Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1889-11-09
THE MARINE CONFERENCES.

The Adoption OF Amendments to
Rules for Signais-Fog Horns Must be
Heard Hereafter at Intervals of one
Minute.
WASHINGTON, Nov. Sat the marine oon-
ference to-day Delegate Goodrich of the
United States offered an amendment to sse-
ton G of article 10, providing that a sailing
ship in fog shall make with her fog horn
the signals provided for in the section at
intervals of every minute instead of at every
two minutes, as now provided for. Adopted.
The third amendment, proposed by the
delegate from Great Britain, provided that q
steam or sailing ship in a fog, when sat an
Choir" shall ring the bell as now provided.
At the motion of Mr.. Goodrich the interval
between the ringing of the bell was changed
to one minute, and on his further motion a
phrase was added to the section under con-
sideration, providing that the bell shall be
ringing rapidly for about Eve seconds. The
amendment then az modified was adopted.
Before proceeding with the next amend
ment, Captain Shackford, delegate from the
United States, offered an amendment to ar.
ticle 10 providing that transatlantic steam
ers running between Europe and America,
shall be allowed to use distinctive whistle
!
to indicate whether the ship Is going east or
west. It will be hereafter considered.
The next amendments Chose offered by
the delegate from Netherlands) to the same
article were then considered. The first pro-
vided that . steamship shall be provided
with whistle or sound signals, which shall
be "sounded by steam or compressed air. "
The conference was opposed to this amend
ment and 1t was defeated.
Several other amendments proposed by
tho delegate from the Netherlands ip relation
to duration of blasts, etc., and Involving
amendments upon which the conference had
already acted. were withdrawn.
DR.. Sieve-King Of Germany had proposed
An additional section to article 10, providing
that vessels of less than fourteen tons gross
registered tonnage shall not be obliged to b.
provided with the instruments above de
scribed, bnt shall make with another instru
ment an efficient sound signal at intervals o.
not more than two minutes. The amend
| ment was postponed to be considered later
vessels which is now under consideration b.
q special committee. He had also proposed
an amendment providing that the regulation
compelling the fog horn to be sounded by
bellows or other mechanical means shall b.
abolished. Lost.
, Captain Malmberg, Of Sweden, had pro
posed sundry amendments to article 10, sew
| 0rAl OF IH6m AdO p66u COV6I6u Ia auSuu
! ments already adopted. There was another
however, providing for additional sections t.
article 10. This was that steam vessel tow
, ing shall sound with her steam whistle a
intervals of not more than two minutes, on
long blast and one short blast, with an inter
val Of about one second. The sense of tn
conference was In support of the principl
: involved in this amendment, though nc
. with the amendment as proposed, and 1t wa
referred to the committee on fog signals.
Delegate Goodrich thereupon offered a res
q olution provided that the committee o
sound signals consider and report any speoi6
cases In which new fog signals should b
: adopted, and that the committee repol
specific signals for such cases. The resolu
o ton prevailed.
With reference to the power of fog instrr
. ments the delegates from the Netherland
= proposed resolution that fog horn
whistle be strong enough to be heard mi
and bell half mile in clear, calm weathe
r. Mr.. Hall of England spoke against defini
action being taken by the conference upe
establishing 9 minimum power for these il
struments.: until 1t had been thorough
r proved by experiments or the best inform
= ton, that such minimum is attainable.
er Captain Sampson Of the United States ga
= the conference should adopt q minimu
~ standard for fog instruments, otherwise
vessel master might fulfl the requirement.