68 GENERAli BEMARKS. 



As the total number of ships employed on these coasts in each year 

 is unknown, the proper percentage of casualties can not be ascer- 

 tained, and any conclusion that can be drawn from the above list is 

 necessarily incomplete, but it appears, on the surface, that, notwith- 

 standing the introduction of steam, lighthouses, lights, fog signals, 

 etc., and the better knowledge which is now possessed of the coasts 

 of Newfbundland, Avith the rocks and shoals off them, from the sur- 

 veys which have been in progress for many years, the number of cas- 

 ualties has not decreased, but has steadily risen. Why this should be 

 is not easy to determine, but it is probable that a considerable propor- 

 tion of these wrecks is due to the less careful navigation of the present 

 day, especially in fog, owing to the desire of owners and passengers 

 to keep time punctually, which can not be done without greatly 

 increasing the risk of loss. It is significant that, during the period 

 from 1881 to 1901, 83 wrecks took place within the small stretch of 

 coast extending from 30 miles westward to 30 miles northward of 

 cape Race. 



Standard time. — No time has been adopted as a standard for 

 Newfoundland, but the mean time of St. Johns is used for railway 

 and telegraphic purposes. This time is 3 h. 30 m. slow of mean time 

 at Greenwich. 



Passag-es and general directions — Steamers — Across At- 

 lantic.^ — With a vieAV to reducing the risks of collision and to the 

 avoidance of ice, the steamers of the principal trans- Atlantic steam- 

 ship companies now take the following routes between the British Isles 

 and the English Channel and New York, Philadelphia, and Boston. 

 These routes have the advantages that, in the event of a vessel break- 

 ing down, assistance is likely to be at hand ; and possibly that sailing 

 vessels will either endeavor as much as possible to avoid their tracks, 

 or at any rate keep a strict lookout when in their vicinity. 



EASTBOUND. 



At all seasons of the year from New York or Philadelphia steer 

 from the lightships to cross the meridian of 70° west, nothing to the 

 northward of lat. 40° 10' north. 



From January 15 to August 23, both inclusive, steer a course from 

 lat. 40° 10' north, long. 70° w^est, by rhumb line to cross the meridian 

 of 47° w^est, in lat. 41° north, and thence on Great Circle course 

 (nothing to the northward) to Fastnet rock or Bishop rock. If 

 from Boston steer directly for lat. 41° north, long. 47° west, and 

 thence as above directed. 



From August 24 to January 14, both inclusive, steer from lat. 

 40° 10' north, long. 70° west, to cross the meridian 60° west in lat. 

 42° north, thence by rhumb line to lat. 4G° 30' north, long. 45° west. 



