vessels roll about outside would make it difficult and dangerous to get it on board. Supplies of all kinds are dear at Natal. Several large vessels have lately brought coolies there from India, but, fortunately for them, they had no cargo to land, and wanted no supplies, therefore their detention was short, and they proceeded with their ballast cargoes to New York or London, as the case might be. No coolie vessels have been lost yet since immigration has been resumed; but during the former period, of immigration, 1865 and 1866, several ships were lost. Large ships coming to such a place run great risks, and are in danger of losing one or more anchors.

Now, regarding inside. The regular traders, which are vessels from 200 to 350 tons, take three months discharging and loading. It is very rare indeed that one gets away in less time; this is such a "sleepy hollow" kind of a place that no one dreams of hurrying, and there is no competition. I may say, that the ships in Natal answer the purpose of warehouses, for there are none but a ricketty, galvanized iron structure or two. The serious drawback to the Colony is want of transport, it being all done by the old-fashioned ox-waggon; and as the produce comes down it goes direct to the ships; it is never stored up. It is quite a common thing for a merchant to engage wool, of which he has just received the way bills, by a certain ship, and perhaps the wool is in the Free State or Transvaal, and will be two months before it is in Durban. Regarding port expenses, I think they are much the same as they ever were—

Towage.-150 tons, £10; 150 to 250 tons, £12; 250 to 300 tons, £14; 350 tons, £15.

Pilotage.-50 to 100 tons, tons, £4; 300 to 500 tons, £5. The port charges of a vessel of 300 tons would be between £40 and £50; it depends on the number of shiftings. Claims, too, are a serious item in a vessel's expenses, for, it will be hardly believed, no receipts are given either by the landing agents or the railway for goods delivered from a ship, and some of these goods are sure to be lost or mislaid, for which the captain having signed bills of lading, and not being able to produce the goods, although quite sure he has landed them, has to pay; and they have a nice easy-going way of waiting till the ship is ready for sea, and then getting an order to stop her. When under that pressure, the captain, as a matter of course, pays rather than be detained. And months afterwards, at the Railway Company's sale of unreclaimed goods, these missing goods will form one of the lots. This is an event of constant occurrence.

£2; 100 to 200 tons, £3; 200 to 300 Light dues 2d. per ton.

The light and the signals (Commercial Code) on the bluff at Natal

are both first-rate, and shipmasters will always get a reply, when outside, to their Signals to the Bluff.

CHARLES REEVES,

"Umroti," of Aberdeen.

To the Editor of the "Nautical Magazine."

SIR,-May I trespass on your columns to give publicity to an act of injustice of which the pilots in these ports complain with good cause, and which should be known to all shipowners and captains.

A deputation of twenty-five pilots, duly licensed, belonging to Kertch and the Azof, complain that when ships arrive at Constantinople, the captains-especially those who visit these waters for the first time-are surrounded by men calling themselves pilots, but whose certificates, of which I have seen many, show that they are principally appreciated as interpreters and stevedores, who offer their services, many of them being totally ignorant of the navigation of the Kertch Straits and the Azof, and many have consequently brought the ships into trouble during nine years that I have resided here. Three valuable ships have been run on the breakwater or on rocks within the last twelve months, all of which had Constantinople pilots on board.

It is necessary the captains should know that there are many good pilots here who pay their tolls to the Government for a license, and who are at all times ready to accompany ships up the Azof, with which they are well acquainted, for a moderate remuneration.

I am also glad to inform those interested, through you, that I have lately urged on the Governor the importance of a pilot station near Cape Tabli or on board the guard-ship to bring vessels in through the most difficult part of the Crimean Bosphorus, and His Excellency having written to the Minister on the subject, gives me good hope that such a station will shortly be established.

I am bound to add that there are many respectable, steady men among them who reckon solely on their profession for maintaining their wives and families, while the saving of expense, as well as risk, to the captains, is well worthy of consideration.

Your most obedient servant,

Kertch, July 29, 1875.

PETER BARROW,

H.B.M.'s Consul.

MARINE INVENTIONS.

[On receipt of a summarised description of any new invention connected with ships or navigation, the Editor of the Nautical Magazine will publish, under the above heading, a brief account of it.]

ANEW FOG-HORN.-We have just seen a patented fog-horn that has been wanted for many years. It is on the piston and cylinder principle. The arrangement is highly scientific. There are two reeds in it, the one is a bass note and the other is a certain number of notes higher: the effect of this arrangement is that the higher note carries on and increases the intensity of the sound of the lower note. One great advantage in a mechanical fog-horn is that the note is always certain. An inspector approving of a horn to be blown by the mouth can never be certain that its maximum power will be used-but this is not the case with a mechanical. horn. Another advantage is that it can be used to indicate the tack of a ship, by making combinations of long and short sounds. We cannot too highly recommend it. It has the approval of the American Government, and, we believe, of the Deputy Master of the Trinity House, and Board of Trade officers in this country.

OUR PARLIAMENTARY RECORD.

The Merchant Shipping, and Unseaworthy Ships' Bills.-The following chronological table of events, in connection with these Bills, is given for the purpose of general reference. It is not necessary here to enter into further details.

Thursday, July 22nd, 1875.-The order for the committal of the Merchant Shipping Acts' Amendment Bill discharged. The Plimsoll scene. Monday, July 26th.-Sir CHARLES ADDERLEY gave notice of intention to introduce the Unseaworthy Ships' Bill on Wednesday next.

Wednesday, July 28th.-Unseaworthy Ships' Bill introduced by Sir CHARLES ADDERLEY, and read a first time.

Thursday, July 29th.-Mr. PLIMSOLL apologised for his use of unparliamentary language.

In Committee a resolution was passed authorising the remuneration of any officer who might be appointed under the authority of any Act of the present Session to inspect unseaworthy ships.

Friday, July 30th.-Mr. BATES, the member for Plymouth, made a

statement as to the charges brought against him by Mr. PLIMSOLL. Unseaworthy Ships' Bill read a second time.

Saturday, July 31st.-Mr. BATES moved for the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire into the charges made against him by Mr. PLIMSOLL. This was not, however, granted; an amendment by Mr. REED, “That, in the opinion of this House, no stain rests upon the character of the hon. member for Plymouth in consequence of the statements made in this House by the hon. member for Derby, on the 22nd of July," being accepted by Mr. BATES, and carried unanimously.

The Unseaworthy Ships' Bill passed through Committee of the Commons, on Monday, August 2nd. The following are the dates of the subsequent stages of this Bill:-Report on Committee, Thursday, August 5th; third reading in the Commons, and first reading in the Lords, Friday, August 6th; second reading, Monday, August 9th; passed through Committee, Tuesday, August 10th; and third reading, Wednesday, August 11th. The Bill received the Royal Assent on Friday, August 13th.

Overloaded Ships, Thursday, July 22nd.-In answer to Mr. E. SMITH, Sir CHARLES ADDERLEY said: No officer of the Board of Trade at outports has, with or without authority from the Board in this case, power or means to stop a ship as overloaded. The Act only gives the Board of Trade power to order officers of Customs, acting under express directions by the Board of Trade, to stop ships duly reported to them, and notice of such direction is given to the master or owner. I am considering the question of appointing officers of a higher grade at certain ports, who might exercise a superintending power over the surveyors. But I do not think that under the Act I could delegate to any local officer the power to stop a ship. As to the last part of the question, I should be glad if Parliament would in any way mitigate the extreme difficulty of the task it imposes on the Board of Trade; and I am astonished at the few mistakes the Board has made; indeed, the member for Derby has often stated the fact that of all ships detained scarcely any have been proved seaworthy. (Hear, hear.)-Mr. E. SMITH said that as the right hon. gentleman seemed to make a distiction between the words "stopping" and "detaining," he would repeat his question on a future day.-Sir CHARLES ADDERLEY said he had made no such distinction-" stopping" and "detaining" were exactly the same.-Mr. NORWOOD asked whether the officer would be obliged to show his authority to the captain ?-Sir CHARLES ADDERLEY said he saw no objection whatever to the telegraphic or other order being shown to the master, and it was usually done.

Natal, Friday, July 23rd.-In the House of Lords, Lord BLACHFORD called attention to proposed alterations in the Constitution of Natal, and moved for papers, which, after interesting speeches from the Earl of CARNARVON and Lords CARLINGFORD and KIMBERLEY, was agreed to.

The Detention of Unseaworthy Ships, Monday, July 26th.-In answer to Mr. E. SMITH, Sir CHARLES ADDERLEY said: The Board of Trade officers have not power to detain any ship. They report to the Board of Trade, and the Customs' officers detain by directions from the Board of Trade. It is proposed to institute a higher class of Board of Trade surveyors at the principal ports; and I hope the Bill which I have given notice of for Wednesday will give the requisite powers.

The Merchant Shipping Acts, Monday, July 26th.-In reply to Lord F. HERVEY, Sir CHARLES ADDERLEY said: I hope the Government Bill to amend the Merchant Shipping Acts will be among the earliest measures of next Session. I have no intention of attempting a consolidation Bill at present, but the House is aware that I have prepared and published a Digest of all existing Merchant Shipping Acts with a very full and complete index, which may to a great extent serve the purpose of a Consolidation Act.

Rocket Apparatus, Monday, July 26th.-In reply to Lord C. J. HAMILTON, Sir CHARLES ADDERLEY said: The Board of Trade have communicated with foreign Governments on the subject of the rules for using the rocket apparatus now generally adopted, and have sent them copies of the English rules, with a view of their being translated and put on board foreign ships. The Board of Trade have always had printed rules for using the apparatus inserted in logs and other ship papers, and they require every master and mate to be examined in the use of the apparatus before he gets his certificate. Believing that the present apparatus is the best yet submitted, the Board of Trade have caused metal tablets with regulations to be furnished to British shipowners free of charge, to be put on board under directions of their surveyors. Her Majesty has commanded that two of these tablets shall be put on board her royal yacht. The tablets are also prepared in German and French, and can be procured in this country, and copies will be sent to foreign Governments. (Hear, hear.)

Screw-Steamers carrying Grain, Tuesday, July 27th.-Replying to Mr. WILSON, Sir CHARLES ADDERLEY stated that the Government had no intention of introducing a Bill relative to screw-steamers carrying grain, framed in accordance with the terms referred to by the hon. member. Such terms would have provided for vessels of this class being constructed with a double bottom for water ballast, and a certificate being given them as to their safety for carrying grain or seed cargoes, in addition to provisions for shifting boards, the carrying of grain in bags, &c.

Merchant Shipping, and Unseaworthy Ships, Thursday, July 29th.Numerous questions were put and replied to on the above subjects, Mr. MACDONALD leading with a question to Sir, CHARLES ADDERLEY relative to the Alcedo. Sir CHARLES replied as follows: The hon. member