The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-09-20
MUST CARRY LIGHTS.
Steamers and Yachts Brought
Ep With a Short Turn.
ENFORCING NAVIGATION LAWS.
Strict Orders From Washington City
Cause Heavy Fines and Alarm
Steamboat Owners.

The United States revenue cutter on
GERS on the Sound have recently receiFed
orders 20 rigidly enforce the Navigation
laws IN regard 70 the carrying OF nghts
on vessels, and in ether particulars. ana
have caused great disgust among steam
boat men and yachtsmen by reporting
number OF violations. For several years
the law In this respect has not been strict
Is observed and owners. from motives OF
economy, have neglected 10 provide the
proper lights. The consequence is that
many OF the boats on the Sound have
been found subject 70 fine in some par
ticular. The revenue launch Scout, Lieut..
Garden. has been making a careful In
spection, and has reported violations,
which subject the owners Of the boats 10
fines aggregating several thousand do
lars.
The navigation and passenger laws are
very strict in regard TO ofenses Of this
kind. They require officers OF the revenue
marine 10 beard and inspect any vessel
from a rOwb0at 10 a steamboat, and y
report to the collector Of customs OF
lenses against any Of the navigation laws,
and the provisions Of the law violated.
Upon receipt OF this report the collector
or customs is required 10 notify the own
ers that they must pay the fine provided
by that section in cash within ten days,
or the vessel will be seized and sold 10
cover Il. There is no appeal from the ac-
ton OF the collector. except 10 the chlef
Of the bureau or the secretary or the
treasury. by whom sometimes the fines
are mitlgated, If il is the FIRST offense
and the fine was incurred without willful
negligence or intention Of fraud
The steamer Edna has been fined $20
for making a tow without a light on II.
About the same time the Edith r, While
near West Point. was fir d 500 for not
displaying proper Fights. The steamer
Ruckeve. OF the Thatcon-San Juan route,
was fined $500 few weeks since for not
carrying A life raft and not having life
preservers properly distributed. The yacht
Apollo came into Port Townsend from We
toria without side lights, but NJ. c. Aker,
the owner states that upon a satisfactory
explanation Collector Saunders decided
n9t 10 impose a fine.
The most common violations or the laws
on the Sound have been: Not showing
masthead lights through more than a dis
lance OF five miles and more than 20 de-
grees Of the compass. side lights not burn
ing properly. showing no lights on toWs;
absence OF lights in rowboats. having no
riding lights when at anchor in or near a
fair way; not having Efe preservers dis
tributed about the vessel; not having life
boats easy Of access. Another rule which
is frequently violated requires that every
boat, even a canoe or row6Oat, coming
from a foreign port, must report at a
United States custom house. under penalty
of seizure 10 secure the payment of a fine
OF $1,000. Ii WIS under this law that the
boat in which Registrar Provost escaped
was seized at Roche Harbor.
1t is probable that within the next few
days the owners OF several more steam
boats will receive a notice that they are
called upon to pay fines ranging from $500
upward, and some Of them VIII be put TO
a hard shift TO get the money.