5 JUNE 1886, Page 3

The official inquiry into the complaint that only foreign seamen

are now employed in the British merchant service, shows that the grievance has been grossly exaggerated. The per- centage of foreigners employed tends to increase, ship-masters finding them much more obedient, but the total is still only.14 per cent. ; and of these, only a small proportion are employed in first-class steamers. The truth seems to be-that the best British seamen avoid small sailing-ships, and that foreigners—especially Scandinavians and Germans—are distinctly better sailors than the inferior British seamen. Though they have not quite their daring, they keep sober.