210 FORESTS OF NORWAY. 



of men lost ; with a classification of the vessels according 

 to the national flag which they bore From these it 

 appears that the mean annual loss from 1871 to 1875 was 

 2'37 per cent, of the vessels, and 3 ! ()5 per cent, of the ton- 

 nage. On an average 176 men were lost anrrually by ship- 

 wreck ; in 1873, 1874, 1875, about 300 men, it was 

 calculated, died of disease. 



There are numerous maritime insurance companies in 

 Norway. Formerly, say from 1814 to 1837, assurance was 

 generally effected in Hamburg. In 1875 there were 

 in Norway 13 assurance companies, insuring that year 

 against loss 282 million francs, on premiums amounting to 

 2,780,000 francs. 



The coast is well lighted, according to most approved 

 methods, throughout its entire extent. In the end of 1876 

 there were 120 lighthouses, aud one light-ship, many of 

 them of a high-class, and constructed according to the sys- 

 tem of Freesnal. Of these 108 were maintained by the State, 

 built at an expense of 5,700,000 francs. The others are 

 port lights, maintained by communes. The expense of 

 lighting the coast and of signals was in 1875 808,600 

 francs. 



Pilotage was first established by law in 1 720. Sundry 

 changes have from time to time been made in the laws 

 relative to it. The fundamental regulations now in force 

 are embodied in the law of 17th June 1869. These pre- 

 scribe the organisation and the tariff. Pilotage is com- 

 pulsory only on vessels coming from or going to foreign 

 ports, and vessels of above 104 tons going to or returning 

 from the fishing. The prohibition of employing others 

 than members of the staff, which was previously in force, was 

 then abolished ; and the obligation to employ these in their 

 turn in going out, and to employ the first who boards on 

 entering, was modified so far that such must be paid, but 

 they need not be employed. 



A fund in aid of pilots was organised in 1805, lending 

 money free of interest for equipping pilot boats, and sup- 

 porting the aged and infirm, and widows and children. 



