The season just closed has been far more disastrous to the lake shipping than any previous on record, and exceeding those of any other by 786. During the season, there were variously employed, on the whole chain of Lakes, 121 sidewheel steamers, 140 propellers, 247 tugs, 175 barks, 50 brigs, 904 schooners, and 223 scows, - making a grand total of craft, on the Western waters, of 1,860. Of this number, 188 had passed out of existence at the close of the season, with an aggregate loss of tonnage amounting to 83,920 tons. There was commissioned, during the season, 67 new vessels, with an aggregate tonnage amounting to 19,298 tons, - thus showing a decrease, for the year, of 14,627 tons. The number of vessels' sales which took place, amounts to somewhere near 335, so far as the records show. The following are the disasters above referred to, which occurred throughout the entire year, including those which were not enumerated and which transpired after the closing of our annual report of 1868: