The society is a private one, and is entirely supported by voluntary contributions. The society has 111 life-saving stations. Of these 66 are on the Baltic and 45 on the North Sea. Forty-three stations are double stations, provided with a boat and rocket apparatus; 51 are only boat stations, and 18 are only rocket stations. (a) The whole number of disasters to vessels on the German coast in 1888-'89, from April 1 to March 31, was 43. (b) The whole number of persons that were on board of these 43 vessels was 281. (c) Of whom 254 were rescued. Of these 95 were saved by their own efforts; 67 were saved by other vessels; 46 were saved by private assistance from shore, and 46 were saved by the life-saving apparatus; 26 having been rescued by lifeboats, and 20 by the rocket apparatus. (d) 27 persons perished. From the foundation of the society, May 29, 1865, up to April 1, 1889), 1,743 were rescued by life-saving stations. Of these, 1,452 were rescued by life-boats, and 291 were rescued by rocket apparatus. The whole number of the vessels wrecked on the German coasts during this time was 1,892, with 10,208 persons on board. Of these, 9,404 were rescued, so that 804 persons perished. We would here remark that the data given, sub numeris, (5) and (6), have been taken solely from the statistics collected by our society for its own use. Fuller statistics of disasters to vessels on the German coasts are prepared and published by the Imperial German Statistical Bureau. (Statistics of the German Empire, published by the Imperial Statistical Bureau, new series, vol. 42, part 1, for the year 1888; vol. 35, part 1, for the year 1887, and comparative tables, published at the same place, of "Disasters to vessels on the German coast in the years 1883-1887," October number of the Monthly Statistical Reports of the German Empire, year 1888, also separately printed.) Very respectfully, GREAT BRITAIN. Dr. BOISSELIER, The life-boat service is mainly under the charge of the Royal National Life-boat Institution, founded in 1824. Their stations, now numbering 293, are managed by volunteer crews. An annual salary is paid to a coxswain and an assistant for each boat. The other boatmen are paid a fixed sum for each occasion of service and drill. The coxswain and assistant are also paid a like sum in addition to the regular salary. During 1888, 26 vessels and 626 lives were saved by them, and 174 rewards were given for saving lives by fishing and other boats. The total number of lives saved since the foundation amounts to 35,043, including lives saved each year by boats not belonging to the institution, but which were rewarded by it for their services. The rocket service is in the hands of the Board of Trade, and was organized under its present system in 1855. On the 30th of June, 1888, there were 302 rocket stations, as well as 374 stations where belts and lines are provided for the rescue of those accidently falling into the water. From July, 1856, to June, 1887, there were saved by the rocket apparatus 11,080 persons. The operations on wrecks are conducted by the coast guard, who also patrol the coast. Other stations also exist under charge of various local corporations and private parties. HOLLAND. AMSTERDAM, September 30, 1889. Bijlagen. 1. All documents published. 2. Nominal list of all those who constitute the local direction. 2. List of the stations with boats and rocket apparatus. Het Bestuur der Noord- en Zuid-Hollandsche Redding-Maatschappij aan Treasury Department, Office of General Superintendent, U. S. LifeSaving Service, Washington, D. C. Agreeable to your writing of the 21st July last, we have the honor of furnishing the following information, and to inclose a copy of all printed documents published by us, with lists for more complete details. 1. Names and locations of all institutions having for their object the saving of life from shipwreck. 1. Noord- en Zuid-Hollandsche Redding-Maatschappij, at Amsterdam. 2. Zuid-Hollandsche Maatschappij tot Redding van Schipbreukelingen, at Rotterdam. As to last-mentioned company, we can not give you any information. You should direct your request to that company at Rotterdam. 2. The organization of each including the names and functions of their officers. The organization will appear from the inclosed documents, whereas the names and functions of our officers are noted on an inclosed list (first list). 3. How supported, whether by the Government wholly, or in part, or by the contributions of private citizens entirely. The company is erected and maintained only by contributions of private persons, without any assistance from Government. 4. Number and location of each life-saving station with the apparatus used at each; as life-boat, rocket, or other line-throwing apparatus. See annexed list (second list). To afford any specification about property can not be done. Our company, according to statutes, has in view exclusively the saving of persons. We may answer your inquires about last year as follows: 1. Total number of disasters, 16. 6. Total number of persons saved, 46 with salvage means; 37 in other ways. 7. Total number of persons lost, 25. 8. Total number of shipwrecked persons succored at stations, two men at Scheveningen. 9. Total number of days' succor afforded, 16. 10. Number of vessels totally lost, 7 ships, amongst which one with the whole crew. Since the whole period of the erection of the company we can only state that since 1821 (year of the establishment) till last December, 1888, 3,193 persons were saved. Hoping to have complied with your wishes as far as possible, we have the honor of remaining, most respectfully, THE DIRECTION OF THE NORTH AND SOUTH HOLLAND LIFE- ITALY. The principal life-saving institution is the Società Italiana per provvedere al Soccorso dei Naufraghi, which has its headquarters at Rome. The society has under its control 10 stations, 8 of which are life-boat stations, 2 rocket stations. There are besides a number of local societies for giving aid to shipwrecked people or for resuscitating the apparently drowned. Such are the Società Ligure de Salvamento, which has 16 huts of refuge; the Società Livornese di Soccorso degli Asfittici, at Leghorn, and the Società Veneziana di Soccorso degli Asfittici, at Venice. RUSSIA. [Translation.] Society established under the Supreme Patronage of Her Majesty the Empress for Saving Life on Waters. No. 783.] ST. PETERSBURG, MINISTRY OF WAYS BUILDING, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, September 9, 1889. SIR: In a communication, addressed, on the 3d of August last, to the secretary of this society, Mr. N. O. Mikhnievich, you request certain information concerning the organization and functions of the society. In the absence of Mr. Mikhnievich, I have the honor to submit the following: 1. The object of the society is to give assistance to all persons in distress on the seas, lakes, and rivers within the boundaries of Russia. 2. The society is composed of honorary members (by election); actual members, who contributed not less than 100 rubles in a single payment, or who contribute annually not less than 5 rubles, and co-operating members, who contribute not less than $1 each year. The business of the society is managed by a principal board, located at St. Petersburg; 46 district boards, located in the principal cities of Russia, and a number of local boards established in various towns and villages. The organization and duties of these institutions are specified in sections 14-25 of the constitution of the society, a copy of which is inclosed herewith. 3. The society is supported mainly by private contributions, but it also receives from the state treasury an annual subsidy of 25,000 rubles, in addition to various supplies not infrequently furnished to the lifesaving stations, without charge, from Government stores. 4. The society has 2 cruiser stations, 10 rocket stations, 49 boat stations on seas, 41 boat stations on lakes and rivers, 73 winter stations, 72 substations, 6 light-houses, 60 refuges, and 657 posts. The location of each of these establishments and a detailed statement of the boats and appliances possessed by each will be found in the list, hereto annexed, of all the life-saving establishments of the society up to January 1, 1889. I am able to furnish statistical data only as to some of the particulars indicated in your letter, touching the operations of our life-saving establishments for the last year, viz: The number of persons rescued during the year by the summer stations on seas, was 159; by river and lake stations-summer, 48; winter, 76; by substations, 20; by posts and refuges, 45; in all, 348 persons. The number of days of assistance afforded by sea-stations proper was 25,038. As regards the total number of disasters, persons imperiled, and lives and vessels lost, I have to state that the information received by the principal board is incomplete and fragmentary. As to the value of property involved, saved and lost, no information reaches the board, inasmuch as the saving of property is not only outside of the proper duties of the life saving establishments of the society, but is expressly prohibited. The total number of persons saved by the establishments of the society during the period of its existence up to the present year was 6,378. Accept, dear sir, the assurance of my perfect consideration, The SUPERINTENDENT OF THE U. S. LIFE-SAVING SERVICE. [Translation.] The organization of the crews of life-saving stations within the jurisdiction of the society, and the system of compensation for the performance of the duties assigned to such crews, are subject to some variation, according to local circumstances and the degree of interest in the work of life-saving which may be awakened among the inhabitants of the various localities along the coasts and shores. At all stations the keeper (atamàn) has full charge of the property, and full command over the crew, invariably recruited by himself. The keepers direct the use of the boats on all occasions and take the helm or steering oar. As a general rule the keepers, whether of boat stations or of rocket stations, call out the crews and direct all their movements at drills, inspections, firing of rockets, and life-saving operations. Under the existing rules the compensation of life-saving crews is determined by the district boards. At present the keepers at most stations receive a salary at rates varying from 36 to 60 rubles per annum. Higher salaries are allowed to keepers of such stations only where the whole crews are salaried. In the Estland district, however, no fixed compensation is allowed either the keepers or the oarsmen, who do the work assigned them from an exalted sense of Christian duty. With very few exceptions the stations in that district are well kept and work quite |