THE WRECK REGISTER FOR ONE YEAR. 319 



and coast of Ireland, 1,259 ; north coast of Scotland, 129 ; and other parts, 159. Total, 

 -3,317. "It is recorded that the greatest destruction of human life happened on the 

 north and east coasts of England and Scotland." 



It is interesting to observe the ages of the vessels which were wrecked during the 

 period under consideration. Excluding foreign ships and collision cases, 221 wrecks and 

 casualties happened to nearly new ships, and 396 to ships from 3 to 7 years of age. Then 

 there are wrecks and casualties to 631 ships from 7 to 14 years old, and to 907 from 15 to 30 

 years old. Then follow 459 old ships from 30 to 50 years old. Having passed the service 

 of half a century, we come to the very old ships, viz., 71 between 50 and 60 years old, 33 

 from 60 to 70, 24 from 70 to 80, 9 from 80 to 90, and 5 from 90 to 100, while the ages 

 of 68 of the wrecks are unknown. 



On distinguishing these last named casualties near the coasts of the United Kingdom, 

 .according to the force of the wind at the time at which they happened, we find that 739 

 happened with the wind at forces 7 and 8, or a moderate to fresh gale, when a ship, 

 if properly found, manned, and navigated, can keep the sea with safety; and that 1,046 

 liappened with the wind at force 9 and upwards, that is to say, from a strong gale to a 

 hurricane. 



" We must say one word on the subject of casualties to our ships in our rivers and 

 harbours, as the fearful calamity to the steamer Princess Alice last September in the Thames 

 has directed afresh intense attention to them throughout the civilised world. We find 

 from the Wreck Register Abstract that the total number during the year 1876-77 was 

 984, of which 17 were total losses, 245 were serious casualties, and 722 minor casualties. 



"Of these casualties, collisions numbered 658, founderings 13, strandings 184, and 

 miscellaneous 129. 



" These 984 casualties caused the loss of or damage to 1,725 vessels, of which 1,020 

 were British sailing-vessels, 560 British steam-vessels, 118 foreign sailing-vessels, and -27 

 foreign steam-vessels. The lives lost in these casualties were 15. 



"With reference to the collisions on and near our coasts during the year 1876-77, 48 

 of the 847 collisions were between two steamships both under way, irrespective of numerous 

 other such cases in our harbours and rivers, the particulars of which are not given in. 

 the Abstract. No disaster at sea or in a river is often more awful in its consequences than 

 a collision, as was too strikingly illustrated last year in the cases of the German ironclad 

 Grosser Knrfiirst, and the Thames steamer Princess Alice. 



"As regards the loss of life, the Wreck Abstract shows that the number was 776, and 

 of these 92 were lost in vessels that foundered, 57 through vessels in collision, 470 in 

 vessels stranded or cast ashore, and 93 in missing vessels. The remaining number of lives 

 lost (64) were lost from various causes, such as through being washed overboard in heavy 

 seas, explosions, missing vessels, &c. 



" This number (776) may appear to the casual observer a comparatively small one by 

 the side of the thousands who escaped disaster from the numerous shipwrecks before 

 mentioned. We are, however, of opinion that it is a very large number; and when we bear 

 in mind the inestimable value of human life, we are convinced that no effort should be left 

 untried which can in any way lessen the annual loss of life from shipwreck on our coasts. 



