The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1908-08-08

The following letter received at the
Hancock custom Office will be of in
terest to the local launch owners who
ply the waters of Keweenaw bay.
Department of Commerce and Labor,
Office of the Secretary, Washington,
July Is. 1908.
SIR
The Department has received inquir-
les as to the equipment required by the
Act Of February 8, 1896, ard Section
4426 r. S., to be carried on small motor
vessels. In order to insure uniformity
in the enforcement of this law you are
informed that small motor boats
navigated in your district should be
equipped as follows:-
WHISTLE AND BELL.
All motor vessels without regard to
size or use must be provided with an
efficient whistle or siren; and an ef-
ffcent bell. No size or style Of bell is
prescribed provided it is available and
sufficient for use for which it is intend
ed. The word efficient" must be taken
in its ordinary sense considered with
reference to the object intended by the
provisions in which the word appears,
namely, the production of certain
signals. The power to operate the
whistle is not prescribed but the whis-
tie is to be of such character as to be
heard in ordinary weather at distance
of at least two miles.
LIGHTS.
When navigated between sunset and
sunrise they must carry the regulation
lights, namely;
LA bright white light in the fore
part of the vessel.
2. A green light on the starboard
side of red light on the port side
provided with proper screens. The side
lights may be SO affixed to the coaming
or at the side Of the deck house as to
be properly screened, provided the
lanterns be backed with metal. When
the green and red side light cannot be
fixed they must be kept lighted and
ready for use as provided by Rule 8
of the act Of February 8, 1896. The law
does not appear to permit the use of
a threecolored combination" light.
COPIES OF RULES.
Such vessels are also required to
have on board two printed copies of the
rules which must be observed by them,
which rules will be furnished by Local
Inspectors of Steam Vessels on request.
LIFE PREsERvERs.
All such vessels under Is tons en-
gagged in carrying passengers for hire
ia addition to the equipment above
stated are required to carry one life
preserver for each passenger carried
and shall be operated only in charge
Of a person duly licensed by the Local
Inspectors of Steam Vessels. Such
vessels when used only as private
pleasure boats and not at any time en-
gagged in the carriage of passengers fol-
hire are not obliged to comply with the
provisions of law in regard to life pre-
servers and licensed navigators. The
preservers must be Of the sort pre-
scribed by the regulations of the Board
Of Supervising Inspectors. They must
bear the U. S. inspectors stamp.
:. DocuMENTING, INSPECTION, ETC.
All motor boats of over net tons
engaged in the carriage of freight OF
passengers for hire must be documented
viz: Licensed by the Collector of Gus
toms. Vessels under net tons can.
not be documented in any easel. The
license for the vessel obtained from the
Collector of Customs designated Z
document) is additional to and must moi
be confounded with the license required
for the operator for q moter boat o.
less than 15 tons carrying passenger
for hire.
Motor vessels Of over Is tons engaget
in the carriage of freight or passenger
for hire must also be inspected by tn
u. s. Local Inspectors Of Stean
Vessels.
Documented vessels must have nam
e and home port on stern and name o.
each bow. Official measurements !
necessary only in case of vessel requir
, ing to be documented.
Yours very respectfully.
(sd) HERBERT KNOX SMITH,
Acting Secretary
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