Comparison of the Total ft umber ot Lights in the Domi- 

 nion of Canada, in the Years 1896 and 1903. 



1896 1903 



Lightstations . . . .616 Lightstations . . 79$ 



Lightships 13 Lightships ... i^ 



Pole Lights. . . , .136 Pole Lights . . . 186 



765 T,OOO 



The fog-alarm stations operated by machinery are included 

 in the above number. The number of fog-alarm stations for 

 1896 was 82, and this number has been increased to 94 in 

 1903, six of the alarms are sirens operated by compressed air. 



Improvements in Buoy Service in the St. Lawrence River 

 Between Montreal and Quebec. 



Previous to the spring of 1899, the buoy service between 

 Montreal and Quebec had been' performed under contract, but 

 this system would not admit of expansion without constant 

 changes in the contract price. A change was made by the 

 purchase of the steamer "Shamrock," which was built and 

 fitted with hoisting apparatus for buoy work, and the work 

 placed specially in charge of an engineer appointed to maintain 

 the' service. 



Changes and Improvements in Buoys and Moorings. 



Improvements have been made in classifying the steel 

 buoys as first and second class, according to their importance 

 and condition, and the spar buoys as first, second and third 

 class. Each buoy is numbered under letters of the district to 

 which it belongs, Q. Quebec district, C. Chatnplain district, 

 L. Lake district, which includes Lake St. Peter, and M. 

 Montreal district. 



The anchors and mooring chains have been improved and 

 a large number of inferior buoys, have been replaced by new 

 ones. About 100 Martin patent anchors have been added 

 since 1899, to replace the old fashioned stock anchors, and 

 the mushroom anchors have also been largely increased. 



The spar buoys are swift current buoys, ballasted with 

 cast iron rings to keep them upright. 



