AIRY

consists of a hollow sac, formed of several tunics containing gas, situated in the abdominal cavity, outside the peritonear sac. Like the lungs of airbreathing vertebrates, it rises as an outgrowth from the alimentary canal, and may either retain this action throughout life, as in the herring, or become entirely shut off from the gut, as in the haddock. Being compressible, its special function consists in altering the specific gravity of the fish, or in changing the centre of gravity. Isinglass, or fish glue, in its raw state, is the air bladder, swim bladder or sound, of various species of fish.

British

The

Airy, Sir George Biddell (1801-92). Astronomer Royal (b. Alnwick). Educ. Hereford Grammar School and Colchester. In 1823 graduated Senior Wrangler, first Smith's Prizeman, Trinity College, Cambridge, and three years later was appointed Lucasion Professor of Mathematics; and Astronomer Royal, June 18, 1835. His Administration at Greenwich extended over a period of 46 years, during which time he reorganised the whole management; created a Magnetic department in 1838; a Spectroscopic department in 1868. solar eclipses of 1842, 1851 and 1860 were observed by him in Italy, Sweden and Spain respectively; organised the transit of Venus Expedition, 1854. In 1872 he was made K.C.B., and in the same year was nominated a Grand Cross in the Imperial Order of the Rose of Brazil; he also held the Appreciation Order for the Mérite; belonged to the Legion of Honour of France, and the Legion of the North Star of Sweden and Norway. A complete list of his printed papers, about 518, will be found in his autobiography, edited by his son, and published in 1896.

Twin screw. Hp. 8,500 20 kts. Coal maximum 600 tons.

Akatsuki. Japanese torpedo-boat destroyer. (Yarrow, 1901.) Displacement, 306 tons; complement, 55; maximum draught, 8 ft.; armament, 1 12-pdr., 5 6-pdr.; tubes, 2 18-in.; Hp., 6,000 = 31 kts.; coal, 95 tons.

Akebono. Japanese torpedo-boat destroyer. (Yarrow, 1899.) Displacement, 306 tons.; complement, 55; maximum draught, 8 ft.; armament, I 12-pdr., 5 6-pdr. tubes; 2 18-in.; Hp.; 6,000 = 31 kts.; coal, 95 tons.

Akitsushima. Old Japanese cruiser. (Japan,

1892.)

Length 302 ft. Beam 43 ft. Maximum draught 18 ft. Displacement 3,150 tons. Complement 330. Armour.

Guns. 4-6 in. 6—4.7 in. 10-3 pdr.

"Steel."

3 in. Deck.

Torpedo Tubes.

4 Above water.

Twin screw. Hp. forced 8,400 = 19 kts. Coal normal 500 tons.

Akula. Russian submarine (1905). Length, 77 ft.; displacement, 175 tons; speed, 7 kts.

A.L. Distinguishing letters on sea fishing boats registered at Ameland, Holland.

A.L. Distinguishing letters on sea fishing boats registered at Leer, Germany.

Alabama. U.S. 1st class battleship. (Cramp's,

1898.)

Length 368 ft. Beam 72 ft.
Displacement 11,565 tons.

Guns.
4-13 in., 35 cal.

Akademischer Segler-Verein. modore, A. von Appen; Vice-Commodore, W. Hahn; Rear-Commodore, Paul Hillmann; Treasurer, Walter Otto; Secretary, Hans Bokland; Konigliche Technische Hochschule, Charlottenburg, Berlin. trance fee, 50m.; annual subscription, 150m.

Est. 1886. Com

En

6-6 pdr.

4-1 pdr.

Akagi. Japanese gun-boat. (Yokosuka, 1891.) Length 164 ft. Beam 27 ft. Maximum draught 10 ft. Displacement 615 tons. Complement 130.

14-6 in.

4 Colts.

2 Field guns (3 in.).

Mean draught 23 ft.
Complement 490.

Armour.
"Harvey-nickel."

16 in. Belt amidships.

16 in. Turrets.

10 in. Conning tower.

Torpedo Tubes (18 in.).

4 Above water (Armoured).

ALABAMA

Coal

Twin screw. Hp. forced 10,000 = 16 kts. maximum 1,450 tons. Approximate cost £950,000. Alabama. Celebrated Confederate cruiser, originally known as 'No. 290," her number in the yard of the builders, Messrs. Laird, of Birkenhead. She was a steam vessel of 1,000 tons, launched May 15, 1862, with engines of 300 Hp., giving a speed of about 11 kts. During judicial inquiries after her character, under pretext of making a trial trip, she slipped out to sea, July 29, the day before the British Government telegraphed to detain her. Under the command of Captain Semmes she did great damage to American mercantile shipping, between the banks of Newfoundland and Martinique, and succeeded in destroying the Hatteras, a Federal vessel engaged in the blockade of Galveston. She was eventually destroyed by the Federal ironclad Kearsarge, off Cherbourg, June 19, 1864. Refer to Alabama Case.

Alabama Case. The Alabama was a steamer launched at Birkenhead in 1862, and obviously intended for a Confederate cruiser. Although the attention of the British Government was drawn to her, she was allowed to escape, and wrought great havoc to property of the Northern States until sunk by the Kearsarge (q.v.) in 1864. An international tribunal, which sat at Geneva in 1871, assessed the damage to be paid by Great Britain at over £3,000,000.

In the treaty of submission the following rules were agreed upon by the United States and Great Britain to be observed among themselves, and other nations who acceded to them.

A neutral Government is bound: (1) to use due diligence to prevent the fitting out, arming or equipping within its jurisdiction of any vessel it has ground for believing is intended to carry on war against a Power with which it is at peace, and also to prevent the departure from its jurisdiction of such vessel; (2) not to permit either belligerent to use its waters as a base of operations, or for the purpose of renewing supplies, men, etc.; and (3) to exercise due diligence as to persons within its jurisdiction, to prevent any violation of the above obligations.

Alacrity. British despatch boat (1,700 tons, 17 kts.). Launched 1885.

Alagoas. Brazilian river turret armoured gunboat. (Brazil, 1888.)

Length 120ft. Beam 28ft. Maximum draught 5 ft. Displacement 335 tons. Complement 43.

California made a careful and exact survey of the coast, and was the first European to explore the Colorado river; was the first to prove that California was a peninsula and not an island, and on his return to New Spain in 1541 he constructed a map of California, which, according to M. Dufflot de Mofras, scarcely differs from the one in use at the present day.

Alarm. British torpedo gun-boat (1892). Length 230 ft. Beam 27 ft. Maximum draught 124 ft. Displacement 810 tons. Complement 85.

Twin screw. Hp. forced 7,500 = 20.25 kts. Coal maximum 700 tons.

Albatross (Diomedea). A genus of aquatic birds, closely allied to the petrels and gulls, belonging to the family of long-winged birds. The name especially applied to D. exulans, one of the largest birds capable of sustaining flight, and best known as the common or wandering albatross. It occurs in all parts of the Southern Ocean, and in the seas that wash the coast of Asia, and is occasionally found in the North Pacific, especially during the breeding season. The colour of the bird is a dusky white, the back being streaked transversely with black or brown bands, and the wings darker than the rest of the body. The

ALBATROSS

beak is large, strong and sharp-edged, the upper mandible terminating in a large hook; the wings are narrow and very long. The feet have no hind toe, and the three anterior toes are completely webbed. It feeds on small fish and on animal refuse that floats on the sea. It is a true sea bird, following ships for great distances, and rarely found on land, except during the breeding season. The early explorers considered the presence of the bird a good omen, and the evil that befell him " who shot with his cross bow the albatross," is familiar to the readers of Coleridge's "Rime of the Ancient Mariner."

Albatross. British torpedo-boat destroyer. (Chiswick, 1898.) Length, 227 ft.; beam, 21 ft.; draught, 8 ft.; displacement, 360 tons; complement, 68; armament, 1 12-pdr., 5 6-pdr.; 2 tubes; twin screw; Hp., 7,900 32 kts.; coal, 100 tons.

Albatross. Italian torpedo-boat. (Odero, 1906.) Length, 165 ft.; beam, 17 ft.; draught, 7 ft.; displacement, 200 tons; complement, 30; armament, 3 3-pdr., 3 tubes; twin screw; Hp., 3,000 = 25 kts. ; coal, 40 tons. Albedo. An astronomical term used to signify the proportion of incident light reflected by a nonluminous surface.

Albemarle. British 1st class battleship. ham, 1901.)

(Chat

17

Albuquerque, Affonso D' (1453-1515) (b. Alexandria). Surnamed the "Great" and the Portuguese Mars." He was the means of upholding and extending the power of Portugal in India and the East from 1503-when he set out on his first expedition-till 1515, when the island of Ormus yielded to him without resistance, and remained in possession of the Portuguese until 1822. He captured Goa in 1510, Malacca 1511, and subdued the Malabar Coast, Ceylon, and other ports of the East. He died at sea, December 15, 1515, and his body was buried at Goa, in the Church of " Our Lady."

Alcester, Frederick Beauchamp Paget Seymour, Baron (1812-95). British Admiral. Entered the Navy 1834, and served in the Mediterranean and Pacific. Promoted Commander 1847, and Captain 1854. Was captain of the Pelorous on the Australian station, and commanded the Naval Brigade in New Zealand during the Maori war (1860-61), for which he was made a C.B. In 1870 he became a Rear-Admiral, and Lord of the Admiralty (187274), and 1876 was made a Vice-Admiral and Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean fleet; on May 24, 1881, he was made G.C.B., and one year later promoted to the rank of Admiral. In July, 1882, he commanded at the Bombardment of Alexandria, for which service he was raised to the peerage of Baron Alcester, of Alcester, and had a Parliamentary grant of £25,000.

Alcione. Italian torpedo-boat. (Odero, 1906.) Length, 165 ft.; beam, 17 ft.; draught, 7 ft. ; displacement, 200 tons; complement, 30; armament, 3 3-pdr., 3 tubes; Hp., 3,000 = 25 kts.; coal, 40 tons.

Alcock, Major Alfred William, C.I.E. 1903, M.D., LL.D., F.R.S., (b. June 23, 1859). Superintendent of the Indian Museum and Professor of Zoology in the Medical College, Calcutta. Educ. Mill Hill, Westminster, Blackheath, Aberdeen University. Joined the Indian Medical Service (1885); Surgeon-Naturalist to the Marine Survey of India on board the R.I.M.S. Investigator (1888-92).

Publications: "Naturalist in Indian Seas" (1902). Aldebaran, the lucida of Taurus, a well-known nautical star, commonly called Bull's-eye.

Aldeburgh Yacht Club. Est. 1898. Commodore, A. H. E. Wood; Vice-Commodore, S. Garrett; RearCommodore, Percy Clark; Honorary Treasurer, W. H. T. T. Powell; Secretary, Ernest S. Rogers; Albeburgh-on-Sea. Annual Subscription, £1 IS.

Alden, John (1599-1686). One of the Pilgrim Fathers, who sailed in the Mayflower. Has been

ALDRICH

immortalised in Longfellow's "Courtship of Miles Standish."

Aldrich, Vice-Admiral Pelham (b. December 8, 1844). Entered Navy 1859, and served as First Lieutenant in the Challenger survey expedition (1872-75), and as First Lieutenant on the Alert in' the Arctic expedition (1875-76). (Arctic Medal.) Promoted Rear-Admiral 1898, and was Second-inCommand of "B" fleet in manœuvres (1899), and in 1900 promoted Admiral-Superintendent of Portsmouth Dockyard. Refer to Arctic Exploration, Antarctic Exploration.

Alee. Position of helm when tiller is over to leeside, to go about.

Alewife (Culpæ-alosa). A fish of the herring tribe. Alexander. See Isabella.

Alexandra Yacht Club, Southend. Established 1873. Flag: Red ensign. Burgee: Blue, red shield, three white cutlasses in centre. Commodore: W. C. Blatspiel-Stamp; Vice-Commodore, F. G. Ensor; Rear-Commodore, E. F. Wood; Honorary Treasurer, G. F. Jones; Honorary Secretary, Arthur F. Allen. Entrance fee, £2 2s. and £1 IS. Annual subscription, £2 28.

Alexeieff, Erghenyi Ivanovitch (b. 1843). Russian Naval Officer of Armenian extraction. In 1899 he commanded the Pacific Squadron, and afterwards was made Governor of Kwangting and Viceroy of the Far East (1903). His obstinate policy, to a great extent, precipitated the war with Japan.

Alfonso XII. Spanish cruiser. (Ferrol, 1890.) Length 278 ft. Beam 42 ft. Maximum draught 17 ft. Displacement 341 tons. Complement 300.

Alfred, Ernest Albert, Duke of Edinburgh and Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1844-1900). Second son and fourth child of Queen Victoria (b. Windsor Castle, August 6, 1844). Entered the Navy 1856, and in August, 1858, having passed his examination for midshipman, was appointed to the Euryalus. Was promoted Lieutenant 1863; Captain 1866, being then appointed to the command of the Galatea. On attaining his majority (1865), he was created Duke of Edinburgh and Earl of Ulster, and given an annuity of £50,000. On January 24, 1867, he started his voyage round the world, visiting Gibraltar, the Cape, and landed at Glenelg, South Australia, on October 31. After a stay of five months, in which he visited the principal towns of the colonies; it was on his second visit to Sydney, while attending a public picnic, an Irishman shot him in the back with a revolver; the wound was fortunately not dangerous. In 1869 he visited India, and on his return was promoted Rear-Admiral, and in 1882 Vice-Admiral, and received his baton as Admiral of the Fleet, June 3, 1893. He commanded the Channel Fleet (188384); the Mediterranean Fleet (1886-89); and was Commander-in-Chief at Devonport (1890-93). In August, 1893, he succeeded his uncle, Ernest II, as reigning Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. He was succeeded by his nephew, the Duke of Albany.

Alfred the Great. Youngest son of Ethelwulf, King of the West Saxons (b. Wantage, Berkshire, 849. A.D.). When quite young he greatly distinguished himself in assisting his brother Ethelred against the Danes, particularly at Ashdown, and on the death of Ethelred, he was unanimously elected King (871). When only twenty-two years of age he concluded a Treaty of Peace with the Danes, who withdrew to London, and his supremacy was acknowledged through the whole country, south of the Thames, and the greater part of Mercia. He practically founded the British Navy, and the naval victory which he gained over Danish rovers (875), is the first on record won by Englishmen. Alfred was the means of putting the country into a complete state of defence, old fortifications were repaired, and new ones raised in suitable localities; the fleet was brought into a state of efficiency. He greatly encouraged commerce, and took a keen interest in geographical study, founded schools, encouraged literature, improved the service of the Church; and his devotion to learning and his exertion in the cause of education, are among the most agreeable features of his reign. He died on October 27, 1901, at the age of 52, and was buried at Winchester, the ancient capital of England.

His principal works are as follows: "Manual or Handbook," of which no copy is known to exist; "Laws" (See Wilkin's " Leges Anglo-Saxonicæ " (1721), and Thorpe's "Ancient Laws and Institutes of England" (London, 1840). Translations into Old English (Anglo-Saxon) of the following: "Bede's Ecclesiastical History," edited by Wheloc, Cam

Algerien. French submarine. (Cherbourg, 1901.) Length, 118 ft.; beam, 9 ft.; draught, 8 ft.; displacement, 146 tons; complement, 9; Hp., 250 = 8 kts.

Algol. A variable star in Perseus, which goes through its changes in a little under three days.

Algoma. Canadian steamer, foundered in Lake Superior, November 7, 1885; 45 lives lost.

Alien, An, is one who owes allegiance to a foreign State. By English law every one born in British territory is a British subject, and every one born outside British territory is an alien, except children of a British father. A child born in British territory of alien parents is a natural-born British subject, but children of a British mother and foreign father are aliens, unless born in British Dominions. A British subject becoming naturalized in a foreign country ceases to be a British subject. A British woman marrying an alien becomes an alien. The status of aliens in Great Britain is regulated by the Naturalization Act (1870), by which Real and Personal property of every description may be taken, ac

means

an alien steerage passenger who is to be landed in the United Kingdom, other than one who is proceeding within a reasonable time to some destination out of the United Kingdom, or (in certain cases) passengers holding prepaid through tickets to some such destination. The Act provides for the landing of alien immigrants at such ports only as are provided with an Immigration officer, who shall control their landing and refuse (subject to appeal to the Port Immigrant Board) certain classes of immigrants described by the Act as "undesirables." The Act further provides for the expulsion of aliens resident in the United Kingdom, who, through some crime or other cause, have become "undesirable." Ship-owners and masters of ships are laid under certain obligations with regard to the carrying of alien immigrants, and may be convicted for contravention of the Act. alien immigrant is not excluded from the United Kingdom solely on the ground that he is a political offender.

An

Alington, Admiral Arthur Hildebrand. Entered Navy 1852; served in the Baltic and Black Seas during the Russian War; present at the night attack on the sea fortifications of Sebastopol, at the capture of Kertch and Kinburn; at the fall of Sebastopol (Baltic, Crimean and Turkish medals, Sebastopol clasp); Senior Lieutenant of Rinaldo on the North American Station during United States Civil War; received the Royal Humane Society's silver medal for jumping overboard with all his clothes on and saving the life of Private J. Brown, who attempted suicide by throwing himself overboard in the Bay of Biscay, May 1861. Lieutenant Commander of Britomart on Lake Erie during Fenian Riots 1866-68; Commander of Boxer on West Coast of Africa; took an active part in the destruction of various piratical villages during the Niger Expedition, 1877; mentioned in despatches; Assistant to Admiral Superintendent of Naval Reserves, March 1892-94; Captain's Good Service Pension 1892-94; Second-in-Command Channel Squadron 1895-96; Second-in-Command of Channel Fleet at the Navy Tactical Exercises 1895.

A.L.K. Distinguishing letters on sea fishing boats registered at Alkmaar, Holland.

Allan, Robert W. (b. 1852). Scotch marine painter. Studied in Paris, 1875-1880, one of the pioneers of the modern Glasgow School.

Allan, Sir Hugh (1810-82) (b. Saltcoats, Ayrshire). Was one of the projectors of the Canadian Pacific Railway Company, and in 1871 was knighted for services rendered to this enterprise.