England and Scotland, and coast of Ireland, 1,259; north coast of Scotland, 129; and other parts, 159; total, 3,317.

The sites of these several terrible disasters are distinctly shown on the wreck charts attached to the Wreck Register Abstract. On the charts the site of each one of the 269 lifeboats belonging to the National Lifeboat Institution is also given.

It is recorded that the greatest destruction of human life happened on the north and east coasts of England and Scotland.

With reference to the collisions on and near our coasts during the year 1876-77, 48 of the 847 collisions were between two steamships both under way, irrespective of numerous other such cases in our harbours and rivers, the particulars of which are not given in the Abstract. We cannot attach too much importance to these facts, for no disaster at sea or in a river is often more awful in its consequences than a collision, as has been too strikingly illustrated this year in the cases of the German ironclad, 'Grosser Kurfurst,' and the Thames steamer, 'Princess Alice.'

As regards the loss of life, the Wreck Abstract shows that the number was 776 from the various shipwrecks enumerated during the year 1876-77.

Of the lives lost, 92 were lost in vessels that foundered, 57 through vessels in collision, 470 in vessels stranded or cast ashore, and 93 in missing vessels. The remaining number of lives lost (64) were lost from varions causes, such as through being washed overboard in heavy seas, explosions, missing vessels, &c.

Of the 192 ships from which the 766 lives were lost, 131 were British, involving the loss of 459 lives, and 61 were foreign, causing the loss of 317 lives.

On the other hand, great and noble work was accomplished during the same period, 4,795 lives having been saved from the various shipwrecks. In bringing about that most important service, it is hardly necessary to say that the craft of the National Lifeboat Institution played a most important part, in conjunction with the Board of Trade's rocket apparatus, which is so efficiently worked by the Coastguard and our Volunteer brigades.

THE SCOTCH HERRING HARVEST.

For several seasons past, on the termination of the herring fishing, it has been our custom to place before our readers a short account of this important industry. This we have done, not alone because of the large number of fishermen to whom the information may prove interesting and useful, but also because the fishery has of late years become an industry of great magnitude and extent among our coast populations, and is therefore a fitting subject to occupy a place in the pages of a maritime journal.

On the present occasion we are enabled to give an account of the fisheries as furnished by the Commissioners of the Scotch Board, who have just published their report for 1877; we also add some particulars of the season's fishing now about to close, together with a brief description of the habits of the herring and some other information not generally known. The fishing of 1877 exceeded that of 1876 by 249,521 barrels cured, 161,562 barrels exported, and 144,815 barrels branded. The enormous increase shown by this comparison is to some extent misleading, as 1876 was far from being an average year, but, taking an average of ten years, 1877 shows a substantial increase. Of this increase, 170,252 barrels were secured on the east coast and 79,269 on the west coast of Scotland. All the east coast districts, of which there are sixteen, showed increases, except Buckie, Findhorn, Cromarty, Wick, and Lybster. The largest increase was in Fraserburgh, where it was about 95,000 barrels, although there were 69 boats fewer engaged in the district than in 1876. The greatest falling-off was in the Wick district, where it exceeded 16,500 barrels, but this may in a great measure be accounted for by 48 fewer boats having been engaged at this station. On the west coast the greatest increase was at Stornoway, where it was 77,000 barrels, and the greatest decrease at Inveraray, which was about 8,000 barrels. In considering the results of the year's fishing, it appears that much loss was sustained by frequency of gales, which prevented anything like a steady pursuit of the fishing, but this holds good of all seasons, though, of course, with variations.

The quality of the herring was by no means equal to those of some former years; the best fish were secured on the coasts of Caithness and Sunderland, there being more full-sized fish than were found elsewhere. The quality was found to improve as the season advanced in many places, more especially on the west coast, and some very valuable hauls were taken; one trawl net in a single night secured fish to the value of £350.

We now turn to the unofficial records tabulated by private individuals interested in the fishing of the season recently concluded, and we find as a whole much cause for congratulation. Again, as in past years, Fraserburgh carries off the palm, and may be considered the most important fishing station in Scotland. The great success that has this season attended the fishing here is attributed to the exceptionally fine weather throughout. In the Fraserburgh district, which includes Rosehearty, Pittulie, and Pennan, 878 boats were engaged, being a large increase over the average number at this station. The fishing is gradually getting more to seaward, and this year much of it has been prosecuted 50 miles and upwards from the shore; thus the nets have been shot on the outer bank, where fish were found of good quality and great abundance, while the fishing near the shore and on the ground which used formerly to be fished, has been poor and restricted. The harbour is better than it was, and is to be much improved, and quays will be formed, greatly accelerating the

delivery of the fish to the curers.* Peterhead, also, has had a most prosperous season; the fish has been abundant and of good quality, and the boats, numbering about 600, have, like the Fraserburgh boats, been trying the off shore banks, forty or fifty miles from land. A new experiment has this year been successfully tried by the Peterhead curers, namely, to send sufficient salt with the boats to preserve the fish, so that when only a small quantity were taken, the necessity to return to shore was obviated.

At Banff, Wick, and several of the smaller stations, the fishing has suffered to some extent, probably by the desertion by the herring of their old haunts, and as these changes in the habits of the fish have become known, the boats have to some extent left these ports for the more prosperous ones at Aberdeen, Fraserburgh, and Peterhead. But this year even Banff and Wick have no good reason to complain of the fishing, their averages having far exceeded those of past years. At Aberdeen, the expectations of the curers have scarcely been realized, the great distances the boats have to go, and the want of wind to take them, having much retarded operations. Of the fish brought into Aberdeen, about a third were sent fresh to the English markets, and curing has been brought to great perfection, both for home and foreign consumption. It is evident, therefore, from what we have said that the fishing generally has been a great success. If there is any truth in the statement that the curers are again losing largely by the fishing, it points to the necessity of rearranging the payment of fishermen. This partakes at present too much of the nature of gambling, and a better system would not be difficult to devise, though it might take some time to accustom the fishermen to it. There need be no fear that the fishing will fall off-experience proves the contrary, and with improved boats, improved appliances, and enlightened influences working among the fishermen, a continued prosperity may safely be foretold. We are of those who believe that there are plenty of fish for the industrious and skilful fisherman, and that the fish taken, whether by man or its natural enemies, such as the solan goose and other sea birds and many kinds of fish who prey upon the herring, now make no appreciable difference in the bountiful supply. The shoals may desert from time to time their haunts, but skilful and experienced fishermen will trace them out, and, if need be, men of enterprise will come forward with steam fishing boats to supersede the present sailing boats, just as this very season tugs have been largely employed to convey the fleet to the fishing grounds, thus giving a forecast of what may be, and we believe will be, in the future. The habits of the herring have of recent years been the subject of

* Unfortunately the good success here chronicled has to a great extent been neutralised by a recent disaster to a number of the boats at Fraserburgh. Twentysix boats broke loose from their moorings, and with nets and gear were cast adrift, of which ten were completely lost, occasioning damage to the extent of £2,000.

much inquiry, and much that is interesting as well as of great benefit to the fishermen, has been discovered. Popularly, herring are divided into soft and hard roed,while, technically," crown fulls" are the fish full of milt and roe, which are considered the best quality and secure the best price. Others, again, are known as 66 spent " "fish, the term being applied to them after they have deposited the spawn. "Matties are immature fish, and have no properly developed milt and roe. The reproducing power of the herring is very considerable, being variously estimated at from 30,000 to 60,000. Numerous reasons for the failure of herring have been given at various times, and more recently the Scottish Meteorological Society have taken the matter up, and starting with the theory that in the temperature of the water would be found the solution of the question, they applied thermometers to the various fishing stations. Herring have been found most plentiful in a temperature of from 54 degs. to 56 degs. Whilst this may be only a coincidence, we are pleased to note that scientific men are giving attention to the subject, fully believing that the right reason will eventually be discovered, and contribute greatly to the success of the industry.

The number of persons of late years engaged in the pursuit of the herring fishery is very large, and the money invested in it is considerable. In Aberdeenshire alone 2,000 boats were employed this season, manned by about 12,000 men and boys, and finding work for more than 10,000 persons ashore. The boats now used are of a superior nature, and have taken the place of the oldfashioned open boat. Being decked, they are capable of braving the open sea, and often do not commence operations till fifty or sixty miles from shore. These boats are, with their nets and gear, worth considerable sums of money, and, what greatly adds to their value and usefulness is, that they are capable of carrying a very large quantity of nets and of a great size, the usual number being fifty, each sixty yards in length. With so much valuable plant at the mercy of storms, on which not only the prosperity but the daily bread of thousands depends, the wonder is that long ago some thorough system of insurance has not been devised to compensate for loss of boats and nets. This subject claimed and received our attention some years ago, and great publicity was given to a scheme with this object in view. A terrible disaster overtook several of the Fifeshire boats, which no doubt enforced our arguments, and now we are happy to say there is an Insurance Fund, with agencies at several of the fishing stations. What progress it has as yet made matters little; a start having been made, the value of insurance will by degrees work its way on the minds of the fishing classes.

A point we have frequently felt justified in raising we think important enough to again advert to, namely, the extension of telegraphic communication to the principal islands on the west coast of Scotland. In Sweden, a system of reporting by telegraph the movements of the shoals prepares the fishermen

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to make the best of the fishing. We do not say this could be attempted at home, or even that any practical good would result, but many uses would be made of the telegraph by the West Highland fishermen in the prosecution of their enterprise on that coast, if they but had the opportunity. A very trifling expense would in many instances secure this great advantage for the islands in the Hebrides, as yet unconnected, but which are at no great distance from points at which there already is telegraphic communication. L.S.

"OUR BLUE JACKETS."

WE have great pleasure in drawing the attention of our readers to an excellent work under the above title, published by Messrs. Hodder and Stoughton, 27, Paternoster-row, and written by an "Eye-Witness" to record the noble work done by Miss Weston, for the glory of God and the benefit of those noble fellows who risk their lives in the service of their country at sea. The object of the work is to strengthen the hearts of others similarly engaged, and to stir up those who have as yet done nothing for Christ.

Space will not permit us to enter into details of her early life, which, before she was brought to the feet of Jesus, was a source of great anxiety to her parents from her strong will and impulsive passionate temper; but after having received the truth herself, we find Miss Weston engaged in what an "EyeWitness" calls small beginnings, in unfolding to the young, the sick, and the dying, in Sunday-school, hospital, and Bible-class, the unsearchable riches of Christ. But, looking to God for each day's work, she was led on step by step to greater and still greater things.

Her monthly letters, or "Blue Backs as they are called, were commenced by a letter written by her to a Christian soldier on board H.M.S. 'Crocodile,' who read and re-read it, and finding comfort and help from its words of Christian sympathy, showed it to a seaman, whose eyes glistened as he handed back the letter with this remark:

"That is good, we poor fellows have no friend; do you think that that lady would write to me? I would give anything to receive a letter like this!"

The soldier, feeling sure that she would comply, wrote and asked her. She, rejoiced at finding something ever so small to do for Jesus, immediately granted the poor seaman's request, and that letter was the germ of all her present work in the service. 4,000 of these monthly letters of comfort and consolation and true Christian teaching, are now sent addressed to individual men on board Her Majesty's ships at home and abroad, and many are the instances of God's blessing on this labour of love in the conversion of souls.

Miss Weston was also of great assistance to the Royal Naval Branch of the National Temperance League by the simple and natural way she put before the men, whether assembled on board ship, where she was always