but now a depth of 26 feet and more is becoming fairly common. All cargo vessels are built on the box-girder system, which ensures great strength and capacity, and permits of enormous hatchways, and marine engineers have solved the problem of providing greater speed without additional expense. Messrs. Doxford, in their latest attempt to solve the problem of the easily-shifting cargo in bulk, proposed that vessels intended for this trade should have inner upright walls fitted some distance from the hull, and so arranged that when the vessel is heeled over within the usual range of inclinations of a vessel at sea, the weight of the cargo and the buoyancy create a restoring couple in all conditions of loading. The spaces between the cargo-hold and the outer shell may be left empty or used for water-ballast as required. In some instances the bottom is reduced in depth as much as the loading regulations will allow. Among the more notable features of recent years in cargo-boats specially adapted for the coal, iron ore, and other dead-weight trades is the patent cantilever framed type of steamer built by Sir Raylton Dixon and Co., Ltd., Cleveland Dockyard, Middlesbrough, on the Harroway and Dixon patents. This type of boat has the advantage of having totally unobstructed holds with very large hatchways and an additional 75 per cent. water-ballast, which is placed in the tanks inside the cantilever construction at the top of the holds under the deck. In these steamers the space on either side and under the decks is used for water-ballast, which is carried in triangular tanks at either side of the vessel, immediately beneath the main deck. The tanks extend from the coamings to the sides of the ship, the greatest side of the triangle being towards the cargo and supported by the cantilever framing; the tank framing and plating increase the strength of the hull materially. The sloping topsides thus formed prevent bulk cargo shifting. An advantage to the owner is that the tanks are exempt from tonnage measurement. When these tanks are filled with water and also the lower and peak tanks the vessel is seaworthy even if the cargo-space is empty. This additional water-ballast has the special merit of immersing the ship deeper when in ballast only, consequently giving more power to the propeller and rendering the ship more manageable when light, as well as supplying unique security in case of damage, for when one of these boats is loaded and the topside tanks are empty, they correspond to the air tanks of a lifeboat and thus prevent the ship from sinking. These vessels in some cases have been fitted with shelter decks right fore and aft for the carriage of cattle and horses, and indeed would be suitable for passenger service, for which the very easy rolling movement would be a great recommendation.