The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-09-22

The statistical summary of vessels to-
tally lost, condemned, ETC., as published
by Lloyds' Register, says the London
Times, shows that during 1895 the gross
reduction in the effective mercantile
marine of the world amounted to 1887
vessels, of SOC. 27S tons, excluding al YES
sells OF less than 100 tons. OF this total,
80 vessels, of 372, 463 tons, were steamers,
and 927, of 433, 815 tons. were sailing
vessels. These figures exceed the average
of the preceding four years by 81 steam
ers, of 81, $40 tons, and by 30 sailing yes
sells. of AZ, $40 tons.
AS regards steamers owned in the
United Kingdom, the return is also
above the average, while as regards sail
ing vessel 8 it is somewhat below. The
increase in the case of the former is due,
not to actual wrecks, but to the large
tonnage broken up, condemned, etc.
Apart from such oases, the United King
dom steam tonnage lost during 1895 is
only equal to the average of lha last four
years, Notwithstanding that since 1891
the tonnage owned has increased by H.
500. 900 tons.
The summary exhibits interesting data
as to the relative frequency of the differ.
emit kinds of casualty, etc., which con-
olude the existence of vessels. Strand ings
and kindred casualties, which are COM
prised under the term wrecked" are
much the most prolific cause of disaster.
To such casualties are attributed about
40 per cent Of the losses of both steamers
and sailing vessels. The next most fire.
| quent termination Of q vessels career Ia
BY condemnation, dismantling, etc.. 20
per cent of the vessels removed from the
merchant flests of the world are accou MT
ed for in this matter.
OF the remaining causes OF loss, oollis-
ion is the most general for steamers,
(16 per oent), and abandoned at sea for
sailing vessels, us per cent). Gases of
abandonment. foundered, and missing
vessels may, perhaps, be regarded as fire.
quently more or less similar In the cir
cumstanoes Of loss. If these be taken
collectively, they comprehend Is per cent
OF the losses Of steamers, and nearly 3O
per cent of the losses of sailing vessels.
The percentages here given are based on
the present return alone, but the order of
frequency Of the several Glasses of casual
| ty appears to be normal,
The return has been compiled In such
manner as to enable comparison to
be made between the percentages of loss
suffered by each of the principal mer-
chant navies of the world. Great as the
absolute annual loss of vessels belonging
to the United Kingdom appears to be, Ii
is seen to form very moderate percent
age OF the mercantile marine of the coun-
try and to compare favorably with the
losses sustained by other leading mari
time countries; the merchant navies
which exceed total OF 1000. 600 tons are
those of the United Kingdom. the Brit
ish colonies, the U nited States of Amer
ica, France, Germany, and Norway.
OF these countries the United King
dom shows the smallest percentage of
loss, viz, per cent OF the vessels and
a. per cent of the tonnage owned the
British colonies follow, with S.4 per cent
of vessels and 81 per cent of tonnage
and Norway is The highest with "a per
cent Of tonnage. As regards steamers,
the percentage of loss for the six coun tries
is as while the percentage for the United
Kingdom stands at 2 So. For sailing YES
sells the six countries give percentage
of 6.3, as COMPARED with As per cent for
the United Kingdom.