NAME OF CLUB. STATION.
WESTERN OF SCOTLAND, ROYAL.
WINDERMERE, ROYAL.
YARMOUTH (GREAT).
YORKSHIRE, ROYAL.
YORKSHIRE CORINTHIAN.
YACHT RACING ASSOCIATION.
Glasgow.
Bowness.
Yarmouth.
Hull.
Bridlington Quay.
Not specified.
*By kind permission, from Lloyd's Calendar.
(e) THE PRINCIPAL YACHTING FIXTURES IN ENGLAND ARE : —
ROYAL DEE Holyhead.
ROYAL LONDON River Thames.
NEW THAMES Southend to Harwich.
ROYAL HARWICH Harwich.
NEW THAMES River Thames.
ROYAL THAMES River Thames.
ROYAL THAMES Nore to Dover.
ROYAL CINQUE PORTS Dover.
ROYAL YACHT SQUADRON Cowes, I.W.
ROYAL VICTORIA Ryde, I.W.
16 "Lloyd's"
(a) HISTORY
THE development of Lloyd's from the time of the humble Coffee Tavern in Tower Street, in which its business was transacted over two centuries ago, down to that of the great Maritime Exchange of the present day, was from the first bound to become an eventual success, in view of the extraordinary services which it has continually rendered to the maritime world.
The following paragraph is taken from the London Gazette of 1689: —
"Run away from Capt. J. Bradlye, a tawney Moor, 20 years of age, bow-legged, light coloured coat, white waistcoat, and a pair of shammy breeches. Whoever gives notice at Mr. Lloyd's coffee-house in Great Tower Street, shall have 20 shillings reward."
This allusion gives us an idea of some of the kinds of work in which "Lloyd's" was even in those early days engaged.
Richard Steele, in No. 268 of The Tatler (Dec. 23, 1710), devotes himself to the discussion of a letter, dated from
"Lloyd's Coffee House," which he had just received, and wherein a number of the habitués of the place had set forth their opinion that all "Coffee Houses" ought to make arrangements, for the benefit of their clientèle, to have the
"news" read aloud every day and that such places of resort should be established and duly recognised as marts for the purveying of news. Thus it is seen how the public function of news distribution Was identified with the institution from the very first. And so it is to-day; "Lloyd's" is still the foremost institution in the world for the dissemination of maritime news.
In the Secretary's room is preserved the original policy which was effected at Lloyd's upon the life of the great Napoleon. It was intended to run for one month and the premium was three guineas per cent. It was worded thus: —
"In consideration of three guineas per one hundred pounds, and according to that rate for every greater or lesser sum received of William Dorrington, we have hereunto subscribed our names, and do for our respective heirs and Ourselves, executors, administrators, and assigns of the other or others of us, assume, engage, and promise that We respectively, or our several re-spective heirs, executors, administrators or assigns, shall and will pay or cause to be paid unto the said William Dorrington the sum and sums of money which we have hereunto respectively subscribed against our names: without any abatement whatsoever, in case Napoleon Bonaparte shall cease to exist, or be taken prisoner on or before the 21st June, 1813.
In the Committee Room is preserved the first Insurance Policy of which there is any record, and which was taken in the name of a ship, the Golden Fleece, which was insured for a voyage from Lisbon to Venice for £1,200, at 4 per cent., On January 20, 1600.
The wording of the usual policy in use at Lloyd's at the present day is, with one exception, the same that was used in 1779. The exception consists in the substitution of the words, "Be it known that," for "In the name of God, Amen!"
The effecting of Marine Insurance is, however, the main duty of underwriters at Lloyd's, and it is in respect of this very important function that the members of and subscribers to Lloyd's may be classified as (1) the underwriters, who accept the risks; and (2) the brokers, who place the insurance on behalf of the owners of the ships or cargoes.
Here, then, in a great room, without the slightest pretence to artistic surroundings, sits the army of under-writers whose business it is to assist the brokers who appear before them in effecting the insurance of ships throughout the world.
It is very necessary that an underwriter should be possessed of a minute knowledge of ships and of the individual and personal history of the people connected with them, no less than the peculiarities and conditions of the trade in which they may be (or have been) en-gaged, as this information, reinforced by the reports which are constantly being received by Lloyd's Intelligence Department from its correspondents in all parts of the world, places them in a position to determine speedily and correctly the condition of almost every merchant vessel afloat. A great deal of this information is pub-lished daily in Lloyd's List, which is the legitimate successor of Lloyd's News, established in 1696, and which, with the exception of the London Gazette, is the oldest existing newspaper published in Europe.
The Captain's Register is a marine "Dictionary of Biography," wherein is recorded as minutely as the history of the vessels themselves, every known fact regarding the seafaring life of every captain, the names of the various ships which he has commanded, the accidents and disasters his ships have met with, as well as any record he may have for creditable performances or for heroic service; in short, every. thing that can possibly have any bearing on any case connected with him.
In the instance of a ship that has either met with a serious accident or has been wrecked, the whole circum-stances are recorded in the Loss Book, which is posted up from the records supplied to Lloyd's from day to day.
The famous bell which hangs in the Underwriters' Room is tolled twice when an overdue ship is heard from, and once upon the announcement of a ship's being lost. This bell was taken from H.M.S. Lutine, which sank in the Zuider Zee in 1799, carrying down with her treasure amounting to upwards of one million sterling, £40,000 of which were recovered as recently as 1870.
A ship is never "posted" at Lloyd's until all hope is gone. This formality consists simply of posting up a notice to the effect that the ship — left the Port of — on a certain day, and has not since been heard of. After this posting at Lloyd's all insurances on the ill-fated ship become payable, and the crew and officers are then considered legally dead.
An "Inquiry Office" is also established at Lloyd's, where the relatives of the passengers or crew may obtain without cost information concerning the movements of the vessel in which they are interested.
A medal is presented by the Corporation of Lloyd's as an honorary acknowledgment to those who have, by means of extraordinary exertions, contributed to the saving of life at sea, and a medal for "Meritorious Services" is granted to officers and others who, by extraordinary exertions, have contributed to the preservation of their vessels or cargoes.
The legal status of Lloyd's is that of a Society incorporated by Act of Parliament. Its main objects are briefly as follows:
—
I. To carry on the business of Marine Insurance.
II. To protect the interests of members of the Society in respect of shipping and cargoes and freight.
III. To collect, publish and diffuse marine intelligence and information.
The duties of Lloyd's agents throughout the world may be broadly defined as follows: —
In case of shipwreck: to render to masters of vessels any advice or assistance they may require; to report by telegraph direct to Lloyd's all casualties which may occur to vessels within their district; and to otherwise report, under rules laid
down for their guidance, all marine happenings within their ken.
Lloyd's has also, with the sanction of the various Governments interested, the control and working of Signal Stations in the United Kingdom and abroad. If a shipowner, charterer, or consignee wishes to communicate with any vessel at any Lloyd's Signal Station he has only to communicate with the head office and instructions will be given accordingly.
(b) LIST OF LLOYD'S SIGNAL STATIONS [By kind permission, from Lloyd's Calendar.]
United Kingdom.
The more important stations abroad are: — ELSINORE.
HELIGOLAND.
HOLTENAU
(Baltic Entrance of the Kaiser Wilhelm Kiel Canal).
BRUNSBUTTELKOOG
(Elbe Entrance of the Kaiser Wilhelm Canal).
HEYST.
CAPE MARIA VAN DIEMAN (New Zealand).
HONOLULU.
PONTA DO ARNEL (St. Michael's).
FAYAL.
(c) CLASSIFICATION OF SHIPS [By kind permission, from Lloyd's Calendar.]
STEEL AND IRON SHIPS are classed by Lloyd's Register as A1, with a numeral prefixed, thus — 100 A1, 95 A1, 90 A1, 85 A1, 80 A1, and 75 A1; also A1 (without a numeral) for special trades; for which they re-tain their characters so long as, on careful annual and periodical surveys, they are found to be in a fit and efficient condition to carry dry and
WOODEN SHIPS are classed A1 as first-classers for a term of years, subject to occasional or annual surveys when practicable, also to half-time or intermediate special surveys. They are eligible for continuation or restoration of the character Al for further periods upon special surveys.
WOODEN SHIPS are also classed A1 in red. This also is a class of vessel fit for the safe conveyance of dry and perishable goods.
WOODEN SHIPS are likewise classed Æ1, for the conveyance of dry and perishable goods on shorter voyages.
(d) LOAD LINE MARKS
Under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, all British ships (excepting those under 80 tons register employed solely in the coasting trade or as fishing boats and pleasure yachts) must be marked with load-lines in accordance with the
"Freeboard" tables in the Act. These marks, which are sometimes called Plimsoll marks, after the name of their introducer, consist of a disc with a horizontal line running through the centre and extending somewhat on each side of the circle. In addition to this there are, on steamships, a number of lines at right angles to a perpendicular, which indicate the load limit for different seasons of the year and for fresh water. These ships are marked with the following initials : —
F.W. Fresh water. S. Summer.
I. S. Indian Summer. W. Winter.
W.N.A. Winter, North Atlantic.
1. Markings on the star-board side of a sailing ship engaged in the coasting trade only.
2. Markings on the starboard side of a sea-going sailing ship.
3. Markings on the star-board side of a steamship.
17 Gazetteer
(a) OF COLONIAL AND FOREIGN PORTS
ADELAIDE (South Australia). — Population, 163,430. Capital of South Australia and University town. The port is seven miles distant, on Gulf St. Vincent.
Exports: Wool, gold, silver, copper, iron, lead, wine, wheat, and tallow.
ADEN. — Population, 42,000. A bare, rocky peninsula, 75 miles square in extent. A strongly fortified coaling station on the Red Sea trade route. Non-productive, but carries on a great trade with Arabia. Aden and Perim are under the Bombay Government.
Exports: Coffee, ostrich feathers, tobacco, gum, and hides.
ALBANY (West Australia). — Population, 3,700. Prin-cipal port of West Australia. Naval base and coal-ing station.
Exports: Wool, timber, gold, pearls, and hides.
ALEXANDRIA. — Population, 320,000. Principal port of Egypt. Is well fortified and has two harbours, a breakwater 2 miles long, and a large floating dock. Consulate.
Exports: Cotton, cotton-seed, wheat, rice, onions and gum.
ALGIERS. — Population, 120,000. Has a harbour of 220 acres; two dry docks. Coaling station. Consulate.
Exports: Flour, metals, esparto grass, cork, and phosphates.
AMSTERDAM. — Population, 523,558. Once the first commercial city of the world; still remains a centre of great commercial activity. The town contains a Royal Palace of enormous size, and remarkable from the fact that it stands upon 13,659 piles driven 70 feet into the ground. Consulate.
ANTWERP. — Population, 262,255. One of the busiest seaports of the world, possessing wide thorough-fares and fine buildings. Very extensive quays. Consulate.
Exports: Grain, textiles, chemicals, resins, metals, wines.
ANTIGUA, see St. John's.
APIA (Samoa). — The residence of the Foreign Consuls in Samoa. Much resorted to by whalers. Has an open roadstead for harbour. Coaling station. Consulate.
ARGENTINA, see Buenos Ayres.
ASCENSION. — Population, about 400. An island in the South Atlantic, on the Cape route between Africa and South America. Coaling station, sanatorium, and Admiralty depôt. Strongly fortified.
ATHENS. — Population (including the port of Firmus) 179,755. Capital of Modern Greece. Contains the Royal Palace. The principal city lies 12 miles from the port, with Which it is connected by railway.
AUCKLAND (New Zealand). — Population, 67,226. Fortified coaling station, with one of the finest of harbours and two graving docks.
Exports: Gold, timber, gum, flax, wool, hides tallow.
AZORES (Dependencies of Portugal). — Population, 280,000. Consists of nine volcanic islands with an area of 700 square miles, called St. Michael, St. Mary, Tercera, Graciosa, St. George, Pico, Fayal, Corvo, Flores.
BAHAMAS, see Nassau.
BAHIA (Brazil). — Population, 200,000. The second sea-port of Brazil. Natural History Museum, Art Gallery, Public Library, Theological Seminary, Technical College, Ship Building Yards. Legation and Consulate.
Exports: Tobacco, sugar, coffee, feathers, rubber, coco nuts, tapioca, hides, fine woods, and diamonds.
BALTIMORE (U.S.). — Population, 508,957. A thriving city of some commercial importance; on Chesapeake Bay, 180 miles from the open sea, and mid-way between New York and Washington. From its situation on Chesapeake Bay, it is probably destined, as a grain-distributing centre, to secure pre-eminence among the ports of the U.S. Has a dry dock 600 feet long, and a Consulate.
Exports: Petroleum, grain, flour, and tobacco.
BANGKOK (Siam). — Population, 600,000, Chief seaport of Siam. Magnificent Royal Palace of King Chulalongkorn, and many fine pagodas. Legation.
Exports: Rice, ebony, fish, woods, gum, teak, pepper, ivory, and hides.
BARBADOS (West Indies). — Population, 182,286. An island about the size of Isle of Man, locally known as
"Bimshire" or "Bims," and claiming to be "the most densely populated part of the habitable globe." Its chief town, Bridgetown, is the first port of call for Royal Mail Steamers outward bound.
Exports: Sugar, rum, and molasses.
BARCELONA (Spain). — Population, 510,000. The most important commercial centre of Spain. Fine harbour, floating dock. Consulate.
Exports: Cork, wines, fruits, lead, iron, silk, copper, and quicksilver.
BATAVIA (Dutch East Indies). — Population, 105,000. Capital of Java. Commercial emporium of the Dutch East Indies. Coaling station and Consulate. Magnificent museum.
Exports: Sugar, coffee, pepper, rice, sago, tin, tea, and tobacco.
BATOUM (Black Sea). — Population, 23,200. The centre of the corn and petroleum trade of Transcaucasia, Oil-refining works. Consulate.
Exports: Petroleum and petroleum products, manganese, walnut, and liquorice.
BEIRA (Portuguese East Africa). — Population, 4,055. Nearest port to Rhodesia, and Railway Terminus.
Exports: Beeswax, ivory, and hides.
BELIZE (Honduras). — Population, 7,000. The chief town of British Honduras.
Exports: Mahogany, logwood, cedar, coconuts, sponges, and fruit.
BERGEN (Norway), — Population, 55,000. Important fortified city and seaport with fine harbour — deep, sheltered, but rocky. Fishing is the principal industry. Consular Agent. Cathedral, Museum and Naval Academy.
Exports: Codfish, herrings, skins, bones, horses, and sheep.
BERMUDAS (chief town, Hamilton).--Population, 1,296. Lie some 600 miles east from the coast of the U.S. Important naval base and naval dockyard.
Exports: Potatoes, tomatoes, beetroot, arrow-root, and onions.
BEYRUT (Syria), — Population, 100,000. The port of Damascus. Tideless harbour. Consulate. English and other Schools and Colleges. Small harbour and mole.
Exports: Silk, oils, wool, soap, lemons, oranges, madder, gums, gall, and cotton.
BILBAO (Spain). — Population, 50,800. Principal port in the north of Spain. Large deposits of iron ore in vicinity, much of which is exported to England. Consulate.
Exports: Iron ore, pig iron, fish, fruits, flour, and wine.
BOMBAY. — Population, 776,006. Capital of the Indian Presidency so-called. Built on three islands; magnificent natural harbour, and docks of over 200 acres. University. Chamber of Commerce.
Exports: Cotton, wheat, opium, indigo, rice, oil, seeds, etc.
BORDEAUX (France). — Population, 260,000. On the River Garonne, 55 miles from Bay of Biscay. Numerous docks and shipbuilding yards. The centre of the wine shipping trade. Consulate.
Exports: Wines, brandy, grain, fruit, seeds, tur-pentine, and wood.
BOSTON (U.S.). — Population, 500,000. Capital of State of Massachusetts. Outer and inner harbours , both excellent;
railway termini, large trade with West Indies, Canada, and Newfoundland. Con-sulate.
Exports: Cattle, woollens, cottons, beef, pork, fish, ice, petroleum, and lard.
BOULOGNE-SUR-MER. — Population, 46,001. On the direct route between London and Paris, and within 3/ hours of both capitals. Deep-sea harbour, and wine port. Chief French fishing port. Consular Agent.
Exports: Cement, fruit, vegetables, fish, silks, wine, brandy, and eggs.
BREMEN (Germany). — Population, 227,832. One of the chief commercial ports of Germany, 50 miles from the North Sea, on the River Weser. Is one of the Free towns of the Hanseatic League, Hamburg and Lübeck being the other two. The port is Bremerhaven, 28 miles distant. Has large docks. Consular Agent.
Exports: Woollens, linens, toys, machinery, glass, iron, steel Ware, and beer.
BREST (France). — Population, 75,000 (1891). A sea-port of Brittany, on the Atlantic. Arsenal, Observatory, and chief station of the French Navy.
BRINDISI (Italy). — Population, 17,111. Starting-point of direct mail and passenger route from Europe to Egypt, Australia, and the East. Consulate.
Exports: Olive oil, wines, figs, almonds, oats, and linseed.
BRISBANE (Queensland). — Population, 1I9,428. Principal seaport and capital of Queensland. Govern-ment dock.
Coaling station.
Exports: Wool, hides, ore, tallow, meat, and timber.
BUENOS AYRES (Argentina), — Population, 900,000. Capital of the Argentine Republic. On the Rio de la Plata, which is here 36 miles in width. Fine harbour works and docks.
Exports: Maize, wheat, flax, sheep, cattle, hides, and horns.
CALCUTTA. — Population, 1,026,987, the vast majority being Hindus, about half that number Mohammedans.
Capital of Bengal Presidency. University. Cham-ber of Commerce. Observatory, Botanical Garden, and School of Art.
Government dockyard.
CALLAO (Peru). — Population, 35,596. Principal sea-port of Peru.
Exports: Guano, silver ore, sugar, and salt. In 1746 it suffered from an earthquake in which 3,000 of the inhabitants perished.
CANARY ISLANDS, see Teneriffe.
CAPE TOWN. — Population, 167,200. Situated on Table Bay, and the principal seaport in South Africa, Extensive harbour works in process of con-struction. An Imperial Garrison, and station of the Cape and West African Squadron.
Climate healthy and dry with uniform temperature.
CAPE VERDE, see St. Vincent.
CASTRIES or PORT ISLANDS, (St. Lucia, West Indies). — Population, 8,000. Situated on the largest and most picturesque of the Windward Islands, possessing one of the finest ports in the West Indies, and an important naval and coaling station.
CHARLESTOWN (U.S.). — Population 55,807. An im-portant southern city in the United States, with a great trade in cotton and lumber.
CHERBOURG (France). — Population, 31,100. A Naval Station on the English Channel, nearly opposite the Isle of Wight. Military port and commercial har-bour. Magnificent roadstead.
Exports: Agricultural produce, Macadam stone, etc.
CHILE, see Valparaiso.
CHRISTIANIA (Norway). — Population, 227,600. Capi-tal of Norway, on the Christiania Fiord.
Exports: Timber, Wood pulp, fish, paper, skins, minerals, ice, matches, condensed milk, margarine, and horse-shoe nails.
COLOMBO (Ceylon). — Population, 154,556. Capital of Ceylon (the population of which numbers 3,576,990, though the area is but 25,365 square miles).
Exports: Coffee, tea, cinchona, vanilla, carda-moms, cocoa, cinnamon, precious stones (rubies and cat's-eyes), and pearls.
COLON (Colombia, Central America). — Population, 5,000. The Atlantic port of the Isthmus of Panama, founded in 1849, at the commencement of the Panama (Inter-oceanic) Railway, which is 47 miles in length. Until 1896 a free port.
Exports: Bananas, india-rubber, live stock, cabinet woods, and medicinal plants.
CONSTANTINOPLE. — Population (1885), about 1,000,000. Capital and chief port of the Ottoman Empire, and residence of the Sultan. Possesses a magnificent harbour called the Golden Horn. Arsenal.
Exports: Tobacco, cereals, fruits, silk, oil-seeds, valonia, mohair, opium, gum, tragacanth, carpets, and wool.
Exports: Tobacco, cereals, fruits, silk, oil-seeds, valonia, mohair, opium, gum, tragacanth, carpets, and wool.