The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-07-19
RULES OF TIE ROAD AT SEA.

RULES OF TIE ROAD AT SEA.
From the New York Tribune.
With only few exceptions, the regu-
lar steamship lines pursue well-defined
I paths, both in coming and going across
the Atlantic, and this not only averts the
danger of collision, but is an element
of safety in case of disaster. as a ship,
If in the lane" is reasonably sure of
being sighted, If not by one of her
sister ships, by one of some other line.
The closely calculated sailing direc-
tlons under which captains guide their
crafts across the water provide for
reaching specified meridians of longi-
tude while on certain parallels of lati-
tude, the meridian 80 degrees west be-
ing mostly used as basis for reckon
ing. Coming westward the Cunarders
Will cross that line in latitude 43 north,
or less than that figure; the White
Star line divides the year into two
parts, and from February to August
runs even with the Cunard steamers;
from August TO February, however, its
vessels keep further north, and the
limit for crossing the meridian is A. de-
grees so minutes north. The American
line gets one degree nearer the equator,
and strikes 5odegrees west on the forty
second parallel, while the North Ger
man Lloyd captains sail under "go-as-
you-please" orders, crossing the merid
ian of so, however, about eighty miles
south of the Virgin Rocks, or little
to the north of the forty-fourth psral
lei. Going eastward. however, the fig
ures change slightly. and the Cunard
line reaches the mark Of 80 degrees
west one degree south of it's westward
crossing point, while the White Star
line drops its division of the year and
sticks 10 course still nearer the equa-
tor than its red-funneled rival, making
the forty-first parallel the objective
point OF junction with the meridian
throughout the year.
One great danger of the transatlan-
tie voyage Is in passing the Newfound-
land and Georges fishing banks Little
tvo-masted cocklesheas swarm over
the places where the fish are known 10
congregate, and. blow high or blow
low, poke their noses up into the wind
and let it keep on blowing, while the
guiding spirits OF the fral craft are out
IN their dories chasing school of COD
or haddcck- When fog settles down on
the water and a damp, gray blanket OF
mist shuts out from view everything
but the tumbling wave that happens 20
be right under the boat, there they
stay until they are either loaded with
fiSh or short Of provisions, when they
up killicA7 and away for home At
night II i the same as II fog. and
while II sometimes happens that the
schooner itself Is smashed 70 sPlinters
or c1t IN two and sunk. II Is more often
the case tia: boat short distance
from her Is cut down and two or more
men added 70 the long and tear-moist-
ened list Of missing from the fishing
fleet"
The new rules OF the road revive the
old article OF the law OF ISIS, which
provides tina, open boats and fishing
vessels OF less than twenty tons shall
have 4 lantern with two glasses. one
showing q red and the other green
light which shall De shown or the
proper side Of the boat when aP-
preached by another vessel, and an
other section provides that roaming
boats. whether under sal! or oars, shall
carry a lantern showing white iiEht,
which must be exhibited a. a warning
10 approaching craft With these ruies
strictlv enforced and OF international