The Holly chieftain., 1923-08-16


Ing the year.
Buoys, as rule, are employed to mark shoals
or other distractions and to indicate the ap-
proaches to and limits Of channels or the fairway
passage through channel. In some cases they
indicate anchorage grounds. Buoys originally were
either solid wooden spars or built up in various
shapes OF wooden slaves, like barrels. Built-up
buoys now constructed Of Iron or steel plates.
In order to give the proper distinctiveness buoys
are given certain characteristic colors and num-
bers. They are anchored In their positions by
various types Of moorings, depending on the char
acter Of the bottom and the size and importance OF
the buoy. s.
Bell buoys have hemspherical-shaped hull,
built Of steel plates, with fiat deck, and carry a
structural steel superstructure which supports q
bronze bell and usually four iron clappers. The
motion Of the buoy In the sea causes these clappers
to strike the bell, 30 that the action Is entirely
automatic
Whistling buoys are built Of steel plates and
consist Of pear shaped body with the smaller end
uppermost with long open tube on the lower
end. This tube extends throughout the length of
the buoy, and Is closed at the upper end by q
head-plate on which Is mounted a check valve and
whistle on the superstructure Of the buoy. The
sound is produced by the air In the upper portion
of the tube being compressed by the falling Of the
buoy in the waves, Its means Of escape being
through the whistle. A fresh supply Of air Is
drawn through the check valve as the buoy rises
again.
Lighted buoys are modern invention. having
come into use within about the last IS years, and
are considered by mariners generally as among the
most valuable Of recent developments in coast
lighting All of the lighted buoys now in service
use compressed gas either oil gas acetylene. In
the types In the gas, at pressure Of about
12 atmospheres is contained either directly In the
body of the buoy or in tanks fitted into compart-
ments Of the body and is pped to the lantern at
the ton of the superstructure. the light is
flashing, az is commonly the case. a small pilot
light burns continuously and gnites the main hurn-
er as gas is admitted from the flashing chamber.
The latter is regulating compartment In the base
of the lantern and Is provided with flexible dia-
phragm and valves for cutting of and opening the
flow Of gas at intervals, the operation being due to
the pressure Of the gas in the reservoirs.
The lighthouse service maintains light vessels
on So stations. and has for this purpose 66 light
vessels Of which 10 are relief vessels. They are
generally employed for marking dangers at sea,
onproaches or entrances to harbors, and at i'm.
portant points In the course Of vessels where a
lighthouse Is not feasible and are Of par.
ticuiar value In providing both light and fog
signal which may be approached close to- thus en-
abling mariners to fx their position at sea with
reasonable certainty. In this respect light vessels
are superior to lighthouses, as In the case of the
latter due allowances must be made for safe dis.
tance in passing. A valuable secondary advantage
In the fact that light vessels may be shifted to meet
varying conditions Of traffic, such as changes In
shoals channels, use Of deeper draft vessels and
similar contingencies. Most OF these ships are now
equipped with a tubular steel mast containing q
ladder, surmounted at the top by lantern OF the
type used In lighthouses. containing regular light
house lens. These lightships are supplied with
both the ordinary articles for maintenance and
materials for construction repair by number Of
small vessels known as lighthouse tenders.