ALLAN Allan Line, was originally founded as the Montreal Ocean Steamship Co., formed by the Allan Brothers, who had been connected with Canada as sailing-ship owners since 1820. The company began a mail service between Liverpool, Quebec and Montreal in April, 1856, and have since continued to meet and promote the postal, commercial and immigrational requirements of the vast Dominion of Canada. In the course of its career it has absorbed the fleet of the old State Line of Glasgow, and the greater part of the fleet of the Royal Exchange Shipping Company, and of the Hill Line. From the time of the Crimean War, down to the South African campaign, the company's vessels have been employed as transports, on occasions of national emergency. The finest vessels of the company are run in the mail service from Liverpool to the St Lawrence ports in the summer, to Halifax and St John's (N.B.) during the winter season, when the river is closed. The Virginian, the first turbine propelled Atlantic steamer, beat all records in August 1905, between Moville and Rimouski, the actual steaming time between ports being 5 days 21 hours. The vessel being out of sight of land only 3 days 21 hours. The Tunisian, crossing from Liverpool to Quebec, has done the land to land passage in 4 days 4 hours, and the Victorian in 4 days 1 hour. 20 Publications: "Foreshore Protection" (1899), "Utilisation of Tidal and Wave Action," Constructive Power of the Sea," Youghal Foreshore Protection Works," Protection and Improvement of Foreshore by the Utilisation of Tidal and Wave Action," "The Lea as a Constructive Agent," awarded Silver Medal Royal Scottish Society of Arts, 1900; Silver Medals Institution of Civil Engineers of Ireland, 1902, 1903. All Hands. The whole of the ship's company. Alliance Marine and General Assurance Company, Limited. Established in 1824, and originally authorised by a special Act of Parliament; in 1881 it was incorporated as a limited company under Com ALLUVIUM panies Act; in 1892, on the objects of the company being revised to meet the requirements of modern conditions, the words " and General" were ordered to be added to its description. Its present capital is £1,000,000 in 10,000 100 shares. £25 paid, i.e., £250,000 paid up. Of this, £50,000 was, in 1876, written off. Since that date a reserve has been accumulated of £200,000. The directors of the company are: Rt. Hon. Lord Rothschild, G.C.V.O. (President); Rt. Hon. Lord Battersea; A. V. Dunlop Best; James Fletcher; Hon. William H. Goschen; Max Hecht; C. Shirreff Hilton; W. Douro Hoare; Alfred H. Huth; Alex. Lawrie; Francis A. Lucas, M.P.; Henry Pryor Powell; Marlborough Robert Pryor; Hon. L. Walter Rothschild, M.P.; Hon. N. Charles Rothschild; Sir Marcus Samuel, Bart.; H. Melvill Simons; Harry Alexander Trotter. Auditors: Benjamin L. Cohen, M.P., Charles L. Nichols, F.C.A.; Underwriter, Edward W. Nicholls; Secretary, Douglas Owen. Offices: Capel Court, London. Alligator Fish (Podothecus Acipenserinus). Found in the Strait of Fuca, Puget Sound, and other inlets along the north-east coast of the Pacific. The fish is about a foot in length, with a compressed tapering body. Alligator Reef Lighthouse, Florida, is one of the finest iron sea-swept lighthouse structures in the world. It is 135 ft. in height, standing on the Florida Reef in 5 ft. of water. In construction it closely resembles the Fowey Rocks tower. Allin, Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas (1612-85) (b. Lowestoft). Was in command of a ship of the Prince Rupert Squadron (1649-50). In 1665, when in command of a small fleet, successfully engaged a Dutch convoy off Cadiz, and in the following year served in the first battle of the North Foreland and the St James's fight. In 1670 he became Controller of the Navy, and in 1678 Commander-in-Chief in the Channel. All in the Wind. When vessel's head is too close to wind. Sails not drawing. All Serene. Australian ship, wrecked in a gale in the Pacific, February 21, 1864; 30 lives were lost. Alluvion is land claimed from the sea by the washing up of carth and sand. Refer to Foreshore: Riparian Laws. Alluvium. The geological term for soil or land, made up of the settlement deposited by running water. It may be (1) restricted to all stream deposits, such as sand, mud, shingle, gravel, boulders, etc., or (2) include all kinds of recent deposits, such as dune, formations along the sea-shore, turf, coral eefs, etc. The principal level tracks are the deltas or the delloid formations, at the mouths of large rivers. The delta of the Nile is one of the best marked speci Alt. Length 130 ft. Maximum draught 12 ft. Displacement 420 tons. Complement 80. Guns. 2-3.7 in. 3 Maxims. Hp. 400 10 kts. Coal 50 tons. Alternating (near a light). Abbreviation adopted on the Charts issued by the Hydrographic Office, Admiralty. Altair. The bright nautical star Aquilæ. Altitude. A term applied to the angular distance of a celestial object from the horizon. Observations of altitude are made at sea with the sextant, for the purpose of working out problems essential to navigation, such as finding the latitude and rating the chronometers. Refer to Sextant. Altmouth Sailing Club. Established 1873. Commodore: A. W. Kirk; Vice-Commodore and Honorary Treasurer: J. Banks Cran; Honorary Secretary: T. B. Dean, The Dunes, Warren Road, Blundellsand, Liverpool. Entrance fee, £1 IS. Annual subscrip Aluminium is a metallic substance, first separated from the chloride by Wohler in 1828. In 1854 Clare D'ville succeeded in improving the mode of production, but it was not until 1885 that a really practical electrical method of production was patented by Messrs Cowls, this being finally supplanted by the Herault-Hall method. Its formula is A1. 27'1, and although not found free, is one of the most abundant elements in nature. The former process of manufacture consisted in heating to a red heat a mixture of the double chloride of aluminium and sodium, but it is now almost exclusively obtained by the electrolysis of a solution of the purified oxide in moulton cryolite. It is a white metal resembling silver in appearance, takes a fine polish, without odour and taste, highly malleable at 100° to 150° C, and may be beaten and rolled into thin sheets, or drawn into fine wire. Has a high specific heat and a low specific gravity, conducts heat and electricity as well as silver. It does not oxidise in air; is not acted upon by sulphuretted hydrogen or sulphide of ammonium, and preserves its lustre where silver would tarnish 22 AMALFI or blacken. It is soluble in hydrochloride acid, and solutions of caustic potash and soda. When alloyed with copper it becomes a highly important metal, and is largely used for mounting sextants and other astronomical instruments, and for making balance beams. Owing to its lightness, toughness and strength, it is extensively used for boat building; for torpedo boats, balloon fitting, bicycles, telegraphy and telephony as conductors; and also used as a substitute for stone in lithography. It is manufactured largely at works beside the Niagara Falls, the Falls of Schaffhausen and the Falls of Foyers in Inverness-shire. See Borcher's" Electric smelting," Blount's "Electric Chemistry" (1901), Richard's 'Aluminium" (3rd edition), 1896. Alvarado, Pedro de (b. Badajoz, 1495). One of the Spanish leaders in the discovery and conquest of America. In February 1519 he accompanied Hernando Cortez in the conquests of Mexico, and in 1523 in the conquest of Guatemala, of which place he was subsequently appointed Governor. He died at Guatemala in 1541. Alvarado. U.S. gun-boat, captured from Spain during the Spanish American War. Of little fighting value. Always Afloat. These words, frequently found in Charter-Parties, mean that the vessel, to which they refer, shall load or discharge her cargo always afloat at a place which is safe for her to lie in when fully loaded. The questions usually arising are: (1) Has there been a breach of contract, and (2) who is to bear the expense of additional transport? Where by charter-party a vessel was to load at a certain dock, and could have loaded there, but her master shifted her to prevent being delayed from sailing by the taking-off of the tides, his owners had to pay lighterage. Where a ship was to discharge at A always afloat, and the master put into and discharged at B the nearest safe port that his vessel could lie in always afloat, he was held justified in so doing. On the other hand, where a vessel was to go to a certain port and discharge always afloat, and the charterer seeing the impossibility of getting a full ship to the quay, offered to lighten her, her master was held wrong in refusing. A.M. Distinguishing letters on sea fishing boats registered at Amsterdam, Holland. a.m. The abbreviation for ante-meridian. Amain. All at once, suddenly, generally used for anything that is moved by tackle-fall. Amalfi. Italian armoured cruiser (1906). Length 429 ft. Beam 69 ft. Mean draught 23 ft. Displacement 9,830 tons. Ambassador. Steamer, sunk in collision with the George Mansion, an American ship, in lat. 58° 6′N. long, 73° 27′E. December 25, 1876; 23 lives lost. Ambassadors. See Embassies. Amber. A hard resinous vegetable substance, of a bright yellow colour, and translucent. It occurs chiefly on the southern shores of the Baltic, and those of Sicily, where it is thrown up by the sea. Ambergris is a solid, fatty, inflammable substance, with ruddy, marble-like veins running through it— probably a biliary secretion-derived from the intestines of the spermaceti whale. It is generally found floating in the sea, on the sea-coast, or in the sand upon the shore. It is usually met with in the Atlantic Ocean, on the coasts of Brazil and Madagascar, China, Japan, and the Molucca Islands, but more particularly the Bahama Islands. It is extensively used in the manufacture of perfumery, and its price for such use varies from 15s. to 25s. per ounce. 23 AMERICA Its genuineness is easily tested by its solubility in hot alcohol; its fragrant odour and uniform fatty consistence, on being penetrated by a hot wire. Amelia. Steamer. When on a voyage from London to Liverpool was lost on the Herne Sand, February 26, 1841. Amelia Thompson. Ship lost near Madras, May 23, 1843. Her America Cup. The circumstances which led to the offer of the now historic trophy are as follows: The America, a schooner yacht of 170 tons, was built for a New York syndicate by George Steers, much on the lines of an American pilot boat. nominal owner, Commodore Stevens, brought her to Cowes, where, owing to his rather bombastic challenges, he was unable to arrange any match for some time. Finally, after numerous abortive attempts at bringing about a race, the Royal Yacht Squadron decided to offer a silver cup, valued at 1,000 guineas, for a race round the Isle of Wight, open to "all the world." The famous trophy which was won by the America on August 22, 1851, was not, as frequently stated, a Queen's Cup. The Royal prize could only be raced for by yachts belonging to members of the Royal Yacht Squadron, and thus, of course, the visitors were not qualified to enter. The America left New York on June 21, 1851, and arrived at Havre on July 11, the voyage to Havre having been accomplished in twenty days and five hours, which must be considered remarkably good time when it is taken into account that she was becalmed four days. The America's average running was about 74 kts. Her best run for twenty-four hours was 284 kts, and her worst 33 kts. The dimensions of the America were as follows: 94 ft. in length, on deck from stem to stern; 83 ft. on the water line; her keel 8 ft. and beam 23 ft. amidships. She drew 11 ft. of water in sailing trim, and her measurement was 170 tons. Her spars were respectively 794 ft. and 81 ft. long, with a rake of nearly three inches to the foot. Her main gaff was 26 ft. long, and her main boom 58 ft. She carried a lug foresail, with foregaff of 24 ft. long, and the length of her bowsprit was 32 ft. She carried eight men before the mast, besides the captain, first and second mates and carpenter. The race for the trophy was sailed on August 22, 1851, the course being "round the Isle of Wight, inside Norman's buoy and Sandhead buoy, and outside the Nab." The following yachts were entered; they were anchored in a double line. No time allowed for tonnage: Fernande 80 Mr. B. H. Jones. 60 Mr. W. Curling. schooner 127 Major Martyn. Aurora The Titania and the Stella did not start, and the Fernande did not take her station (the latter was twice winner in 1850 and once in 1851). Thus only fifteen started, of which seven were schooners, including the Brilliant (three-masted schooner), and eight were cutters. At ten o'clock the signal gun for sailing was fired, and before the smoke had well cleared away the whole of the beautiful fleet was under way, moving steadily to the east with the tide and a gentle breeze. The Gipsy Queen, with all her canvas set and in the strength of the tide, took the lead after starting, with the Beatrice next, and then, with little difference in order, the Volante, Constance, Arrow, and a flock of others. The America went easily for some time, and then began to creep up on them, passing some of the cutters to windward. In a quarter of an hour she had left them all behind, except the Constance, Beatrice and Gipsy Queen, which were well together, and went along smartly with the light breeze. Off No Man's Land Buoy the yachts were timed: The other six were struggling away in the rear, and the Wyvern soon afterwards hauled her wind and went back towards Cowes. At this point the wind blew somewhat steadily, and the America began to show a touch of her quality. Whenever the breeze took the line of her hull, all her sails set as flat as a drumhead, and without any careering or staggering she "walked along " past cutter and schooner, and when off Brading had left every vessel of the squadron behind her-a mere ruck-with the exception of Volante, which she overtook at 11.30. As there was no wind the time consumed in getting up from Hurst Castle to the winning flag was very considerable. The America arrived first at 8.37, the Aurora at 8.45, the Bacchante at 9.30, the Eclipse at 9.45, the Brilliant at 1.20. The rest were not timed. Thus the America made good all her professions, and Messrs. Stephens were presented by the Royal Yacht Squadron with the well won cup. The winners conveyed it by deed of gift to the New York Yacht Club, to be held by that Club against all challengers as an international trophy. In 1870 and 1871 Britain challenged with the Cambria and Livonia, both of which were defeated. Canada challenged in 1875 and 1881, and met with a similar fate. Further British challengers in 1885 and 1887 were unsuccessful. In 1893 Lord Dunraven challenged with Valkyrie II., but was unable to carry off the cup. In 1895 he challenged again, and won the first race against the American Defender. The second race fell to the Defender, and on this occasion Lord Dunraven attributed his defeat to the crowded state of the course. In the third race his yacht merely crossed the line, in order to give the American yacht a start, and then withdrew from the contest. No further challengers were forthcoming until 1898, when Sir Thomas Lipton challenged, and in the following year sent over the Shamrock to compete against the American Columbia. The contest took place October 1899, outside Sandy Hook, and although a series of five races had been arranged, it was only necessary to sail three, the Columbia winning the first by 11 minutes; finishing alone in the second, owing to the Shamrock losing her top-mast; and the third by six minutes 34 seconds. In 1900 he again challenged, and a new vessel, the Shamrock II., was sent out in the following year, but he was again beaten by the Columbia, that vessel winning three races consecutively, the first by about 200 yards, the second by a little over a minute. In 1903 he challenged again with Shamrock III., and this time sailed against the American Reliance. Although his boat showed wonderful qualities in the light and fluky airs characteristic of these waters at the season in which the races took place, he again failed to win a single race. America Maru. Japanese Government Liner (1898). Dimensions, 423 x 51 x 29 ft.; gross tonnage 6,307. Hp., 10,000 = 17 kts. American and Colonial Weekly. Established 1902. Published (Wednesday). Price 3d. Address: 14 Coventry Street, W.C., and 38 King William Street, E.C. American Average Clause. See Clauses. American Line. The International Navigation Company, the proprietary organisation from which this Line was developed, was incorporated in Pennsylvania in 1871. In 1873 a fortnightly service of steamers was established between Antwerp and |