SHIPPING CASUALTIES IN INDIAN WATERS.

Kumara Times, Issue 1101, 10 April 1880, Page 4

SHIPPING CASUALTIES IN INDIAN WATERS.

The last return of wrecks and caausalfcles in Indian Waters seems to show that there is need of a Plimsoll in that part of the world. Although there is probably no portion of the globe where vessels are so exposed to such sudden and great perils from strong currents, heavy seas, dangerous shoals and rocks, and terrific cyclones, combined with an almost entire absence of harbors of refuge, yet the Registrar of Wrecks remarks that "there is no other place In the world where ignorant or unprincipled shiwowners are to such an extent permitted to jeopardise the lives of the unfortunate creatures compelled by force of circumstances to man what have been rightly termed ' floating coffins.'" This certainly is tolerably plain speaking, but the instances cited appear to justify it. The Shah Jehan left Calcutta in 1873 for Mauritius, with 400 immigrants on board, in so dangerous a condition that one of the oldest private surveyors stated publicly that she would never reach her destination. Fortunately this prediction turned out to be considerably short of the truth, for the vessel so nearly foundered in the Hoogly that she was compelled to put back before reach' ing the sea. She managed to return with six feet of water in her hold. The Coda Bux, with 50 souls on board, left False Point for Madras in May, 1877, and has not Bince been heard of, though there was no very bad weather at the time. One aurveyor refused her a certificste on any terms, yet two other experts were found who paßsed her as seaworthy. The Wild Rose, which left the Hoogly in June, 1878, has, so we learn, from the same report, " a reputation so bad that the crew can scarcely be got to sail her, and she has been the cause of more unfortunate seamen being sent to gaol than almost any other vessel afloat." Notwithstanding all this, and that she had some time previously put back to Adelaide in a leaky condition after havhig been a month at sea, though only in ballast trim, and that no repairs wer« executed in Calcutta, surveyors were found willing to pronounce her a good veseel; The cause of this state of things is not far to ■eek; for the Registrar adds that "the pre-' sent system of ship-surveying as practiced in Calcutta offers a premium to dishonesty, inasmuch as a man who does bis duty strictly and understands it may almost starve, whilst dishonorable competition makes a rapid fortune."