BOARD

OF TRADE, a department of the British government, the president of which is a member the cabinet. Its duties are various, and are increasing. It is divided into six departments, with its separate staff. There is, first, the Gommerdal Department, which is rather deliberative administrative. Its duty is to advise the Treasury, the Golonial Office, and the Foreign Office on ters relating to tariffs and burdens upon trade superintend the busine under the acts relating Boa^ the inspection of alkali works, the registration of do designs, copyright of designs, art-unions, industrial exhibitions, and the collection and publication of cotton statistics. It also includes the Standard Weights and Measures Office as one of its subare departments. Secondly, there is the Statistical Deon part ment, which has to prepare the official volumes of statistics which are periodically i ued. It may live also be required to prepare special statistical returns is for the information of members of Parliament, chambers of commerce, or private persons who have occasion to apply to the department. It f aUs to this to department to keep a register of foreign tariffs on British produce and manufactures. Thirdly, there is the Railway Department. It ia largely occupied rewith arbitrating, appointing arbitrators and umpires, and performing under acts of Parliament various duties of a semi judicial or semi-legislative character; but it has also to keep a register of joint-stock oofmpanies, and the accounts of insurance companies, and in to prepare provisioiud orders relating to gas and in water companies, as well as for the making of tram of ways. Fourthly, the Harbour Department exercises the supervision over lighthouses committed to the and Board of Trade by act of Parliament It has a certain control over pilotage, and discharges all the functions of government relating to the sea-fisheries of Great Britain, including the preparation of draught orders for oyster and mu el fisheries. It also prepares provisional orders under the G«neral Pier and king Harbour Acts. Fifthly, the Marine Department has to see to the registration and discipline of merchant by ships, to wat oh over the mercantile marine offices, to pristake measures for the prevention of crimping, and to see that the regulations with regard to the engage him ment of seamen and apprentices are carried out; to to examine officers, and make investigations into misconduct and wrecks; and generally to take in hand most of the busine thrown upon the board by the various Merchant Shipping Acts. The department has, own jointly with the Admiralty, the no an age ment of the dis- Royal Naval Reserve. The General Register and Record Office of Seamen is a separate office belonging to this department. Sixthly, the Financial Depart but ment was established in 1851, when it was fonnd the nece ary to wind up the Merchant Seamen's Fund; on and various branches of busine have been added, the the most important being the management of the lighthouse and other accounts connected with the Mercantile Marine Fund. This department has not the only to keep the accounts, but to control receipt and expenditure in the various branches of busine superintended by it. It has to deal with Greenwi<di pensions, seamen's savings-banks and money-orderB» the proper distribution of the effects of seamen dying dura broad, and the like.