22nd October 1893, the abandoned American threemasted schooner Drisko, of 248 tons, lumber-laden and waterlogged, was sighted by the U.S.S. San Francisco. It having been found impossible to tow the derelict (the next morning), three 34-lb. gun-cotton torpedoes were attached to her keel and exploded, doing great damage, but leaving her still afloat. Five more torpedoes were exploded under her keel, which broke her back and frames.

The San Francisco then rammed the Drisko violently amidships. The blow broke her in two parts, released her cargo, and she commenced to sink. As it was getting dark, and the derelict sinking, the San Francisco fired a few shells into her stern, scattering her fragments, and resumed her course to Key West.

When last seen, the remains of the derelict were in latitude 28° 15′ N. and longitude 79° 17′ W.

XIII.-EFFICACY OF DESTROYING DERELICTS BY FIRE.

The register of known derelicts shows that, during the past four years (1890-93), 45 derelicts, whose names were known, were set on fire in order to destroy them. In one instance the fire failed to "take because the vessel was thoroughly water-soaked, having been adrift fully two years (the Fannie E. Wolston), and in three other instances the fire went out before it got much headway; but in 41 out of 45 cases the desired result was obtained.

The cargoes, as far as known, were as follows:

XIV.-WORK DONE BY UNITED STATES NAVAL VESSELS IN THE REMOVAL AND DESTRUCTION OF WRECKS AND DERELICTS.

The operations of United States naval vessels in the destruction of wrecks and derelicts were as follows:— 16th October 1887.-U.S.S. Ossipee blew up wreck of schooner Hattie A. White, sunk near Shinnecock, Long 1sland. (Supplement to Pilot Chart, 21st October 1887.)

12th October 1887.—A dangerous sunken wreck near Egmont Key Light, Florida, was destroyed with torpedoes by U.S. revenue steamer Walter Forward, detailed for that purpose at request of Navy Department and guided by information furnished by the Hydrographic Office. (Supplement to Pilot Chart, 21st October 1887.)

4th April 1888.-Lieut. Cowles, commanding U.S.S. Despatch, detailed to destroy wrecks along the New Jersey coast, reports to the Department (a) that he blew up the wreck of the sunken steamer E. C. Knight; (b) that the danger buoy marking wreck of sunken Schooner Marietta Steelman may be removed, as there is nothing left of her; (c) that sunken schooner Mary Heitman is no longer an obstruction, as he carefully searched for her for three days without being able to find her; also (d) that he saw many spars floating in different positions and supposed to be attached to sunken vessels, but upon sending a boat to examine them, found them to be pieces of floating wreckage. He reports the coast from Sandy Hook to Cape May clear of all obstructions. (Supplement to Pilot Chart, 6th April 1888.)

22nd April 1888.-Found no wrecks along the New Jersey coast except the bark Brimiga, which lies well up on Ephs Shoal, and is likely to stay there.-Lieut. Cowles, U.S. Navy, commanding U.S.S. Despatch.. (Supplement to Pilot Chart, 27th April 1888.)

20th June 1888.-Lieut. Cowles, U.S. Navy, commanding U.S.S. Despatch, detailed to destroy the wreck of steamer Eureka, sunk off the Virginia coast, states that he blew up the wreck, leaving 4 fathomu of water as the least depth over the stumps of the masts. (Supplement to Pilot Chart, 22nd June 1888.)

2nd August 1888.-Bark Brimiga, which drifted off Ephs Shoal, New Jersey, 25th July, into deeper water, near Cape May, where she was a dangerous obstruction to navigation, has been destroyed by U.S.S. Despatch, Lieut. Cowles, U.S. Navy, commanding. Her hull was blown to pieces with seven 100-lb. torpedoes, (Supplement to Pilot Chart, 3rd August 1888.)

5th August 1888.-In an official report to the Navy Department, Lieut. Cowles, U.S. Navy, commanding U.S.S. Despatch, states that he made a careful search for the wreck of steamer Newcastle City, sunk near Nantucket New South Shoal, but could find nothing of her. The lightkeepers reported her gone, having broken up during a gale. (Supplement to Pilot Chart, 10th August 1888.)

30th November 1888.-In an official report to the Navy Department, Lient. Cowles, U.S. Navy, commanding U.S.S. Despatch, states that he found and destroyed the wreck of brig Hyperion, sunk 14 miles S.S.E, from Absecon Light, New Jersey. (Supplement to Pilot Chart, December 7, 1888.)

30th November 1888.-In an official report to the Navy Department, Lieut. Cowles, U.S. Navy, commanding U.S.S. Despatch, states that he found and destroyed a sunken wreck 15 miles east of Cape Henry, Virginia. (Supplement to Pilot Chart, 7th December 1888.)

E.

7th January 1890.-Sunken wreck 6 miles S. from Scotland Light-ship, New Jersey, was blown up and destroyed by Lieut. Commander George A. Bicknell, commanding U.S. tug Nina. (Hydrographic Bulletin 20, 17th January.)

31st January 1891.-U.S.S. Yantic has destroyed the masts of the sunken steamer Vizcaya and schooner Cornelius Hargraves, off Barnegat, leaving 12 fathoms of clear water over the two hulls. (Hydrographic Bulletin 75, 4th February 1891.)

10th February 1891.-The commanding officer of the U.S.S. Yantic has been ordered to cruise along the coast from Sandy Hook to Charleston, S.C., and destroy, as far as practicable, all abandoned wrecks which are dangerous to navigation. (Hydrographic Bulletin, 11th February 1891).

23rd February 1891.-The sunken wreck on Five Fathom Bank, off Cape May, N.J., was found by Commander Rockwell, U.S. Navy, commanding U.S.S. Yantic. One mast was standing out of water, and it was blown off by a torpedo, leaving a least depth of 10 fathoms in the vicinity. (Hydrographic Bulletin 79, 4th March 1891.)

23rd February 1891.-Wreck of sunken schooner Minnie and Gussie, 14 miles south-east from Cape Henlopen, Delaware, was rendered harmless by having her masts blown off by the U.S.S. Yantic, Commander C. H. Rockwell, U.S. Navy, commanding. (Hydrographic Bulletin 79, 4th March 1891.)

24th February 1891.-A careful search was made for the sunken wreck reported 2 miles north-east of Fenwick Island Light-ship, without finding it, and Commander Rockwell, commanding U.S.S. Yantic, reports it as his belief that the obstruction no longer exists. (Hydrographic Bulletin 79, 4th March 1891.)

A telegram to the hydrographer from Commander C. H. Rockwell, U.S. Navy, commanding U.S.S. Yantic dated Fortress Monroe, 9th March 1891, reports the destruction of all the wrecks off Absecon, New Jersey. (Hydrographic Bulletin 80, 11th March 1891.)

13th March 1891.-Commander C. H. Rockwell, U.S. Navy, commanding U.S.S. Yantic, reports with reference to the two large masts seen 27th January 25 miles S. E, from Winter Quarter Shoal Light-ship, that a thorough search within 10 miles on either side of the vicinity has failed to reveal the obstruction. He reports the same result with reference to the submerged wreck seen 8th February 30 miles S. 75° E. from Hog Island Light, Virginia, in 17 fathoms. (Hydrographic Bulletin, 81, 18th March 1891.)

2nd April 1891.-U.S.S. Yantic reports to the Navy Department that the wreck of sunken schooner Dudley Farlin, about 24 miles north-east of Bodie Island, is not to be found. He cruised in search of it for three days, while furnished with the latest information regarding its location. He concludes that the recent heavy weather has broken it up. The same conclusion may be reached as regards the two wrecks cff Cape Lookout, North Carolina (Aberlady Bay and Glenrath). March 30, a careful search during very favourable weather failed to reveal so much as a brake or swirl of water by which the whereabouts of the sunken steamers Aberlady Bay or Glenrath might be known, both of which lay off Cape Lookout. Wreck of schooner Mollie J. Saunders was located and marked by a buoy 31st March 7 miles south-east from Bodie Island, the weather being too rough to blow her up. (Hydrographic Bulletin 84, 8th April 1891.)

28th March 1891.-The spar reported 12th December in latitude 33° 06', longitude 78° 28', and supposed to be attached to a sunken wreck, is not to be found. A search was made for it in that vicinity by Commander C. H. Rockwell, commanding U.S.S. Yantic, and he thinks it has probably gone adrift. (Hydrographic Bulletin 84, 8th April 1891.

5th April 1891.-Commander C. H. Rockwell, U.S. Navy, commanding U.S.S. Yantic, reports to the Navy Department that the wreck of sunken schooner Mollie J. Saunders, 7 miles south-east of Bodie Island Light, which he marked with a wreck-buoy on 31st March is no longer in sight. He made a very careful and thorough search 5th April, the day being very favourable, but could find no sign of her. He thinks she has either rolled over or broken up. (Hydrographic Bulletin 85, 15th April 1891.)

14th April 1891.-The wreck of bark Ada P. Gould, sunk in 8 fathoms, three-fourths of a mile W. S. from Cape Charles Light-ship, is no longer an obstruction to navigation, having been blown up by Commander C. H. Rockwell, U.S. Navy, commanding U.S.S. Yantic. (Hydrographic Bulletin 85, 15th April 1891.

25th April 1891.-Two obstructions to navigation, recently reported off Barnegat, no longer exist, having been removed by Commander C. H. Rockwell, U.S. Navy, commanding U.S.S. Yantic. (Hydrographic Bulletin 87, April 29, 1891).

25th July 1891.- The upright spar recently reported near Cape Charles Light-ship has been blown up and set adrift by Commander C. H. Rockwell, U.S.S. Yantic. Careful soundings show S fathoms in the vicinity, and no other obstruction is in sight. (Hydrographic Bulletin 100, 29th July 1891.)

16th September 1891.--Commander Pigman, U.S. Navy, commanding U.S.S. Enterprise, has informed the Navy Department that on 16th September Cape Charles Lighthouse bearing W. S.W. W. 23 miles, he discovered and blew up a large spar in 13 fathoms, floating heel up, apparently held by wire rigging. (Hydrographic Bulletin 109, 30th September 1891.

She

14th June 1892.-U.S. tug Nina partly destroyed wreck of steamer Florida sunk off Absecon. exploded eight gun cotton and three powder torpedoes. The first strong easterly wind will probably complete the dismemberment of the wreck. (Hydrographic Bulletin 146, 15th June 1892.)

7th June 1893.-U.S.S. Dolphin, Lieut. Buckingham in command, made an unsuccessful attempt to blow up sunken schooner Robert Morgan, 12 miles E.N.E. E. from Winter Quarter Shoal Light-ship, Virginia. Her masts remain attached by their wire rigging, and serve as spar buoys to mark the wreck. (Hydrographic Bulletin 200, 28th June 1893.)

4th July 1893.-The upright spar recently reported by various vessels about 8 miles east of Sandy Hook Light-ship, was the mast of a square-rigged vessel, heel up, and anchored by its rigging. It was found and blown to pieces by U.S.S. Fern, Lieut. Commander Gibson commanding. (Hydrographic Bulletin 202, 12th July 1893.)

9th October 1893.--Lieut. Commander J. V. B. Bleecker, U.S. Navy, commanding U.S. tug Iwana, reports that he removed the spars from a sunken vessel 1 mile S.W. by W. W. (magnetic) from Chatham Whistling Buoy, Massachusetts. The spars were in 11 fathoms at low water, and careful soundings around them failed to show any other obstruction to navigation. (Hydrographic Bulletin 216, 18th October 1893.

14th October 1893.-The spars attached to a sunken wreck 14 miles E.N.E. E. from Barnegat, New Jersey, have been removed by U.S.S. Vesuvius, Lieut. Commander Frank Courtis commanding. (Hydrographic Bulletin 216, 18th October 1893.)

16th October 1893.—(a) U.S.S. Vesurius blew up the mast of the sunken light-ship 14 miles west of Five Fathom Bank Light-ship. The least water on the wreck is now 8 fathoms, and she is no longer an obstruction to navigation.

(b) The Vesuvius found the wreck off the New Jersey coast recently reported in latitude 39° 05', longitude 73° 55', to be in latitude 39° 12′ 30′′, longitude 73' 49′ 30", but owing to heavy weather could not blow up the

mast.

(c) A thorough search by the Vesuvius failed to find the spar formerly reported 12 miles south-west of Northeast End Lightship.

16th October 1893.-Lieut. Commander Frank Courtis, U.S. Navy, commanding U.S.S. Vesuvius, made a thorough search for and inquiry after the supposed wreck formerly reported about a mile west of the Overfalls Buoy, Delaware Bay, but failed to find any obstruction in that vicinity. (Hydrographic Bulletin 217, 25th October 1893.)

1st November 1893.-Lieut. Commander Frank Courtis, commanding U.S.S. Vesuvius, reported to the Navy Department that he had found and destroyed the wrecks of fishing schooner Empire Stute and schooner Narragansett, on the coast of New Jersey. He made a thorough search for the other two wrecks reported south-east of Navesink Lights, but failed to find them. Conversation with pilots, fishermen, and towboat captains established the fact that there were no other wrecks in that vicinity. The Vesurius also made a thorough search for wrecks south-east of Barnegat and ran traverses over the ground for two days, without seeing any sign of them. (Hydrographic Bulletin 219, 8th November 1893.)

7th November 1893.-Lieut. Commander Frank Courtis, commanding the U.S.S. Vesuvius, reported to the Navy Department that he had destroyed the wreck on Stone Horse Shoal, Nantucket Sound, 2 miles E.S.E.

E. (magnetic) from Handkerchief Light-ship, and that there is now a least depth of 6 fathoms over it. This wreck is believed to be the sunken schooner John P. Kelsey, reported, 17th October by Capt. W. H. Bixby, Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army, as lying in 6 fathoms of water, 14 miles E. 12 S. (magnetic) from Handkerchief Light-ship, an account of which was published in Hydrographic Bulletin, No. 219, and numbered 71. (Hydrographic Bulletin 220, 15th November 1893.)

7th November 1893.-The U.S.S. Vesuvius, Lieut. Commander Frank Courtis, U.S. Navy, commanding, proceeded to the coast of New Jersey and searched for wrecks there, a description of which had been furnished by this office. After running many traverses over the locations given and covering much ground on all sides without being able to find them, Lieut. Commander Courtis concluded that the locations were either duplicates and that the wrecks had been destroyed on a former occasion, or that they had been broken up by recent gales. (Hydrographic Bulletin 220, 15th November 1893).

3rd November 1893.--Commander A. S. Crowninshield, commanding U.S.S. Kearsarge, reported that he anchored near the wreck of four-masted schooner John Holland, lying about 10 miles east of Cape Henry, Virginia, and blew up such spars as remained standing. He also exploded several gun-cotton torpedoes on different parts of the hull, tearing away many large pieces. The hull is badly worm-eaten and will soon be completely destroyed by the teredo. There is now a least depth of 5 fathoms over the wreck in two places, and 7 fathoms at all others. (Hydrographic Bulletin 220, 15th November 1893.)

13th December 1893.-A naval vessel will soon be detailed to search for and, if possible, destroy all wrecks and derelicts on her route from New York to the West Indies. (Hydrographic Bulletin 224, 13th December 1893.)

24th January 1894.-U.S. dynamite-gun vessel Vesuvius has been ordered by the Secretary of the Navy to cruise along the coast and destroy the following dangerous obstructions to navigation along the sea coast of New Jersey, Delaware, and Virginia: No. 209, sunken wreck inside of North-east End Lightship, showing one upright mast; No. 201, barge Lizzie H., sunk in

17 feet of water, about 600 yards N.W. by N. from McCries Shoal buoy; No. 253, sunken wreck showing stern out of water, 15 miles S. by W. W. from Fenwick Island Lightship; and No. 251, a sunken wreck with one mast showing, 8 miles E. S. from Cape Henry Light. The Vesuvius will then proceed to Hampton Roads to await further orders. (Hydrographic Bulletin 230, 24th January 1894.)

9th December 1889.-Lieut. Cowles, in the Despatch, tried to blow up a derelict vessel, bottom up, about 35 miles east of the Virginia capes, but could not on account of her cargo of lumber. He cut holes in the hull and made fast a chain to tow her by, but she was held by her anchors. 12th December he went out to her again-two wrecking tugs had towed her a mile or two. Then the tug Argus and the Despatch together made fast to the derelict and towed her slowly to within 6 miles of the Capes by the evening of the 13th. Heavy weather delayed them some, and a diver had to cut the derelict's chains. By sunset, December 15, all were snugly berthed at Newport News. (Hydrographic Bulletin No. 16.) This proved to be the schooner Joseph Souther of Thomaston, Me. (Hydrographic Bulletin No. 17.)

3rd September 1890.-U.S.S. Petrel, Lieut. Commander W. H. Brownson, U.S. Navy, commanding, took in tow a derelict schooner, supposed to be the Henrietta, of Portland, Conn., and allowed her to ground about 300 yards south-east from Duck Island, Long Island Sound, in about 3 fathoms at half tide. (Hydrographic Bulletin 54, 12th September 1890.)

22nd October 1893.-The abandoned American threemasted schooner Drisko, of 248 tons, lumber-laden and waterlogged, was sighted by the U.S.S. San Francisco. It having been found impossible to tow the derelict, the next morning three 34-pound gun-cotton torpedoes were attached to her keel and exploded, doing great damage, but leaving her still afloat. Five more torpedoes were exploded under her keel, which broke her back and frames. The San Francisco then rammed the Drisko violently amidships. The blow broke her in two parts, released her cargo, and she commenced to sink. As it was getting dark and the derelict sinking, the San Francisco fired a few shell into her stern, scattering her fragments, and resumed her course to Key West. When last seen, the remains of the derelict were in latitude 28° 15′ N. and longitude 79° 17′ W. (Hydrographic Bulletin 218, 1st November 1893.)

XVIII. ESTIMATE AS TO THE SOURCES OF REPORTS RELATING TO WRECKS AND DERELICTS RECEIVED BY THIS OFFICE. Out of 500 reports, 216, or 43 2 per cent. were from newspapers; 147, or 29 4 per cent., were from Form No. 105; 62, or 12 4 per cent., were from telegrams to maritime exchanges; 53, or 10 6 per cent., were from branch Hydrographic offices direct; and 22, or 4.4 per cent., were from letters and special reports.

XIX. AN ACCOUNT OF THE SYSTEM OF REGISTERING, FILING, PUBLISHING, AND ACTING UPON REPORTS OF WRECKS AND DERELICTS, WITH SPECIMEN REPORT OF A DERELICT, ILLUSTRATING THE VARIOUS STEPS TAKEN BY THIS OFFICE.

A serial number is immediately attached to each wreck and derelict report. It is then plotted on a blackboard (which shows the North Atlantic to 60° N.) When the name of the derelict is not recognised by the reporting authority, it may nevertheless frequently be identified by comparing it with other reports. This is always attempted before publication.

The report, with serial number annexed, is then published in the Hydrographic Bulletin and shown graphically on the next Pilot Chart. After publication the report is entered in one of two registers. The first register contains only those reports in which the name of the derelict is known; the other book contains those whose names are not known, and these are further separated according to rig, &c., and entered under the following heads :—

Pinkham; reported by second officer Frederiksen, on Form 105."

1

This report was received during the week ending 13th December; the serial number 154 was assigned to it; it was plotted on the "derelict blackboard," a memorandum was sent to the Chief of Bureau on 13th December, the report was published on the Hydrographic Bulletin No. 224, 13th December, and shown graphically on the January Pilot Chart, together with path of drift; and entered in the register of known derelicts, page 410. It was expected that the Depart ment would order the Kears ge to search for and destroy the obstruction on her voyage to the West Indies.

The following reports of collisions with derelicts have been compiled too late to be entered in the table on page 129.

Totally Lost.

December 1st, 1893, schooner Manitou struck on the sunken Five Fathom Bank Lightship and sunk.

Damage considerable.

March 4th, 1889, schooner Wm. B. Wood struck a sunken wreck and had to be beached on the Delaware coast.

January 7th, 1891, schooner Helen G. King struck a sunken wreck near Rockland, Me., and had to put into Eastport in a sinking condition.

November 30th, 1891, steamer St. Enoch struck a submerged derelict in latitude 48° N., longitude 33 W., and had to return to Queenstown with all the blades of her propeller broken.

December 28th, 1891, schooner Riviere struck a derelict on the voyage from Dublin to Bangor and had to beached on arrival.

October 25th, 1892, steamship Britannia struck a sunken wreck off Cape Sable and had to be beached for temporary repairs.

April 23rd, 1893, schooner A. T. Coleman struck a sunken obstruction on the voyage from Baltimore to the Bahamas and was towed into Norfolk with a hole in her bottom.

Damage slight.

April 4th, 1889, schooner Lizzie Carr struck a derelict or wreckage 40 miles east of Bodie Island, N. C., and received slight damage.

June 15th, 1889, barge Galatea struck a sunken wreck near the Chesapeake capes, causing her to leak. June 25th, 1889, schooner J. F. Becker struck a sunken wreck off Fenwick Island, with little damage.

September 25th, 1892, steamship Massilia collided with a large derelict in latitude 36° 55′ N., longitude 45° 15′ W., and damaged one of her bow plates.

Damage not known.

June 23rd, 1889, steamship Ville de Montevideo was damaged by striking a derelict on the voyage from Rio Janeiro to Havre.

May 11th, 1891, brig Arthur was damaged by striking a derelict on the voyage from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, to Martinique.

July 25th, 1891, steamship Castlegate was damaged by striking a wreck near Boston.

December 22nd, 1893, schooner Theodore Dean, on a coasting voyage to New York, arrived damaged by having struck a wreck.

December 26th, 1893, bark Guldreyn was damaged by striking a derelict on the voyage from Canada to Fleetwood, England.