The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-11-04
SOME STATISTIC OF THE SEA.
Over l.a0o vesscJs wcrc Destroyed
Inst Ycnr

Inc statistical summary of vessels to-
taily lost, condemned. etc. now publish
ed by Lloyd's Register shows that dur
ing 1895 the gross reduction In the eff
tective mercantile marine of the world
amounted TO ,23T vessels, OF $685. 7S tons,
excluding all vessels of less than leo
tons. OF this total, $40 vessels. of 3T2. 463
tons. were steamers, and 927, OF 433. 81 8
IONS, were sailing vessels. These figures
exceed the average of the preceding
-FOUR years by sixty-two steamers, of ST.
OBJ tons, and by fifty-five sailing vessels.
OF 42,94O tons, according TO The London
Times.
As regards steamers owned in the
United Kingdom, the return Is also
above the average. while as regards
sailing vessels II Is somewhat below. The
increase In the case of the former ie due
not to actual wrecks, but TO the large
tonnage broken UP, condemned, etc.
Apart from such cases, the United King
dom steam tonnage lost during 1895 is
only equal to the average of the last four
years, Notwithstanding since 1891 the
tonnage owned has increased by ], 500 600
tons.
The summary exhibits interesting da-
IA as to the relative frequency OF the
different kinds Of casualty, etc, which
conclude the existence of vessels. Stran-
dinss and Kindred casuaitic:. which
are comprised under the term
wrecked, are much the most prolific
cause of disaster. Ia such casualties
arc attributable about 40 per cent of the
losses of both steamers and sailing YES
sells. The next most frequent tcrmna-
ton OF Nessei's career Is by dlsman-
Ting. etc; 20 per cent or the vessels re-
moved from he merchant fleets OF the
world are accnuntd for In this mancr.
Or the remaining causes OF loss COL
lLsion Is the most general for steame.,s
l6 per cenO, and abandonment at sea
c mn Eofa1-
OF abandoned. foundered and missing
vessels may, perhaps, be regarded as
frequently more or less similar in the
circumstances OF loss. these be taken
collectively. they comprehend is per cent
OF the Losses or steamers. and nearly 20
PER cen. OF the Losses OF sailing We :sels.
The percentages here given are based
OH the present return alone but the or
der Of frequency OF the several classes Of
| casually appears to be normal
The return has bccn complied in such
Il manner as to enable a comparison to
be made between the percentages of loss
| suffered by each of the principal mrr-
| chant Inavies of the world. Great as the
absolute annual loss of vessels belong
| Ing to the United Kingdom appears to
| be. II Is seen 10 form n very moderate
percentage OF the mercantile marine 0f
the country and to compare favora bly,
with the losses sustained by other lead
Ing maritime countries. The merchant
| navies which exceed total Of 1000. 900
| tons, are those Of the United Kingdom
| the British colonies, the United States
| of America, France, Germany, and Nor
| way. OF these countries. the United
| Kingdom shows the smallest pcrcentag
\ of loss, viz: 3 PEI cent or the vessels
and "a per cent of he tonnage owned
| the British colonies follow. with "a rel
cent of vessels and 81 per cent of ton
mage, and Norway Is the highest. will,
! IA per cent Of the vessels and 65 per cent
OF tonnage. As regards steamers. the
percentage of loss for the six count.ie.
| is 2.5. while the percentage Of the United
| Kingdom stands at 2.33 For sailing
vessels the six counties give per cen
| tage of 6.3. as compared with 40 per cent
| for the United Kingdom.