The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-07-19
RULES OF THE ROAD AT SEA.
Measures of Precaution Taken by the Big
Transatlantic Liners.

AAcasuIes VI frecauulOn Iaken DN the Zig
Transatlantic Liners.
With only few exceptions, the regu-
lar steamship lines pursue well-defined
paths, both in coming and going across
the Atlantic, and this noU 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-
tions 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 40 de-
Egrees so minutes north. The American
line gets one degree nearer the equator,
and strikes 50degrees 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 30, however, about eighty miles
south of the Virgin Rocks. or little
to the north of the fortyfourth paral-
lei. Going eastward. however, the fig
ures change slightly. and the Cunard
line reaches the mark of 50 degrees
west one degree south of its westward
crossing point. while the White Star
line drops its division of the year and
sticks to a course still nearer the equa
tor than its red-funneled rival. making
the forty-tirst parallel the objective
point of junction with the meridian
throughout the year.
| One great danger of the transatlan-
tic voyage is in passing the Newfound-
land and Georges fishing banks. Little
two-masted cockleshellS swarm over
the places where the fish are known to
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 frail craft are out
in their dories chasing d school of cod
or haddock. When fog settles down on
the water and damp. gray blanket of
mist shuts out from view everything
but the tumbling wave that happens to
| be right under the boat, there they
stay until they are either loaded with
| fish or short of provisions. when they
''up killick' and away for home At
night it is the same as in fog. and
while it sometimes happens that the
schooner itself is smashed to splinters
or cut in two and sunk. it is more often
the ease that a boat short distance
from her is cut down and two or more
men added to the long and tear-moist-
ened list of missing from the fishing
fleet
J The new rules of the road revive the
Ord article of the law of 1885, which
provides that open boats and fishing
vessels of less than twenty tons shall
have lantern with two glasses. one
showing a red and the other green
light, which shall be shown on the
proper side of the boat when APP
preached by another vessel. and an
other section provides that roaming
boats, whether under sail or oars, shall
carry lantern showing white light,
which must be exhibited as a warning
to approaching craft. With these rules
strictly enforced and of international
effect, it is hoped that many of the
perils of the sea will be overcome, for
while the big steamer may come safely
to port and land her passengers all
right, it is not pleasant to think that
in rush for record human lives have
been sacrificed that might have been
saved if strict attention had been given
by all concerned to the rules of the
road.-N. y. Tribune.