As many as 1,197 vessels entered or left home waters in _overseas trade_ exclusive of the Mediterranean trade.

Of this aggregate 87.5 per cent, were in convoy, and the total number of these vessels sunk (13) was divided amongst the following trades: North America, 1; Gibraltar, 5; West Africa and South America, 1; the Bay of Biscay, Portugal and Spanish ports west of Gibraltar, 5; Scandinavian, 1.

In the same month there were 2,159 _cross-Channel sailings _and ten losses, nine of these vessels being unescorted.
Particulars of the locality of the total British losses of 51 ships for the month of November are as follows: East Coast north of St.Abb's 1 East Coast between St.Abb's and Yarmouth 4 East Coast, Yarmouth to the Downs 4 (2 by mine) English Channel 21 (7 by mine) Bristol Channel 4 Irish Sea 2 Bay of Biscay 2 South of Cape St.Vincent 1 Mediterranean 11 East of Suez 1 (by mine) In order to give some idea of the great volume of traffic on the East Coast and the consequent difficulty of affording proper protection, it may be mentioned that in the month of October, 1917, the number of vessels passing between Spurn Head (River Humber) and St.Abb's Head (to the northward) was 740 going north and 920 going south.

Of this total only 223 of the northward--and 413 of the southward-bound vessels were in convoy or under escort, the total losses being eleven, all amongst the unaccompanied ships.
Mention should be made here of the very serious situation which arose during the year 1917 owing to the success attending the attacks by enemy submarines on oil tankers bringing oil fuel to the United Kingdom for the use of the Fleet.

A great many of these tank vessels were of great length and slow speed and presented the easiest of targets to the torpedo attack of a submerged submarine.