AMERICAN CLASSIFICATION OF AMERICAN VESSELS. 99 



signal apparatus ; the hailing port ; the registered dimensions ; the gross and net tonnage ; when 

 built, and by whom ; the owners ; the particulars of engines, boilers and propellers and the class 

 the vessel is given; so that by referring to the record the general information concerning 

 any vessel is at once obtainable. 



PURCHASE OF THE GREAT LAKES REGISTER. 



In this country alone is to be found a chain of great cities located on interconnecting 

 inland seas of fresh water, where vessels up to 600 feet and over in length are common car- 

 riers. Seasonal storms of great violence occur throughout the area of the Great Lat.es, but 

 the waves, while steeper than ocean waves, are not as long. Therefore the stresses on the 

 main structure are not as severe, but weather deck structure and fittings are required to 

 withstand the pounding effect of seas breaking on deck. A type of lake structure has thus 

 developed that requires special treatment by the rules of a classification society. 



To meet these requirements the Great Lakes Register was purchased in 1916 from its 

 owners and incorporated with the Bureau as the Great Lakes Department. 



ALLIANCE WITH BRITISH CORPORATION. 



In the year 1917 the Bureau was convinced that the rules adopted by the British Cor- 

 poration for the survey and registration of shipping were the most scientific of the rules in 

 force for the construction of steel vessels, and after conference with said corporation an 

 alliance was made whereby the British Corporation represents the Bureau in the United King- 

 dom, and the Bureau represents the British Corporation in the United States, on terms mu- 

 tually satisfactory. 



ALLIANCE WITH ITALIAN AND JAPANESE SOCIETIES. 



Following this alliance in 1917, one of the same nature was made with the Registro 

 Navale Italiano, and in 1920 one with the Imperial Japanese Marine Corporation. It will 

 thus be seen that working arrangements have been made by the American Bureau of Ship- 

 ping with the British Corporation, the Registro Navale Italiano and the Imperial Japanese 

 Marine Corporation, by which each society represents the others in its home country. In 

 the Japanese corporation, Mr. Fred F. Perris, long with the British Corporation, serves as 

 technical adviser of the Japanese corporation. Prince Higasji Fushimi is honorary presi- 

 jdent, and Dr. Seichi Terano, of the Engineering College, Imperial University, Tokio, is 

 vice-chairman. The head offices are in Tokio, and surveyors will be established in Yoko- 

 hama, Kobe, Nagasaki and Osaka. 



SURVEYORS PLACED ABROAD. 



At the present time it can be said that all these alliances have been very satisfactory. 

 During the past year offices and exclusive surveyors have been placed in Hamburg, Ant- 

 werp, Havre, Brest, Bordeaux, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires and Valparaiso, and addi- 

 tional nonexclusive surveyors in Spain, Portugal and all important Mediterranean ports, in- 

 cluding Constantinople. 



ACTIVITIES OF THE BUREAU. 



A table follows showing that for the past five years, or from 1916 to 1920, inclusive, 

 the service furnished by the Bureau has grown in importance and has proved worthy of the 

 confidence of the Government and of shipowners, as well as tmderwriters. 



