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March, 1926 month, with an aggregate net tonnage of 564,748, on which tolls of $509,359 were paid. In point of net tonnage tanker traffic for the last month showed an increase of approximately 21 per cent over the similar traffic for the corresponding month a year ago, while cargo tonnage showed an increase of MARINE REVIEW approximately 9 per cent over the cargo tonnage for November, 1924. Tank ships comprised 20.8 per cent of the total commercial transits of the canal during the month. Of the 96 tankers, 73 were United States flag tonnage, 19 were British, and the four remaining were under Belgian, Dan- zig, French and Norwegian registry. 23 Take Over Sales Agency The Marine Decking and Supply Co., Philadelphia, has recently taken over the sales agency for Thorkote products in the Delaware river terri- tory. Thorkote is a water-proof air- tight covering for deck lines, boiler, feed and oil heaters, brine tanks and any equipment requiring protection. Maintain Best Traditions of the Sea NUSUALLY — severe weather i | during the latter part of Jan- vary and early in February caused disaster to at least four freighters and gallant and successful rescues by ships that stood by. The lost vessels were the British freighters, LARISTON and ANTINOE, the Dutch freighter ALKAID and the Norwegian motorship PINTO. Sixteen of the members of the crew of the LARISTON were rescued under extremely difficult conditions by heroic efforts on the part of the officers and erew of the North German Lloyd liner BREMEN. The remainder of the crew of the LARISTON went down with their ship. All of the crew (27 men) of the ALKAID, disabled in a terrific storm- 1000 miles off Cape Race Feb. 1., were taken off by the Hamburg-American line steamer WESTPHALIA under di- rection of Capt. Carl Graalfs. The shipping board steamer CASPER com- manded by Capt. Harold Bill on Feb. 9 sighted the disabled Norwegian Motorship Pinto 150 miles southwest of Norway, without radio communi- cation for assistance, the crew hav- ing given up all hope of rescue. The entire crew of the PINTo were safely transfered to the CASPAR. After re- peated unsuccessful attempts to take the Pinto in tow she was finally abandoned. The rescue of the entire crew of 25 men of the British freighter ANTINOE by the passenger liner S. S. PRESsI- DENT ROOSEVELT commanded by Capt. George Fried stands out as one of the finest in the annals of the sea. For three and a half days from Jan. 24 to 28, the RoosEvELT stood by the ANTINOE and finally, after losing two of her own men, Master-at-Arms Uno Witanen and Boatswain’s Mate Ernest Heitman, and six of her life boats, the transfer was made with Chief Officer Miller in charge. Never before in the history of rescues at sea has the dogged persistance and cour- age of Captain Fried, his officers and men been excelled, and never be- fore has the warmth of welcome been greater than that accorded the PRESI- DENT ROOSEVELT when she docked at Plymouth, England with the survivors of the ANTINOE on board. King George V sent a personal representative to thank the American officers and a ecablegram to President Coolidge prais- ing them. Perhaps after all the best account of this stirring rescue is the brief account wirelessed by Captain Fried to the United States Lines: The Captain’s Wireless Account “Five forty a. m., yours twenty- fourth received S O S from steam- ship ANTINOE, proceeded to position CAPT. GEORGE FRIED Commander of the S. S. PResIDENT ROOSEVELT by radio compass’. bearings, which proved position one hundred miles in error. Alongside her noon, wind west, force ten, with violent snow squalls. High rough seas were roll- ing thirty-five -degrees. Took posi- tion quarter mile windward. Pumped oil overboard ‘with excellent effect. Her captain claims this saved them from sinking. “Lost sight of her 9 p. m. Her radio and dynamo out of commis- sion. Severe snow squalls. Picked her up again 8:40 p. m. twenty- fifth, with engine and fire room flood- ea, No. 3 hatch broken, heavily listed starboard. “Weather moderated. Attempted to send manned life boats, Chief Officer Miller in charge. When lowered life boat vicious hail squall hit us. Sea proved too rough for life boat. Men spilled out of boat but managed to get back in boat. Covered with fuet oil, seemed exhausted. Ordered. men aboard assisted by life line. All re- covered except Witanen master at arms; Heitman, boatswain’s mate. Weather increasing. “Twenty-sixth: Continued _ station, distributing oil weather side, ANTINOE showing one oil lamp. “Her distress signal indicated peril- ous situation. Attempted float boat to her by aid Lyle gun. Got boat to her, but she lost it. Tried floating cask, failed. “Twenty-seventh: Kept station; at- tempted float boat to her, failed. . Fired Lyle gun again and rockets. Got line to her. When they hauled in line cut on their rail. Lost boat. Fired Lyle gun sixteen times. “Suggestion Col Hearn, artillery ex- pert, passenger, use spiral spring between projectile and line success- ful. Chief Engineer Turner made thirteen projectiles. Weather now moderating, occasional snow squalls. Seven twenty p. m. lowered manned life boat successfully took off twelve men, Boat badly damaged. “Midnight: Weather greatly im- proved and aided by moonlight took remainder of crew aboard. “Captain Tose had to be carried aboard and despite his physical con- dition asked to be carried to bridge to express gratitude. All crew piti- ful condition. No food nor water two days. Little clothing. Exposure. Minor injuries. “One thirty-five a. m. proceeded on our way. ANTINOE still floating. Both well decks awash, 50 degrees star- board list. Stood by her three and a half days. “Our own crew are most exhaust- ed from long vigil. Some passengers and crew sustained minor injuries from heavy rolling.”