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more or less, able to stand, some of the new hands not able to speak English, but on the whole I thank God I have at last got so far from the shore as to ensure finding the crew when wanted. As a result of these few days' working, the official Log Book contains the following entries. Having, when the crew is complete, only six firemen and trimmers, six seamen, boatswain and carpenter, I think the list of charges contained therein, out of such a small number, quite sufficient to make a record. The entries are as follow:

Date of Occurrence	Place	Date of Entry
Oct. 28, 1899	Liverpool	Nov. 1, 1899	Edward Mansett, A.B., Owen Rowlands, A.B., W. Sodenberg, carpenter, Wm. Rowlinson, fireman, Pat. Crawford, trimmer, Robert Power, trimmer, failed to join and were left behind.
Oct. 28, 1899	Liverpool	Nov. 1, 1899	George Wilson, A.B., came on board drunk, and after ship left refused duty until the arrival of the ship at Penarth Dock, where he immediately deserted.
Oct. 31, 1899	Penarth	Nov. 5, 1899	I have this day engaged Bernard Colligan, fireman, Robert Suthers, trimmer, William Edwards, trimmer, W. F. Vaughan, A.B., Apostolo Loos, A.B., Mekel Tuscarora, A.B., in place of fireman and seamen failed to join and deserted.
Nov. 1, 1899	Penarth	Nov. 5, 1899	Bernard Colligan, fireman, failed to join, and John Carney was engaged as substitute.
Nov. 1, 1899	Penarth	Nov. 5, 1899	William Corley, fireman, went on shore without leave and against orders, and whilst on shore fell and hurt himself. At last moment before ship sailed said he couldn't work. He went on shore, and John McCran was engaged in his place.
Nov. 6,1899	At Sea	Nov. 6, 1899	John McCran, who was shipped as fireman, has this day been reduced to trimmer for incompetency, and Wm. Edwards, trimmer, promoted to his place, with wages from this date.

"I am sure, sir, looking at those few facts, one is inclined to ask what is the use of existing Board of Trade regulations? Why not close all H.M. engagement offices, as the contracts therein are not worth the paper they are signed upon? What is the use of out-door Board of Trade officers with regard to any assistance a master leaving port may get from them? If the Board of Trade are willing to help the masters, why not keep a 'Black list,' and enter the names of every seaman and fireman who has failed to join without reason, and prevent him from repeating his offence? Is it not notorious that the Board of Trade officers favour seamen and firemen to the detriment of masters and officers? Is not the Merchant Shipping Act, with regard to the engagement of seamen, all a farce? I have read controversies between masters and others interested as to the