dustry of our
island commerce, is governed by a subdivision in a Ministry that has
long outgrown the limits of a central and answerable control. Instead of
settlement by a contained and competent Ministry of Marine, our highly
technical sea-conduct is ruled for us in queue with longshore affairs,
sandwiched, perhaps, between horse-racing and the period of the dinner
table.

"_The President of the Board of Trade has
intimated to the Stewards of the National Hunt
Committee that . . . it is not possible to sanction
a list of fixtures for the season._"

"Mr. Peto asked the President of the Board of
Trade whether his attention has been called to the
decision of Mr. Justice Rowlatt . . . in which
judgment was given for the plaintiff company,
owners of the steamship X----, sunk in collision,
due to steaming without lights."

"_The President of the Board of Trade announces
modifications of the Lighting Order during the
present week, one effect being that the
prohibition of the serving of meals in hotels
after 9.30 p.m. is temporarily suspended._"

Perhaps we were rather spoilt by the pride that was in us when our
seafaring was ruled by the appreciative Brethren of Trinity, and it may
be as a repressive measure of discipline the Board of Trade extends no
particular favour to our sea-trade, and has indeed gone further in being
at pains to belittle our sea-deeds, and disparage a recognition of our
status. Our controllers are anxious that their ruling of award and
reward should suffer no comparison. For gallantry at sea, the grades of
their recognition may vary from the Silver Medal (delivered, perhaps, as
in a recent case, with the morning's milk) to a sextant or a pair of
binoculars.

In 1905 a very gallant rescue was effected by the men of the Liverpool
steamer _Augustine_. The crew of a Greek vessel were taken from their
foundering ship in mid-Atlantic under circumstances of great peril. Not
only was boat service performed in tempestuous weather, but the officers
of _Augustine_ themselves jumped overboard to try to save the Greek
seamen, who were too far exhausted to hold on to the life-lines and
buoys thrown to them. The King of Greece, in recognition of the
gallantry and humanity displayed, signed a decree conferring on the
British master and his officers the Gold Decora