Sick and Distressed Mariners.

Vessels of 100 tons burthen are required to pay a tax of 2 cents a ton, and of more than 100 tons, of 6 cents a ton each year for the relief of Mariners This Act does not apply to Ontario, but small grants are generally made to the hospitals at St. Catharines and Kingston for the benefit of sick Mariners. At Quebec they are provided for in the Marine and Immigrant Hospital; at. Montreal, at the General Hospital. In New Bounswick there are Marine Hospitals at St. John and five other ports. In Nova Scotia there are Marine Hospitals at Sydney, C. B., and Yarmouth. At Halifax, Mariners are admitted into the City Hospital, and at other ports they are cared for by the Custom House Officers. In Prince Edward Island there is a Marine Hospital at Chariottetown, and another has been opened at Souris. In British Columbia there is a Marine Hospital at Victoria. The expenditure for the fiscal year for sick Mariners, including $1,765 reimbursed to the Imperial Board of Trade for Canadian Mariners in foreign Ports, was $51,648, and the dues received $48,739,-leaving a deficiency of $7,909.