The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-06
Am erican Coast and Lake Navtga.
ton and Its Periis.

coasts this winter, particularly durlng the
recent gale. have one good result in stimu-
lating investigation as to their causes and
suggesting measures for their avoidance,
1t is true that the experiences OF a long sue
cesson of wrecks on the American coast has
not very considerably reduced the annual
percentage Of such casualties, bat it GER
tainy has compelled the adoption OF pre-
cautionary measures that have taken from
them in large degree their fatal character
The loss of life attending wrecks due to
causes beyond the control Of seamanship,
such as violent storms, has been greatly re-
duced by the life saving service on the
coasts, SO far as perfected in organization
and equipment. The exceptional case OF
the Huron is easily explained by the fact
that although there was life saving sta
ton within short distance of the scene of
| the disaster, provided with the necessary
| apparatus for the relief of vessels in dis
tress, there was no crew attached to 1t, and,
| consequently, no one on shore at the time
the Huron struck competent to utilize the
surf boat, life lines or bucys for the rescue
CT the drowning seamen. We will not stay to
discuss where the sponsibility rests for this
piece OF unspeakable stupidity and neglect.
but We must express the hope that a ter
r:ble loss of life which has been directly
| due to it Will never again be recorded in
| connection with similar cause. Assuming,
therefore, that all possible precautions will
DO taken on land to guard against wreck and
loss of life, it is only necessary to briefly re-
fer to the causes of such on the sea along
the coasts of the United States. Of course
when gale from any easterly point sweeps
landward from the Atlantic it represents a
primary element of danger that is aggra-
waited or modified by the condition Of
the vessel exposed to it and her position
with relation to the land. But there are
sections Of our Atlantic and Pacific coasts
where even moderate gales are dangerous
and others where full gales can be ridden
out in safety even by small and indiffcr-
emily equipped ships The conditions also
change with the seasons and with them the
relations of the ship to certain sections of
the coast line. 1t must not be forgotten that
the ship, being the centre Of interest, her
movements and positions create, govern, in
crease and modify the elements OF danger
during storm or gale, and that the coast is
but one Of these elements.
When ship is sufficiently distant from
land her safety depends chiefly on her
strength Of build, the fitness of het
equipment, the careful slowing of her
cargo and the good seamanship of her
commander with an efficient crew. These
are always supposed to guard vessel, the
theory being that no craft puts to sea unfit
for the ordinary exigencies of the voyage.
But when a ships course is shaped near the
land, either to approach port o. because
of any advantage that might be gained in
time and distance at the expense otQisk,
the best seamanship displayed in handling
her during o gale will often fail to save her
from going ashore. Hence it is not always
just to attach blame to captain for the loss
of his vessel on the Atlantic coast Of the
United States. But that fact being generally
recognized does not absolve navigator
from the responsibility that rests on him in
venturing unnecessarily near land. Too
little attention is paid by sea captains to
very important subjects connected with
their profession. Among these is. that of
meteorology, which tends to a formulation of
the laws OF atmospheric movements and con-
ditions that enter largely into the science of
navigation. There are on oil COASTS what a4e
known as prevailing winds. These are due
to causes easily understood ii carefully
studied. Indeed, much Of the labor of re-
search and even study is now spared the
navigator by those who devote special at
tention to the subject of meteorology, and
who give the results of their Investigations
to the public as reliable information. This
knowledge is within the reach Of every ship
master, and he betrays woful ignorance
of one of the most important branches Of
his profession when he disregards it for
what he believes to be more reliable ex-
perience. Fortunately that class of mari
ners who affect to despise the advice of
''any land lubber" on matters connected
with navigation and the sea is fast passing
away, and more intelligent appreciation
of applied science marks the age. Yet we
would wish to see n more earnest effort
made in the direction we refer to, for the
sake Of humanity and the interests Of CON-
merce because we believe that many of the
so-called Changers OF the deep" are avoid
able when their true nature is known.
1t is not sufficient to be acquainted with
the prevailing winds and the permanent
currents on a coast in order to insure safe
navigation. The causes that produce sud-
den changes in the former and the inhu-
ences that alter the direction and velocity
of the latter must also be understood
1t is claimed that the captain of the
Huron when ut Fortress Monroe did not
see the storm signal at Norfolk, and put to
sea without any positive knowledge of the