The number of disasters to documented vessels within the scope of the Service was 346 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1903. On board these vessels were 3,682 persons, of whom 20 were lost. The estimated value of the vessels was $7,101,605 and that of their cargoes $1,746,610, making the total value of property involved $8,848,215. Of this amount $7,683,-580 was saved and $1,164,635 lost. The number of vessels totally lost was 57. In addition to the foregoing there were 351 casualties to undocumented craft - sailboats, rowboats, etc. - carrying 655 persons, 4 of whom perished. The value of property involved in these instances is estimated at $202,935, of which $198,465 was saved and $4,470 lost.

The results of disasters to vessels of all descriptions within the scope of the Service, therefore, aggregate as follows:

The foregoing summary does not include 56 persons not on board of vessels who were rescued from various positions of peril.

Vessels Assisted

The life-saving crews saved and assisted in saving 438 imperiled vessels, valued with their cargoes at $4,598,-840. Of this number 287, valued with their cargoes at $793,670, were saved without other assistance. In the remaining instances, 151 in number, the life-saving crews co-operated with wrecking vessels, tugs, and other agencies in saving property estimated at $3,661,875, out of a total of $3,805,-170 imperiled. Besides this the crews afforded assistance of greater or less importance to 573 other vessels, rendering aid. therefore, altogether to 1,011 vessels of all kinds, including small craft. This number is exclusive of 218 instances in which vessels running into danger were warned off by station patrolmen. One hundred and ninety-eight of these warnings were given at night by Coston lights.

The apportionment of the foregoing statistics to the Atlantic, Lake and Pacific coasts, respectively, is shown in the following table:

* It should not be understood that the entire amount represented by these figures was saved by the Service. A considerable portion was saved by salvage companies, wrecking tugs, and other instrumentalities, often working in conjunction with the surf men. It is manifestly impossible to apportion the relative results accomplished. It is equally impossible to give even an approximate estimate of the number of lives saved by the station crews. It would be preposterous to assume that all those on board vessels suffering disaster who escape would have been lost but for the aid of the life-savers; yet the number of persons taken ashore by the lifeboats and other appliances by no means indicates the sum total saved by the Service.