§ MR. BIRKBECKasked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether, in view of the number of lives annually lost by shipwreck round the coasts of the United Kingdom from want of proper knowledge of the use of the rocket apparatus, he is of opinion that the examination of officers of the Mercantile Marino as to the use of it is efficient for the purpose?
§ MR. CHAMBERLAINSir, for upwards of 15 years masters and mates of the Mercantile Marine have been required, when under examination for certificates of competency, to prove that they are fully acquainted with the use 1732 and management of the rocket apparatus, in the event of a vessel being stranded. Besides the officers, there are upwards of 20,000 seamen belonging to the Royal Naval Reserve who have actually been drilled in the use of that apparatus. Training ships are also supplied with models, and also with worn sets of the gear, so that the boys may be taught and practice in the use of it. Further than that, an enamel placard is prepared and nailed up in every ship as she is registered, showing how to use the apparatus, and printed instructions, with illustrations, are distributed freely at the ports. Finally, when a line is fired on board, it takes with it a wooden label containing directions in French and English. The hon. Member alludes to the number of lives lost annually from want of proper knowledge of the use of the rocket apparatus. I may, perhaps, mention that the average number of lives saved in each of the last 10 years by this apparatus is over 200, and from June, 1880, to the present time, 523 lives have been so saved—in the gale of October last 264 lives, and in the gale of January last 139 lives.