Northerner. Steamer. On January 6, 1860, this vessel was wrecked on a rock near Cape Mendorino, between San Francisco and Oregon, when 38 lives were lost.

Northern Maritime Insurance Co., Ltd. Registered in 1863, and in 1887 took over the business of the Newcastle Commercial Marine Insurance Co., Ltd. (registered in 1864). The subscribed capital is £50,000, in shares of £5, on which £3 per share is paid up, all but 10s., however, out of profits, the last addition having been IOS. in 1888. For each of the 23 years ending 1904 the dividend was 10%, with a bonus of 3s. per share added for 1891, 2s. for 1893, 2s. for 1896, 25. for 1904. The reserve fund is £23,000, and the credit to profit and loss account £15,137.

The directors of the company are: J. S. Mitcalfe (chairman), T. Bell, J. J. Forster, J. L. Gracie, J. D. Milburn, C. W. Rose. Underwriter and secretary, James Ferguson. Offices: Maritime Buildings, Newcastle-on-Tyne.

NORTH

Northern Yacht Club, Royal. See Royal Northern Yacht Club.

Northers. Dry, cold winds over the Gulf of Mexico. Similar winds at Valparaiso have the

same name.

Northfleet. On January 22, 1873, this vessel, laden with railway iron for Van Diemen's Land, was run into by a foreign steamer off Dungeness and went down; 300 lives lost.

North Foreland, Battle of, was fought during the first Dutch war between the Dutch Fleet, under De Ruyter, and a British Fleet, under Monck, Dean, Penn, and Lawson. The battle lasted two days, the Dutch losing II ships. A second action took place here on June 1, 1666, during the second Dutch war, when Monck attacked the Dutch Fleet under De Ruyter. After three days' fighting the British had to retreat, with a loss of 21 vessels, besides two flag-officers and nine captains. The Dutch loss was small.

North of Ireland Yacht Club, Royal. See Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club.

North of Scotland Steam Navigation Co., with their head offices in Aberdeen, maintain a service of steamers from Leith and Aberdeen to Norway, sailing about every 10 days. Steamers of the company also run during the summer months from Leith and Aberdeen to Lerwick, Tuesdays and Fridays; to Scalloway, Shetland, Mondays; to Kirkwall, Tuesdays and Fridays; to Stromness, Mondays; to St. Margaret's Hope every alternate Monday; Thurso, Mondays; and Wick, Mondays and Fridays.

North Queensland Insurance Co., Ltd. Registered October 1, 1886. Authorised capital £250,000, out of which 115,000 shares have been subscribed, on which 10s. per share has been called on 100,000, and 5s. on 15,000, making the paid-up capital £53,750. In 1896 this company absorbed the institution known as Sydney Lloyd's. Since the incorporation the dividend has been steadily increasing from 4% up to 8% in 1905. The reserve fund amounts to £50,000.

The directors of the company are: Colonel James Burns (chairman), Sir John See, K.C.M.G., A. Forsyth, John Macpherson, A. R. Troup. Head office: Bridge Street, Sydney, N.S.W.

North Sea and Baltic Canal. See Kaiser Wilhelm Canal.

North Shannon Yacht Club. Established 1895. Commodore, The Earl of Kingston; Vice-Commodore, G. A. P. Kelly; Honorary Treasurer, E. Hamilton; Honorary Secretary, Robert Devenish, Drumsna, co. Leitrim, Ireland. Annual subscription, I.

NORTHUMBERLAND

Northumberland. 70 guns.

On November 26, 1703, this vessel was lost on the Goodwin Sands.

Northumberland. British 1st class cruiser (10,790 tons, 133 kts.). Launched 1868.

Northumberland, Duke of. See Admiralty.

Northumberland Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., Howdonon-Tyne. This company was founded in the year 1898, and its career may be classed as a remarkable success. In the summer of 1898 the premises and property of the late "Edwards' Shipbuilding Co." were purchased by Mr. Rowland Hodge, who formed the Northumberland Shipbuilding Co., which is a private limited one, having Sir Christopher Furness, M.P., as its chairman, Mr. Rowland Hodge as managing director, and Mr. John Storey Barwick and Mr. Joseph Graham as directors. Mr. Graham is also yard manager, and Mr. George E. Conner is the secretary.

The company at present employs an average of about 1,300 men, and the yearly wages bill amounts to nearly £100,000. In February, 1899, the company launched their first vessel, the Ravenshoe, of 6,000 dead weight, and the following figures will show the remarkable strides the company has made in production since its formation:

These results were undoubtedly obtained by the energy and progressive methods adopted by the management, and it is evident that they have justified the energy and foresight displayed.

At the time of the formation of the company the buildings, together with the machinery, were small and obsolete, but steps were at once taken to convert the old yard, buildings, and machinery into a modern establishment replete with the best and heaviest machinery for the building of large vessels, and a number of large steamers were immediately put in hand.

New shipyard tools, consisting of specially designed shearing, punching, bending, planing machines, etc., were installed from Messrs. A. and W. Smith and Co., Ltd., of Glasgow; hydraulic machinery by Fielding and Platt, Ltd., of Gloucester, was provided with hydraulic hoists and riveters throughout; also a complete installation of electric lighting and power plant by the Newcastle-on-Tyne Electric Supply Co., Ltd.

Soon the premises were found to be too small for their requirements, and negotiations were entered into with the Tyne Commissioners for the

NORTHUMBERLAND

purchase of adjoining ground, and about three acres were added to the yard, thus giving an area of about 11 acres, with a river frontage of 800 ft.

A large additional berth, suitable for 10,000 to 12,000 ton steamers, was arranged upon this ground. Fresh buildings and machinery of the most modern type were laid down, and the yard has now five large berths capable of building steamers up to about 650 ft. in length.

The large steel and iron machine shop in the east yard, with joiners' shop and mould loft above, is about 300 ft. long by 64 ft. wide, and one of the finest and largest of its kind in the North of England. The lower portion of this structure contains a number of heavy shipyard tools, and is also completely equipped with fitters' and plumbers' shops, as well as a large general store. The upper portion forms an enormous joiners' shop, which is fitted up with all the most modern and improved styles of joiners' machines, chiefly supplied by Messrs. Kirchner and Co., the whole forming a joiners' shop and appointments equal to any on the river.

The recently constructed machine shed, with frame furnace, in the West Yard is 320 ft. long by 80 ft. broad, with mould loft above, is one of the loftiest, airiest, and largest of its kind on the river, and is completely fitted with suitable machinery.

In regard to ship construction, as already stated, the management have adopted the most progressive methods, and all parts where possible are joggled and scarfed, thus dispensing entirely with vexatious loose liner pieces, and ensuring short rivets with sound work, the maximum of strength, and dispensing with superfluous weight, whilst all work where possible is hydraulically riveted on the ground before being fitted in place.

In the first year Mr. Hodge gave careful consideration to the question of building large cargo steamers of a size to suit the requirements of the majority of shipowners, with the result that it was decided to build a steamer of the spar deck class having dimensions 372 ft. o.a., 360 ft. b.p.. by 48 ft. 10 in. d.m., to carry 7,300 tons d.w. on a moderate draught.

Several of these vessels were built and sold during construction, and others were laid down, some on order and some for sale, and the result was that an extraordinary demand arose for these vessels, no fewer than 42 having been built from the same model up to the present time, while three others of exactly the same description are at present on order, this constituting a record of 45 vessels of one size and model built by the same firm in nine years, in addition to many others, notably amongst which may be mentioned the Mercedes, built to the order of John R. Christie, of Cardiff, for the British Admiralty for the purpose of conveying coal from New Zealand to the China Fleet and coaling at sea. This steamer

carries over 7,000 tons of coal, is built with side tanks sloping from the side of the hatchways to the skin plating continuously fore and aft, thus constituting a self-trimmer and giving a large quantity of water ballast, and allowing the vessel to make each return voyage in ballast. This type of steamer is specially recommended to those requiring the conveyance of coal, ore, grain in bulk, or other homogeneous cargoes. The company have also turned out some vessels of large cargo-carrying capacity, including the Filippo Artelli, built to the order of D. Tripcovich, of Trieste, and the Rotterdam for Messrs. Furness, Withy and Co., Ltd., West Hartlepool, both vessels being capable of carrying 9,000 tons dead weight.

The cargo-carrying type of vessel built by the Northumberland Shipbuilding Co. is of the highest class, and the company is also fully equipped for the building of large and speedy passenger steamers, floating docks, and any other type of floating craft which may be required. The company's name is also on the Admiralty List.

Northumberland Yacht Club.

Established 1890. Commodore, Sir Gainsford Bruce; Vice-Commodore, W. Runciman; Rear-Commodore, W. S. Vaughan; Treasurer, W. F. Allden; Honorary Secretary, W. S. Burton, 141 Pilgrim Street, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Entrance fee, 1; annual subscription, I IS.

Norwegian Royal Mail Route, with their head offices at Newcastle-on-Tyne, maintain services between Newcastle-on-Tyne and Norway. Steamers leave Newcastle-on-Tyne every Tuesday for Bergen and Trondhjem; every Thursday and Saturday for Bergen and Stavanger; every Friday for Arandal and Christiania.

Nose. Denoting the stem of a ship.

Nothing off. A term used to the helmsman directing him to keep close to the wind.

Notice of abandonment. See Abandonment.

Noup Head Light, situated on a point in the north-westerly part of the Orkney Islands, was established in 1898, and is a five-flash light every 60 seconds; duration of flash, second; candlepower, 51,000; burner, 5 wick; illuminant, oil.

Novik. Russian protected cruiser. This vessel, in endeavouring to make Vladivostock, was attacked by two Japanese cruisers. On August 20, 1905, she was compelled to go into Aniwa Bay, where she was attacked by the Japanese and severely damaged. Her crew then ran her ashore

NYMPHE

near the town, set her on fire, and she was totally destroyed.

Nowaki. Japanese torpedo - boat destroyer. (Saseho, 1906.) Length, 220 ft.; beam, 20 ft.; draught, 9 ft.; displacement, 374 tons; complement, 58; armament, 1 12-pdr., 5 6-pdr., 2 tubes; twin screw; Hp., 6,000=29 kts. ; coal, 96 tons.

Np. Neaps. Abbreviation adopted on the charts issued by the Hydrographic Office, Admiralty.

N.S. Distinguishing letters on sea fishing boats registered at Waterford, Ireland.

Guns. 4-6 in. 8-4'7 in. 12-3 pdr. 14-1 pdr.

Twin screw.

14,500 225 kts.

Mean draught 20ft.
Complement 320.

Armour.
Steel."

4 in. Deck.

Torpedo Tubes.

5 Above water.

Hp. natural 12,500=21 kts., forced Coal maximum 770 tons.

Nun-buoy. A conical ship buoy made of staves large in the middle, tapering rapidly to the ends.

N.V. Distinguishing letters on sea fishing boats registered at Nieuw Bossemeer, Holland.

N.W. Distinguishing letters on sea fishing boats registered at Nordwijk, Holland.

N.Y. Abbreviation for New York.

O.B. Distinguishing letters on sea fishing boats registered at Oban, Scotland.

O.B. Distinguishing letters on sea fishing boats registered at Brake, Germany.

Oboro. Japanese torpedo-boat destroyer. (Yarrow, 1899.) Length, 220 ft.; beam, 20 ft.; draught, 9 ft.; displacement, 311 tons; complement, 55; armament, 1 12-pdr., 5 6-pdr., 2 tubes; twin screw; Hp., 6,000=314 kts.; coal, 90 tons.

O'Brien. U.S. torpedo-boat (1900). Displacement, 174 tons; guns, 5 1-pdr.; torpedo tubes, 3 18-in.; maximum speed, 26 kts.

Obsn. spot. Observation spot +. Abbreviation adopted on the charts issued by the Hydrographic Office, Admiralty.

Obusier. French torpedo-boat destroyer. (Forges et Chantiers, 1904.) Length, 180 ft.; beam, 21 ft.; maximum draught, 10 ft. ; displacement, 300 tons; complement, 45; guns, 1 9-pdr., 6 3-pdr. ; torpedo tubes, 2 15-in. ; speed, 27-30 kts.

Occidental and Oriental Steamship Co. See White Star Line.

Ocean, The, embraces, properly speaking, all the salt water of the globe, with a few trifling exceptions, such as the Caspian, the Sea of Aral, and the Dead Sea. Different portions of the ocean have received distinctive names, of which there are five in all-the Arctic, Atlantic, Indian, Pacific, and Antarctic; or if the Atlantic and Pacific are separated into a northern and a southern portion by the equator, then there are seven in all. The area of the ocean is about 145,000,000 square miles, or nearly three-quarters of the whole surface

OCEANIC

of the earth. It affects the temperature of the adjacent lands, tempering the heat of summer and the cold of winter. As far as has at present been ascertained, the average depth of the ocean is not more than 2,000 fathoms, slightly over two miles. At 62° Fahr. the relative density of fresh and salt water is as 1'0275 is to 1. The colour of the ocean varies in different places, being generally greenish near the shore and blue in the deeper parts. The saltness of the ocean, the nature of the bottom where it is shallow, and any clouds overhead all modify the colour.

Refer to Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Antarctic Ocean, Challenger Expedition, Sounding Deep Sea, Wave, Current, Tide.

Ocean. British 1st class battleship. (Devonport, 1898.)

Length 418ft. Beam 74ft. Maximum draught 26ft.
Displacement 12,950 tons. Complement 750.
Armour.
"Harvey-nickel.”

Guns. 4-12 in., 35 cal. 12-6 in. 10-12 pdr.

6-3 pdr.

2 Maxims.

Twin screw.

6 in. Belt amidships.

12 in. Barbettes.

12 in. Conning tower.

Torpedo Tubes (18 in.).

4 Submerged.

Hp. 13,500 18 25 kts. Coal maximum 2,300 tons. Approximate cost £900,000. This ship-name was introduced into the Navy in 1759, with the capture of the French Ocean at the battle of Lagos Bay. It is also associated with Keppel's action off Brest, 1758.

Oceania. British subsidised merchant ship (1888). P. and O. Co. (q.v.). Dimensions, 468 x 52 × 34 ft.; gross tonnage, 6,605; passenger accommodation, 321; Hp., 6,000 = 17 kts.

Oceanic. British subsidised merchant ship (1899). White Star Line (q.v.). (Liverpool, New York.) Dimensions, 704 X 68 × 441 ft.; gross tonnage, 17,274; passenger accommodation, 1,725: Hp., 28,000=20 kts.

Oceanic Steamship Co., San Francisco. Regular steam navigation began on the Pacific coast when the steamer California arrived at San Francisco, February 28, 1849. The first Trans-Pacific line started in 1867 to Hong Kong, and was rapidly followed by the service from San Francisco to Australia.

Some 40 years ago the question of a steamship line to ply between San Francisco and Australia received practical consideration. Towards the end of 1867 the Californian Mail service commenced, only 15 years after the first English mail steamer, the Chusan, 786 net tons, had arrived in Sydney. In 1870 a mail contract was entered into with New Zealand, two steamers, the Wonga Wonga and City of Melbourne, inaugurating the service, connecting at Honolulu with an outward service from