Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-07-20
RULES FOR MOTOR BOATS.
Small Craft Must Garry Lights, FOG
Horn, Life Preservers, Etc.

letter has been sent out from the
Dept. of Commerce and Labor at
Washington, d. c., setting forth strict
rules regarding the equipment of
motor boats and small cruising
launches. The matter will be followed
up strictly, and local motor boat own
ers will be compelled to lay in great
stock of cruising gear. consisting
mostly of q fog horn, whistle, side
lights, bow light, range, or masthead
light, aft and a few other incidentals.
The letter is as follows:
Washington, Julyy 10, 1903.
Collector of Customs. Bangor, Me:
Sir: The department has received
inquiries as to the equipment required
by the Act of June Z, 1907. and Section
1926 r. S., to be carried on small mo-
tor vessels In order to insure uni
formity in the enforcement of this law
you are informed that small motor
vessels navigated in your district
should be equipped as follows:
WHISTLE. FOG HORN AND BELL.
All motor vessels. without regard to
size or use, must be provided with an
efficient whistle or siren: an efficient
fog horn; and an efficient bell. No
size or style of whistle. fog horn or
bell is prescribed provided it is await
able and sufficient for the use for
which it is intended The word "elli-
cient" 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
n TO the WhiStla ic
prescribed but it must be of such a
character as to produce a "prolonged
blast" which is defined as of from a
to 6 seconds duration.
LIGHTS.
When navigated between sunset and
sunrise they must carry regulation
lights, namely:
l. A bright white light at the bow
of the vessel.
g A green light on the starboard
side and red light on the port side
provided with proper screens. The side
lights may be so affixed to the coaming
or to the sides of the deck house as to
be properly screened, provided the Ian
tern be backed with metal. Whenever
the green and red side lights cannot
be fixed they must be kept lighted and
ready for use as provided by Article
of the Act of June T. 1907.
The law does not appear to permit
the use of three color combination"
light.
g. A white range light aft.
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 - tons on
gagged in carrying passengers for hire
in 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 yes
sells when used only as private
Measure boats and not at any time en-
gagged in the carriage of passengers for
hire are not obliged to comply with
the provisions Of law in regard to h1e
preservers and licensed naVlgators
The life DreSerNprS must De vi NV H'i
prescribed by the regulations OF the
Board of Supervising Inspectors. They
must bear the United States 1nspec-
tors stamp.
DOCUMENTING INSPECTION, ETC.
All motor boats of over net tons
engaged in the carriage of freight or
passengers for hire must be document
ed. viz: Licensed by the collector OF
customs Vessels under 5 net tons cam
not be documented in any case). The
license for the vessel obtained from
the collector of customs designated
documenD is additional to and must
not be COMPOUNDED with the license re-
ouired for the operation of motor
boat of less than Is tons carrying
passengers for hire.
Motor vessels of over Is gross tons
engaged in the carriage of freight or
messengers for hire must also be in
spected by the United States local in
spactors of steam vessels.
Documented vessels must have name
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