87 
they went over the side. With regard to the box-fleeting 
system, he believed there were a great many lost from that 
cause, and if it could be discontinued, he believed there 
would be a saving of life, as many lives were lost in 
attempting to save those of others. On the 28th of 
October, 1881, there were 55 lives lost and 11 smacks, 
each smack having 5 hands on board. On the 18th of 
October, 1882, there were 18 lives lost and I smack. 
On the 6th of March, 1883, they lost 96 lives at sea, 
and 12 smacks} with all hands. There was a class of 
men and boys who could see no danger at all, and if 
life-jackets were put on board they were such an encum- 
brance that the men would not put them on. If he had 
a life-jacket on he should take it off, because the first 
necessity was perfect freedom of motion. He then handed 
to the Chairman to read an extract from a Hull paper, 
giving an account of the loss of life from a heavy gale. 
On the date named, 806 smacks arrived at Hull in one tide, 
go per cent. of which had been more or less seriously 
damaged, and from one nearly a score of lives had been 
lost. At the time of writing 23 smacks were missing, 
and it was feared the majority of these had sunk. The 
result was a total of 115 lives lost, which with the 20 
previously reported made 135 ; and as to the previous gale 
there were 2 smacks lost with all hands, which made a 
grand total of 150 lives in connection with the Hull fishing 
fleet. Mr. Salmon said he did not say that all these lives 
were lost owing to the fleeting system, but if a gale of 
wind came on when the vessels were in such close contact, 
they all got crowded together, and it was almost impossible 
for them to escape. 
Mr. JEX said he had received a letter giving some par- 
ticulars of the proposed fishing harbour at Berwick. It 
