deputy collectors of customs, must send all measurements to the office of the commissioner of navigation for verification and computation. 'This will require an addition.to the force of employes in the office. Another bill, evidently coming from the same source pro- vides "that the names of vessels of the United States shall not be changed by the commissioner of nayigation, unless in cases where the vessels have been inspected, classed and registered not below the lowest grade of second class in the Record of Ameri- can and Foreign Shipping, or in the Inland Lloyds Register of Lake Vessels, and has a record free from. disaster or loss to the public, and is free from debts, liens, or liabilities to creditors, and the new name given is unlike that of any vessel hailing from the same port, and there has been no former change of name. Yachts or other vessels built in the United States and used for pleasure only, while subject to these provisions, may be allowed a change of name when there is a change of owners." The resolution of Senator Lind of Minnesota on the question of uniting with Canada in promoting the construction of a sea- board outlet for lake commerce is as follows: Resolved. 'That the president of the United States be, and he is hereby, requested to invite negotiations with the govern- ment of the Dominion of Canada to secure the speedy improve- ment of the Welland and St. Lawrence canals and the St. Law- rence river so as to make them conform in depthand navigability,so far as practicable, to the standard adopted by the government of the United States for the improvements now in progress within the United States of the waters connecting the great lakes; and to that end the president is hereby authorized, if he deems ex- pedient, to appoint three commissioners to negotiate on behalf of the United States with the representatives of the government of the dominion of Canada the terms and conditions of any agreement which may be entered into between the two governments in pur- suance of any proposition submitted in that behalf by the gov- ernment of the dominion of Canada. A novel arrangement of propulsion by triple engines has been introduced by Messrs. Dunsmuir & Jackson, Govan, in the small awning-decked steamer Wai, built for the Bombay Stcam Navigation Company. 'he engines are placed athwart ships, each engine of the three driving a separate shaft and propeller-- the vessel having three screws, one in the ordinary aperture as with single screws, and two placed as with twin screws; the ad- vantages claimed are chiefly that of less weight and less space occupied. The diameters of the cylinders are 9, 14% and 25 in- ches with ro inches stroke; working pressure, 200 pounds; and revolutions 300; diameter of propellers 2 feet 6 inches. These engines are operated entirely by natives, and are said to work perfectly, 'the master, owner, or agent of such vessel shall report such | 'completed within twenty-four hours after arrival, and shall sub- ¥ 3 Trying to Secure Statistics of Lake Commerce. q Senator Vilas, who has undoubtedly heard from the Mil- 4 waukee chamber of commerce regarding the plans of that body | to amend lake coasting laws, so that statistics of some value Te- garding lake commerce can be secured, has introduced'a bill on 4 this subject that failed of passage in the last Congress, on ac count of some objection from vessel owners. The bill seeks to -- amend Section 3117, revised statutes, as follows: - 4 "If any vessel so enrolled or Jicenseed shall touch at any ~ intermediate port in the United States and there discharge cargo taken on board at an American port, or at such intermediate a port shall take on board cargo destined for an American port, lading or unlading at such intermediate port within twenty-four -- hours from the time such lading or unlading of the cargo is com- 7 pleted, by delivering to the collector at such intermediate port a | manifest setting forth the name and tonnage of such vessel and ~ the name of the master of, with a description of the kind and 3 . quantity of the cargo laden or unladen at such intermediate port @ | and the name of the port or ports from which such cargo was re- 4 . ceived or to which it is shipped, as the case may be; and the master of such vessel shall enter the same on his manifest ob- -- tained at the original port of departure, which he shall deliver -- to the collector at the port at which the unlading of the cargo is a scribe and make oath as to the truth and correctness of the 4 same. In case any vessel so enrolled or licensed shall touch at 4 . any intermediate port and not take on board or discharge any ~ cargo, the master, owner, or agent of such vessel shall deliver to 2 the collector of such intermediate port a manifest setting forth -- that fact. All manifests herein provided for at any intermediate a port shall be subscribed by the master, owner, or agent of such = vessel, who shall make oath as to the truth and correctness of the same." It would not be surprising if this measure is passed by the present Congress. It is, of course, suitable to the nianagers of line boats, who have agents at all ports where they discharge or take on cargo, but it will be objected to by the master or owner -- in the general cargo trade, who may be put to some inconveni--- ence on account of not having assistance that would at all time permit of a report being made by the vessel within twenty-four hours after taking on or discharging cargo. It remains for this portion of the vessel interests, however, to seek changes in the proposed law if they desire it changed and not object to its pas- sage as a whole. Some measure must be passed that will admit of correct figures regardiug the commerce of the lakes being se- cured. x ieee te Great Britain's Ship Building Product. | Fairplay says the returns of British ship yards for the year just made up show a total of 1,267,472 tons of new vessels. which is just 4,791 tons under 1890. With the exception Giga 1889 and 1890 it is the highest of the decade. The Clyde still leads the list, and the proportionate contributions of the several _ rivers are as follows: Clyde, 325,477 tons; Wear, 192,154; Tyneje e 1355263, Rees, "ren, 032" Hartlepools, 96,993; Belfast, 92,420; Forth, 39,200; Barrow, 31,444; Mersey, 23,383; Tay, 21,01 7jaamm Humber, 18,611; Other outports, 34,088; H. M. Dockyards, 68, 9 100. The distinction of having the largest single producer has passed from the Clyde to Belfast, where Messrs. Harland & Wolff top the crowd with 64,962 tons. Messrs. Russell & Co. of Port Glasgow, who last year headed the list with 70,370 tOtlojaame have this year turned out only 56,667 tons. 'This gives them third place this time, second place being again taken by Messrs. William Gray & Co. of Hartlepool, with 59,033 tons. Following is the output of British yards for eleven years: ee Year. Tonnage. | Year. Tonnage. 1881 mTelsiofllefefsvetersetsiete sites arena i pe ora 1,000,000 | T8387) .ccteas vcr ccactw ne 578,000 TBS 2) rot Menseetts cde OreaPht okt I;200}000 |' 1888.52 isin .cces s dees bene ee 903,687 ae BG Shi, od deacewaen aces ae 1,250,000 | TS8Q.:.15. aes odie ogee eR .»« 1,300,933 BOSCO MINT Cugiraaas Mssenype ees 750,000 | I89g0...... sb a sacna e auclaaa SERRE 1,272,263 rae siSteisls\elelesiar starsat se ena ea 540,000 T8QT ss s3e;rrsen it "en 1,267,472 ee PooPpeerpy Poeveee PIP PP oop ese rey 473,000