The Portland daily press., 1897-01-23
RuLEs OF THE ROAD AT SEA.
Changes in the Regulations, Which After
the First of Next July VIII Be ooserseo
by the Vessels of All Civilized Nations.

On the first of next July some subsOan-
tiel changes, With regard to the rules
the conduct OF Vessels at sea
will go into effect, as enacted by ooh-
aress last june. These changes do not
affect vessels registered in the ohltea
States aLone but those of the Whoie
world, as all the civilized nations nave
agreed to them. A change OF this I'M
portance. affecting as it does nearly eve
rv country of the world cannot OF course
be radical ono and most of the changes
are merely in line with making the pres
ent rules more clear, and providing 1or
contingencies which were unforeseen AZ
the time at which they were instituted.
The rules of the road at sea are also ex-
tended to all inland waters, with some
minor changes affecting certain locali-
ties which are not of especial interest.
They do not, however, include the Great
Lakes, which have a special set OF rules.
One of the changes which is signifi-
can't is that Of the definition of steam
vessel, which is made to INCLUDE any
vessel propelled by machinery, showing
that the possibility of the propulsion OF
large vessels by electricity or some other
similar motive force, is thought to be a
thing of the not far distant future.
Several changes have been made in the
regulations governing the carrying OF
lights. Vessels are in the first place
cauti oned against showing aay other
lights than their distinguish ing ones IN
such way as to permit any posslplii1y
of confusion. An additional white hRn1
1s, however, given to a steam vessel un-
derway to be carried at lsast fifteen feet
lower than the one now provided for,
and forward of it's vertical line. "A YES
sci which is towing another vessel or
barge is also allowed small white light
to be carried aft, and in such position
that it shall not be visible forward OF
the beam, which may be used Tor the
towing vessel to steer by. The following
req egulations are also provided for small
vessels:
"F1rst-SteaIu vessels Of less than for"
ty tons shall CARRY
u(al In the fore part of tina vessel, or
on or in front Of the funnel, where 1T can
best be seen, and at height above the
gunwale of not less than nine feet,
| bright white light constructed and liked
| as prescribed In article two (a), and OF
suoh character as to be visible at a dis
tance of at least two miles.
a(b) Green and red side lights con-
structed and fixed as prescribed in artl-
Gle two (b) and (ol. and of such char
acter as to be visible at a distance OF at
| least one mile, or a com b1ned lantern
showing green light and red ilgnt
from right ahead TO two points abRft the
beam on their respective sides. Suoh
lanterns shall be carried not Less than
three feet below the white light.
"Seoond-Small steamb boats, sach as
are carried by sea- going vessels. may
carry the white light at less height
| than nine feet above tho gunwale, but IT
shall be carried above the combined Lam
tern mentioned in subdivision one lb). /.
"Third-Vessels under oars or sails OF
less than twenty tons shall have ready
at hand lantern with a green glass on
| one side and a red glass on the
other, which, on the approach OF or TO
other vessels, shall be exhibited In
suffic cient time to prevent collision, SO
that the green light shall not be seen on
the port side nor thu red light on the star
| board side.
| "Fourth-Rowing boats, whether un-
der oars or SAIL shall have ready at hand
| a lantern showing white light, W hich
| shall be temporarily exhi bited In suff1-
cient time to prevent collision.
Additional regulations are provided
for pilot vessels on duty at their stations
as follows:
On the near approach of or TO other
vessels they shall have their side-lights
lighted, ready for use, and shall fash or
show them at short intervals, to Indicate
tire direction In which they are heading,
bat the green light shall not be shown
on the port side. nor the red light on
she arboard side.
A pilot vessel of such class as to be
Obliged co go alongside of vesssl TO put
a pilot on board may show the white
liahs instead of carrying it at the mast-
head, and may, instead of the colorsd
lights above mentioned, have at hand,
| ready for use a lantern with q gFeon
glass ON the one side and red glass on
the other, to be used Us prescribed above.
The height of the white anchor light
is more exactly fixed, and a vessel in or
near a fair-way, when aground. is re-
quired TO carry in addition to 1t, the two
red lights which signify vessel not un-
der control. but not desiring assistance.
Another additional regulation Is made
for SGcaln V6Ssel ~unQ0t bali ONiy, Uui
having her funnel up, it being provided
that she shall carry forward wfere 1t Gan
best be seen, one black ball or shape, not
two feet in diameter. The manner oi
fog signalling is also more definitely
fixed as follows:
Article Is. All signals prescribed by
this article for vessels under way shal
be given:
First-By "steam vessels on tn.
whistle or siren.
Secondly sailing vessels' and "ves
sells towed" on the fog horn.
The words prolonged blast' used il
this article shall mean a blast of from
four to six seconds duration.
} (a) A steam vessel having way upoI
her shall sound, at intervals of not mor'
than two minutes, prolonged blast
(b) A steam vessel under way, bu
stopped, and having no way upon her
shall sound, at intervals of not more thai
two minutes. two prolonged blasts, with
an interval of about one second between