Recent legislation relating to the loss of life and property at sea in
British vessels—Committee on shipwrecks, 1836—Estimated loss of life at
sea between 1818 and 1836—Recommendations of the Committee—Committee
of 1843, loss of lives and ships at that period—First official return
of wrecks, 1856—Loss of lives and ships, 1862 and 1873—Further
recommendations—Various laws for the protection of seamen, 1846 to
1854—Agitation about “unseaworthy ships,” 1855—Further provisions
for the benefit of seamen, 1867-69-70—Mr. Samuel Plimsoll, M.P.—His
first resolution, 1870—Introduces a Bill, 1871—Government measure
of that year—Mr. Plimsoll publishes a book, ‘Our Seamen,’ 1873—An
extension of the principle applied to testing chain-cables strongly
urged—Mr. Plimsoll moves an Address for a Commission of Inquiry,
which was unanimously granted—Royal Commission on unseaworthy
ships 1873-74—Its members—Their order of reference—And mode of
thorough investigation—Their reports—Load-line—Deck loads—Government
survey—Its extension undesirable—Shipowners already harassed by
over-legislation—Mode of inquiry into losses at sea, examined and
condemned—Recommendations—Examination of masters and mates, and
shipping officers approved—Power of masters—Scheme for training boys
for sea—Marine Insurances—Report as a whole most valuable.