14 MARCH 1925, Page 28

SHIP ALLEY. By C. Fox Smith. (Methuen. 7s. 6d.) IF

only Miss FOx Smith were not so " chatty," so full of bright exclamations ! For she knows the most fascinating and illuminating facts about ships and seamen of the past, and her love of them has led-her into queer and little-known plaaes-L--i forgotten graveyard in Stepney, remote public- houses in dockland, quiet, unnoticed nautical museums. The book is full of delightful bits of information about sailors' curios (and how the ship does get into the bottle) or sea cooks, and there arc many strange tales of disasters and mysteries at sea, for which the landsman—regardless of his feelings on his next sea voyage—always has a morbid taste.