Notes on the News Hydrography

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 26 October 1938, Page 6

Notes on the News Hydrography

The London correspondent of “The Dominion” says that hydrography is a branch of surveying in which Great Britain has taken the most important part, both as regards the mapping of coastlines and investigations of the sea-floor. ’ Hydrography is that branch of physical science which deals with the surface waters of the earth. It consists chiefly in the obtaining and preparation of material for navigation and other purposes connected with the sea. It is an important part of the work of the navies of all nations in peace time. The first important hydrographical survey was that carried out over a number of years by Captain James Cook who surveyed the St. Lawrence River from Quebec to the sea, the coasts of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Indian and Pacific Oceans. In 1795 was founded the British Hydrographic Office, an office which now has a counterpart in most civilised nations. At its head is the hydrographer to the Admiralty, who is the official adviser on all hydrographical The preparation of navigation charts and their constant revision, the surveying of harbours and compilation of data, and issuing of directions to navigators; the reporting of derelicts, areas of fog and icebergs, shifting shoals, varying currents, all come within the sco]>e of hydrography. A hydrographic survey is necessary whenever there is any extensive interference with a natural drainage system, for example, 6uch work as the Irrigation dam* of .-fie Nile and the Euphrates British Shipping Referring :© tie completing ot the proposed three American trans-Paclflc liners, the London “Dally Mail” says this “might see the extinction of British competition unless something li don* in the meantime.” The serious problem w e»r.tain> declining shipping tonnage was discussed last April by Mr. W. A. Souter, president of the Chamber of Shipping of the United Kingdom. He said : “Unless the Imperial Shipping Committee can find some means of counteracting this [decline], and the Governments of the Empire are prepared to act promptly on their advice, there is every reason to suppose that British shipping will ultimately be driven completely out of such trades." He pointed out that to-day Britain owned only 17,400.000 tons, or 28 per ceut. of the world’s total steam and motor sea-going tonnage, as against 18.900,000 tons, or 44 per centirr 1914. On the other hand, tonnage owned abroad had increased steadily from 24,300.000 tons in 1914 to 45.400.000 tons at present. Effective United Kingdom tonnage for the carriage of food, raw materials and troops in time of war was only 14.000,000 tons, as compared «'ith 17,500,000 tons in 1914. More striking still was the deoiL*«* in the numliers of British ships—from 8587 in 1914 to 6903 in June, 1937. Excluding tankers, Britain possessed tome 2000 fewer vessels capable of eanying passengers and produce than it did hi tlie outbreak of the Great War Said the New Zealand Ship** Tiers Federation recently In connect f on with “the unrestricted competition of foreign subsidised shipping lines,” with New Zealand and Australian shipping: “Tb«* competition lo which Britain is now subjected is a national attack financed by a Government, and it can be met and checked only by Government action by Great Britain and the Dominion*.*