adopted, and ordered to be entered on the records of the Chamber and printed in the Annual Report. Mr. THOMAS P. BALL, Chairman of the Council of the Nautical School of the Port of New-York, submitted the following report of the Twelfth Annual Examination of the School, held on the United States Ship St. Mary's, on the 14th of October last : To the Chamber of Commerce : The undersigned Council of the Nautical School of the Port of New-York, elected by the Chamber, beg leave to make the following report of the Twelfth Annual Examination of the School on board the School Ship St. Mary's: On Thursday, October 14th, the day designated, the Council, with the experts, Captains G. D. S. TRASK, A. SPENCER and W. V. NICHOLS, whose report is herewith annexed, as well as several master mariners, were taken on board the ship, then lying at anchor in the East River, off Thirty-fourth Street. As usual, the scholars were first examined in the science of navigation, and afterward examined in the handling of sails, etc., and other duties of a seaman, in all of which they showed great proficiency, and reflected credit upon the instructors and officers of the School for the conscientious and faithful discharge of their duty. The following was the programme of the exercises of the day: 1. Muster boys on spar deck, with bags for inspection. 2. Inspection of vessel, lower decks, holds, etc. 3. Inspection of specimens of marlingspike seamanship, sailmaking, etc. 4. Examination of graduating class in navigation, to continue until preparations for dinner, or until experts are satisfied. 5. Inspection of food and mess arrangements, dinner, luncheon and intermission. 6. Exercises with sails, loosed and furled all sails, and reefed fore and main topsails, there being too much wind for setting all sails. Final. Address to graduates and presentation of prizes. At the opening of the School, November 4th, 1885, there was an attendance of seventy-four scholars, and there were admitted during the year 1885-86 fifty-six, making a total attendance of one hundred and thirty. Of the above number, forty graduated at this examination, as follows: The following of the graduates received medals awarded by the Chamber of Commerce: LYMAN DENISON, 1st prize, silver medal, 1st scholar of class. JOHN LOUIS MORAN, 2d prize, bronze medal, 2d scholar of class. JOHN OTIS BURT, Jr., 3d prize, bronze medal, 3d scholar of class. Other prizes were awarded as follows: From the officers of the School Ship St. Mary's: JOHN LOUIS MORAN, Copy of LUCE's Seamanship. Best seaman of class. JOHN OTIS BURT, Jr., copy of BOWDITCH Navigator. Second best navigator. LOUIS AUGUSTUS CRAVEN, copy of BOWDITCH Navigator. Best journal of cruise. From the New-York Produce Exchange: LYMAN DENISON, sextant. Best general average. From Lieut. MILTON K. SCHWENK, U. S. N. : HUGH MILLER BRIGGS, copy of BOWDITCH Navigator. Best navigator. FRANK WILSON MORRELL, copy of BOWDITCH Navigator. Best note-book on navigation. From Lieut. W. L. FIELD, U. S. N.: LOUIS STUART TIEMANN, copy of LUCE's Seamanship. Neatest boy on board. LYMAN ELWELL SHOREY, Copy of BOWDITCH Navigator. Second neatest boy on board. From Larchmont Yacht Club : BERTRAND FAY, silver watch. Best handler of boats under oars and sails. Mr. JAMES M. BROWN, President of the Chamber of Commerce, presented the medals and other prizes. The usual reception was held in the afternoon, and the Rev. LINDSAY PARKER addressed the graduates, giving them some good advice for their future guidance. Many members of the Chamber, the friends of the School and the representatives of the Board of Education, were also in attendance, including Mr. DAVID WETMORE, Chairman of the Committee on Nautical School of the Board of Education, and Mr. George W. DEBEVOISE, who also addressed the graduates. The St. Mary's left her dock, 31st Street, East River, May 11th, 1886, proceeded to Long Island Sound, and took her departure for the annual cruise from New-London, Conn., May 26th, following, visited the ports of Lisbon, Portugal, and Funchal, Madeira; returning to Long Island Sound preparatory for this examination. Since the opening of the School in 1874, there have been 1,168 scholars entered, the total number of graduates, 422, of whom 264, or 69 per cent., have been recorded as following the sea. The Council take great pleasure in calling your special attention to the experts' report, commending, as it does, so much to be desired in order to accomplish the sought for results. Surgeon HENRY P. HARVEY'S report, also annexed, needs only mention here in order to call attention to the well-earned praise due him. The officers of the School Ship are: Commander E. M. SHEPARD, U. S. N., Superintendent. Past-Assistant Surgeon H. P. HARVEY, U. S. N., Surgeon and REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF EXPERTS. Messrs. THOMAS P. BALL, ELIHU SPICER, JAMES H. WINCHESTER, Council of the N. Y. Nautical School. GENTLEMEN: We beg to submit the following, in reference to the Examination of the New-York Nautical School, held on board the ship "St. Mary's," lying at anchor in the East River, off Thirty-fourth Street, October 14th, 1886, at which, pursuant to your request, we had the honor to serve as a Committee of Experts: The School was found to number ninety scholars, from fourteen to nineteen years of age, eighty-five of whom were present. Forty (40) of these graduated, and to several of the most proficient in the class were awarded medals and prizes. The form of the inspection and examination observed was such as we understood had formerly been satisfactorily adopted. The inspection of the scholars developed in a gratifying manner the material of which the School was composed, the discipline acquired, and the orderly habits inculcated. That of the ship revealed neatness in every department, and general arrangements well calculated to promote the comfort of all on board. The provisions were of good quality, and ample in variety. The specimens of handicraft by the scholars were excellent, and exhibited a knowledge of the use of palm and needle, marlingspike and serving board, rarely possessed by the "able seamen" of to-day, and some of the fitting and splicing-particularly that of wire ropecompared favorably with work of the rigging loft. The examination in nautical science was conducted chiefly by Lieut. M. K. SCHWENK, senior instructor, who, with justifiable confidence in the ability of his pupils, subjected them to a rigid questioning. A fair degree of proficiency in the details of practical navigation was generally manifested, and, in some cases, attainment sufficient to rank as accomplished navigators. The marking and use of log and lead lines, the finding of chronometer error, the adjustment of compasses, including local attraction, the rules of the road, involving the relation of signal lights and their bearings, to manœuvres, were subjects in which your Committee took part in the examination, with results creditable to teachers and pupils. Owing to the strength of the wind and tide, and the poor character of the holding ground, it was deemed imprudent to make sail, and the usual exercise in handling canvas was necessarily abridged. The sails at the fore and main, to royals, were, however, loosed, and held by the gear; the topsails were reefed, reefs turned out, and all sails furled. These evolutions were performed with alacrity, and revealed a degree of seamanship indicative of practice and good training. A creditable display of skill as oarsmen was afforded in going to and from the ship for guests, notwithstanding a chopping sea and strong tide rendered the duty somewhat arduous. Every facility was afforded us by the Superintendent, Commander E. M. SHEPARD, to make our examination thorough. The popularity and efficiency of this gentleman, and of the officers associated with him, in the conduct of the School, was demonstrated by the exercises of the day, which were concluded with three cheers for their Commander by the boys. We also would record our appreciation of the courtesy extended to us on every hand, rendering our duty pleasant and the occasion enjoyable. In this country, the necessity for an official examination and certification, as to the competency of an officer, such as has so obviously improved the character of the English merchant service, does not legally exist; nor have we, indeed, in this connection, that universally recognized essential to complete training, an apprentice system. The New-York Nautical School is calculated to meet our need in these particulars to the extent of its limited capacity. It should receive the commendation of all interested in American shipping, and the "St. Mary's" graduate should be gladly afforded the opportunity to gain that experience which, in most cases, he only needs to fit him in his profession for responsible trust. SIR: I beg leave to make the following brief report concerning the health of this ship for the past year: The boys have been unusually healthy, not a death having occurred, and but a very few accidents. During the winter, while the ship was alongside the wharf, there were two cases of pneumonia, two of acute rheumatism, and one of diphtheria, but nothing else of a grave character. During the summer cruise there was very little sickness, and the boys have very noticeably improved in their general appearance and condition. The ship has been kept clean, dry and well ventilated, the bilges sweet, and every attention given to the comfort and health of the |