MARINE INVENTIONS.

Monthly List of Patents-Communicated by Messrs. Wm. P. Thompson & Co., British and International Patent and Trademark Agents and Consulting Engineers, 323, High Holborn, London, W.C., and 6, Lord Street, Liverpool.

ENGLISH (APPLICATIONS).

272. Edmund W. Halliday, Bedminster, Somerset. "Improvements in steering apparatus."

352. William H. Daniels, London. "A new, or improved, screw-propeller."

408. Jonathan Russell, London.

"An improved, combined, floating dock and lift.” (A communication.)

426. Louis E. Chagrot, Mende (Lozère), France. "An improved system of screw-propeller and rudder, facilitating the evolutions of vessels and the fitting on board." (A communication.) 443. Joseph Fricot, Chateaugontieux, France. "Improvements in screw-helm."

456. James Whyte, Hackney, Middlesex. "Improvements in anchors."

495. Alfred M. Mayer, South Orange, Essex, New Jersey, U.S.A. "An improved method of, and topophone, or apparatus for, determining the direction, relatively to the place of observation, of a sound-producing instrumentality; applicable more especially to the navigation of a vessel in a fog." (A communication.)

509. William H. Mallory, Bridgeport, Connecticut, U.S.A. "Improvements in torpedo-boats, or fish torpedoes." (Complete specification.)

551. James Thomson, Leith, Edinburgh. "Improvements in means for securing grain-cargoes in steam and other vessels."

593. Morgan Rees, Mumbles, Glamorgan. "Improvements in, or relating to, paints or compositions applicable for covering the bottoms of ships, and other exposed structures or articles."

AMERICAN.

222990. Henry Flowers, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. "Reefing and furling sails."

223035. George B. Berrell, Abrugton, Pa. "A life-boat."

223350. Ferdinand Imhorst, Baltimore, Md. "A machine for unloading vessels."

AUSTRIAN.

2727. W. B. Barker, Hoboken, New Jersey (U.S.) "A maritime safety signal."

BELGIAN.

50044. L. Gravier. "A ship-screw."

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50127. A. Sommerville. Insubmersive life-gloves."

50167. Z. Oram and P. B. Grove. "A ship-propeller."

CANADIAN.

10290. John L. Lay, Paris, France. "Improvements in torpedo boats."

10305. Sir James L. Foulis, Colinton, Scotland. "An apparatus for preventing the entrance of water into, and for ventilating boats." 10333. Benjamin J. C. Howe, Syracuse, N.Y., U.S. provements in submerged pumps."

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"Im

10425. John I. Thornycroft, Chiswick, England. "A screwpropeller "

10445. John W. D. MacDonald, Banbridge, Eng. "Improvements in folding boats."

10554. Richard Smith, Sherbrooke, Quebec. "A method of propelling vessels by steam."

10588. Joseph B. Hall, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. "Improvements in ships."

GERMAN.

8816. H. Schmidt and J. Bohberg, Flensburg. "An apparatus for cleaning ships' bottoms under water."

8856. R. Marcus. 66

Apparatus for cleaning ships' bottoms."

ITALIAN.

14. R. Gambaro and G. M. Molfino, Genoa. "An atmospheric and hydraulic propeller for vessels."

33. H. J. Cole, Wandsworth, London, England. "Improvements in apparatus for cleaning ships' bottoms when afloat."

BUOYS, &c., FOR SEA USE.

2504. June 23, 1879. James Clayton, Liverpool. (Not proceeded with.) Price 2d. This invention has for its object an arrangement

of a buoy that can be instantaneously detached, and be always seen at a distance when thrown into water; and which can be employed not merely to save life, but to save property also. It consists-1st. In a spring which, by pressure, can be immediately undone, and the buoy released from the bulwarks; 2nd. In a tubular buoy, preferably made of metal of an elongated contour formed of tubes and compartments, so that if one be accidentally pierced, the remainder will float. At one end is a safe for ships' papers, valuables, and the like, with a water-tight lid screwed down. To one end of the buoy is attached a weight by a clip or otherwise, capable of being easily detached. This weight causes the buoy to float in a perpendicular position, so that it can be seen from a distance; but it can be easily detached by anyone clinging to the buoy, if desired. A metal rail is fixed about an inch from the buoy on each side as a life-line.

PETROLEUM SHIPMENTS FROM THE UNITED STATES TO THE EAST.-Messrs. Vernon H. Brown and Co., of New York, have compiled a list of the exports of petroleum to places east of the Cape of Good Hope from the United States for the year 1879. The list shows that an increase has been made in this trade during the year 1879, and that the number of American bottoms employed was largely in excess of the foreign. This was also the case during the year 1878. In 1878, there were shipped for the East from the United States 3,745,120 cases petroleum, while, in 1879, 5,378,794 cases were forwarded, showing an increase during the last year of 1,633,674 cases. There was an increase in the amounts shipped to Bombay, Calcutta, Madras, Anjier, Java, Padang, Singapore, Rangoon, &c., but there was a decrease in the amount shipped to China and Japan. The number of vessels cleared during 1878 was 135, while in 1879 the number was 167. There was no shipment cleared by steam in 1878, but there were two shipments by steam in 1879; one to Japan and the other to China. This list of Messrs. Vernon H. Brown & Co., shows that the petroleum trade between the United States and the East is a prosperous and growing one.

LITTLE PROBLEMS FOR YOUNG OFFICERS.-No. III.

ET A and B be at anchor as before. The current as before, and no wind. This time C, the same ship as before, is lashed alongside of B, but her stern

(C's stern) is pointing N., that is to say, her stern and not her stem is opposed to the 10-knot current. C, who is 300 feet long on the keel, has to go astern; and, casting off from B, has to try to make her way to A in one hour, turning astern all the time. We will suppose that C's screw is a right-handed screw, that is to say, right-handed when the ship is going ahead.

Now, from theory, answer the following questions:

Will the screw, which is now pulling the vessel astern, have of itself any power in directing the course of the vessel ?

Will the rudder have any, and, if any, little or much, power in directing the course of the vessel ?

Will, or will not, the current keep the stern of C pointing N. or nearly N. ?

Is it, or is it not, possible for C to get to A in an hour? If not, is it possible for C to get to A at all while turning astern? Give your reasons for your conclusions.

Give the result of any practical test you have made in any screw-steamer, which will enable you to judge whether, when going astern against a current, or tide, or stream, the stern, as a matter of fact, is, or is not, canted up against the eye of the current.

[All answers should be addressed to the Problem Editor, "Nautical Magazine, 15, Great Queen Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields, W.C. Those who answer the whole Six correctly will receive a written testimonial or certificate. We trust that some of the older members of the profession will encourage the sending of answers to these problems.-ED.]

We have received some additional answers to Problems Nos. I. and II., which we shall acknowledge next month.