§ MR. HANBURY TRACYrose to ask the President of the Board of Trade, Whether the attention of the Government has been called to the great decrease in the number of Apprentices and Boys borne by our merchant ships, and the increased employment of Foreign Seamen; whether their attention has been called to the great prevalence of scurvy in the Merchant Navy; and whether, under these circumstances, any measures will be taken to extend to the crews of Merchant Ships the benefits derived from that system of inspection of provisions and accommodation now in force in respect to emigrants, convicts, and other passengers?
§ MR. MILNER GIBSONThe attention of the Government has not been called to any great decrease in the number of apprentices borne by our merchant ships. The number of apprentices annually enrolled has varied but little during the last six years, being between 5,000 and 6,000 a year, There is an increase in the number of foreign seamen employed, but whether the proportion of foreign seamen to the whole number of men serving in the mercantile marine is greater than during the- last few years I cannot say without a careful examination of the Returns. Representations have been made with regard to the existence of scurvy among the crews of some merchant vessels. In one instance, where there has evidently been great neg- 1098 lect in not having provided proper anti-scorbutics in accordance with the law, a prosecution has been directed. It is not contemplated to apply the same system of inspection of provisions and accommodation in merchant ships generally as is adopted in the case of ships carrying emigrants, convicts, and other passengers.