In the nineteenth century Seafaring was Sunderland's most important industry, and at its peak in 1861 employed no fewer than a quarter of all men over the age of 20. However there was an enormous death rate, in 1867 one in 70 drowned. Between 1824 and 1836 of the 2,241 ships registered in Sunderland 603 were lost. Between 1833 and 1835 124 went down. (Select Committee on Shipwrecks PP. 1836 XVII, App.8. pp. 716-7 and 745-6) The total casualty figures for British Shipping reached a peak in 1881 when almost 4,000 masters and men died. Figures quoted in 1884 showed the loss of life in mining in the worst year was not more than one in 315 of those employed, whereas in British shipping it was one in 60. ("Sunderland, River Town & People") Stan