SECOND-HAND BRITISH VESSELS SOLD ABROAD. The following Table gives the number and tonnage of second-hand merchant vessels on the Register of the United Kingdom sold to foreign countries during the past 17 years. It is compiled from official statistics, and indicates the enormous extent of foreign purchases:— (See also PORT SAID, SUEZ, and the SUEZ CANAL in Port Directory.) The Suez Canal was projected by Ferdinand de Lesseps in 1852. The cutting was commenced in 1859, and the first vessel passed from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea on August 15, 1865. În 1869 the course was declared suitable for mail steamers. The official opening took place in November, 1859. The Canal was II years in construction, is 99 miles long, and is now over 32 ft. deep. On November 25, 1875, the British Government acquired by purchase shares to the amount of £4,076,622, the present value of which is £34,000,000, and the yearly revenue they bring in approaches a fourth of the total price paid for them. In October, 1888, a Convention agreeing to the neutralisation of the Canal was signed at Paris by the representatives of Great Britain and France. EXTRACTS FROM THE REGULATIONS, RE-ISSUED JANUARY, 1913. The Suez Canal is open to ships of all nations on condition that their draught of water, as ascertained by the officials of the Company, does not exceed 30 ft. [Jan. 1, 1915], and that they are well-found in every respect for navigation in the Canal. f SHIPPING WORLD : Towage is compulsory in the case of (1) Sailing ships above 50 tons gross; (2) Any ship not considered by the officials of the Company as fulfilling the conditions necessary for safe navigation; (3) Ships carrying in bulk any quantity whatever of petroleum, or by-products of petroleum, having a flash point below 23 degrees Centigrade (73 degrees Fahrenheit). In all other cases ships may demand to be towed or convoyed through the Canal, subject to certain conditions. In such cases, towing or convoying is not compulsory on the Company, who undertake it only in so far as they have any tugboats disengaged. The maximum speed of all ships passing through the Canal, is fixed at 10 kilometres (5 nautical miles) per hour. Every vessel measuring more than 100 tons gross must take on board either for entering or leaving the ports of Port Said and Port Thewfik, or for passing through the Canal, a pilot of the Company who will furnish all particulars as to the course to be steered. The captain is held responsible for all groundings and accidents of whatsoever kind, resulting from the handling and navigating of his ship by day or by night. Pilots place at the disposal of captains of vessels their experience and practical knowledge of the Canal; but as they cannot be specially acquainted with the defects or peculiarities of each steamer and her machinery in navigating, stopping, steering, etc., the responsibility as regards the handling of the ship devolves solely upon the captain. The Company prescribe the hour of departure of each ship and all subsequent stopping and restarting, as well as all other movements of the ship, in such manner as to give full security to navigation as well as to ensure, as much as possible, the rapid passage of mail steamers. Steamers intending to go through the Canal by night must first satisfy the officials of the Company in Port Said or Port Thewfik, that they are provided:-(1) With an electric search-light or search-lights showing the channel 1,200 metres ahead and so constructed as to admit of rapid splitting up of the beam of rays into two separate segments of 5° each with a dark sector in the middle also of 5o; (2) With electric lights powerful enough to light up a circular area of about 200 metres diameter around the ship. The net tonnage resulting from the system of measurement laid down by the International Tonnage Commission of Constantinople (1873) and inscribed on the special certificates issued by the competent authorities or on the ship's official papers, is the basis for levying the special navigation due which was raised on January 1, 1917, to 7.75 fr. per metric ton. Every vessel not provided with a special certificate or official papers giving the net tonnage laid down by the Constantinople Commission, is measured by the Company's officials in conformity with the Constantinople rules, and must pay her dues on such measurement until she produces a special certificate issued by the authorities of her own country. Ships in ballast are allowed a reduction of 2.50 fr. per ton on the full transit rate. Any ship carrying mails or passengers or having in her holds coals or merchandise of any description, in whatever quantity, is not considered as being in ballast. The space occupied by bunker coal must not exceed in volume 75% of the engine room as measured. Transit dues are charged on all passengers at the rate of 10 fr. per passenger above twelve years of age and 5 fr. per passenger between three and twelve. Children under three years of age pay no dues. SHIP A LIST OF THE PRINCIPAL SHIPOWNING CUSTOMERS OF THE CANAL DURING 1915. [Number and Tonnage of Vessels passing through the Canal.] LIST OF PORTS AND PLACES WHERE SHIPS ARE SWUNG. Names of Firms at each Port who arrange for adjustment of Ships' Compasses for Deviation. Aberdeen The Tay Blyth Sunderland Berry & Mackay, Marischal-st., Aberdeen. D. Stalker, 6, Commercial-st., G. V. Morrison, Station-rd., Grangemouth. T. L. Ainsley, Mill Dam, South Shields. H. Moss, 21, Bedford-st., J. J. Wilson & Son, 19, Hudson-rd., Hartlepools Perry & Co., 11, Church-st., W. Hartlepool. Middlesbro' Humber J. Durkin, Dock st., Middlesbro'. B. Cooke & Son, 35, Paragon-st., Hull. District Castle & Co., English-st., Grimsby W. T. Parrott, St. Andrew's Dock,,, E. F. Lundy, Fish Dock-rd., Grimsby Docks, H. A. Johannesen, Gt. Yarmouth Boatowners' Stores, Id., South Quay, Gt. Yar-In Roads. London H. Hughes & Son, 59, Fenchurch-st., London. Lilley & Son, Ld., 10, London-st., London. Cowes Plymouth Cardiff Barry Swansea Milford Haven Wilson & Gillie, Bruce & Sons, La., 35, Alexan- T. L. Ainsley, 19, West Bute-st., Docks, Cardiff. Wilson & Gillie, Bruce & Sons, Ld., 91, Bute-st., T. J. Williams, Bute-st., Docks, Cardiff. Wilson & Gillie, Bruce' & Sons, Ld., 42, Dock At Greenhithe. Three sets of Buoys placed by the Port Authority. No charge for Buoys. Tug usually employed, but not always necessary. In River, at Sea, or any place available. In Solent if under steam, or at In the Sound or in Dock. In any Dock available, by permission of Dock Master, or in Penarth Roads. In Roads. In any Dock available or in the Bay. No charges in Dock. W. H. Cowley, 27, Hamilton-terr., Milford Ha- In Harbour or Haven. |