[Our space is very valuable, but we are always ready to devote a page or two to our old correspondents at the Antipodes. That is, however, not the sole reason why we notice these letters. The problem solved is the most difficult one in the rule of the road, and it is one specially dealt with in Mr. Gray's book, and in this case there is the further question as to carrying two extra side-lights. We touch on the third point first, and in doing so we must say that we do not think the proposal for two of such side-lights is within the limits of practical application, unless they are carried in places and relative positions to be rigidly adhered to in every ship. To be of use, the after light must be placed at a fixed and known distance aft of the fore one and at a fixed and known distance above it. If this is not possible then the scheme is not practicable. If an additional light is wanted for sailing ships it should, we think, be supplied by one lanthorn that can be used for three purposes. Such a lanthorn should have a green glass and a red glass, both moveable so as to be able to show red, white and green as wanted. The white light to be shown over the stern to warn overtaking ships, and the red glass to be used when the light is shown on the port side, to mean "I am close-hauled on the port tack," the green glass to be used on the starboard side, and to mean "I am closehauled on the starboard tack." We cannot but think that such a light as that used as an auxiliary light would be of great use, and would add as materially to the safety of sailing ships as the proposed voluntary whistle signals will add to the safety of steamships. As regards the other question raised by these problems we thank our correspondent, as his diagrams and his lucid explanations, apart from his views as to an additional side-light fixed on each side of the ship, are, we think, especially valuable to our young readers, and interesting to our elder ones.-ED. N. M.] WEEK DAY. MONTH LONDON HULL. TIDE TABLES FOR JANUARY, 1879. Also Ports of Reference for the Constants in the next Table. A.M. P.M. A.M. P.M. A.M. P.M. A.M. P.M. A.M. P.M. A.M. P.M. A.M. P.M. A.M. P.M. A.M. P.M. A.M. P.M. A.M. P.M. A.M. P.M. A.M. P.M. 28 023 4 26 4 54 5 10 5 3 10 19 10 50 4 31 4 59 1 39 2 13 9 15 9 46 3 1810 19 10 54 0 296 29 7 1 3 48 4 17 11 29 2 9 3511 44 1884 567 4 24 4 43 8 56 9 17 5 51 6 13 4 9 10 0 6 35 6 57 5 28 5 710 22 10 45 7 19 7 42 6 15 6 11 1011 88 8 8 8 367 4556 10 22 587 78 78 28 67 88 78 30 8 57 8 57 4 2 8 53 9 18 9 26 9 55 2 18 2 46 8 99 9 4867788 4 46 645 77 5 44 6 15 6 30 6 16 7 18 7 0 48 10 18 10 589 11 9 57 6 8 58 25 1 31 1 53 9 18 9 37 1 29 41 6 12 6 82 6 54 7 16 388 7 38 8 1 10-25 10 67 67 11 38 7 47 7 33 8 0 20 1 حلو 3335560 8 27 9 9 1 48; 2 27 8 8 48 5 17 5 4 11 1111 311 58 4 51 5 111 211 23 7 54 8 16 3 36 358 8 6823 0 14 0 33 8 89 8 540 50 1 1 39 1 55 110 00 248 5 55 11 42 6 13 6 31 0 6 48 7 41088 0 86 TIDAL CONSTANTS FOR VARIOUS BRITISH, IRISH, AND EUROPEAN PORTS. By applying the Tidal Constant of the place, according to its sign (+ add. -sub.), to the time of high water on the given day at the port of reference, you have the time of high water at the place sought. +5 13 Dover +0 50 Brest -2 25 Kingstown -0 18 Greenock -1 49 Leith -1 14 Queenstown -0 26 Weston-s.-Mare 2 Brest -0 +0 8 Dover -0 51 Liverpool +2 42 Londonderry -1 5 N. Shields -0 8 N. Shields +38 Brest +0 13 Dover +0 22 Devonport +0 19 Weston-s.-Mare -22 Brest -1 56 Liverpool +0 37 Dover -0 23 Greenock +0 2 Weston-s.-Mare -1 37 Londonderry +4 41 Greenock +0 33 Devonport +0 3 Dover +7 19 Brest +0 3 Kingstown +0 17 Queenstown -0 11 Liverpool +0 2 Kingstown -0 16 Kingstown -0 27 Dover +0 56 Dover +0 38 Devonport -0 46 Devonport +6 57 Brest -0 47 Brest -1 59 Hull -0 12 Liverpool -0 5 Dover -0 29 Devonport +1 42 Dover -0 26 Queenstown -1 27 Brest +0 10 Greenock +2 51 Weston-s.-Mare +2 26 Brest -0 48 London -0.53 Hull +2 50 Brest +0 5 N. Shields -1 52 London +6 4 Brest +0 21 Dover -1 12 Liverpool -0 53 N. Shields -5 42 Brest -1 59 Leith PLACE. Jersey (St. Helier) Lerwick (Shetland) Lynn & Boston Deep. Milford Haven entr. Newhaven Newport Nieuport Padstow Peel, Isle of Man Peterhead CONSTANT. Piel harbour, Barrow breakwater Rotterdam Santander Wicklow H. M. PORT OF REFERENCE. -1 26 Dover +0 23 N. Shields +C 39 Dover +0 16 Weston-s.-Mare +1 6 Dover -1 28 London -2 43 London -1 17 Brest +1 13 Dover -1 41 Weston-s.-Mare -0 42 Weston-s.-Mare +4 33 Dover -0 17 Brest -1 21 London +0 22 Dover +0 17 Queenstown -1 3 Hull -2 10 Weston-s.-Mare +2 18 Brest -1 16 Devonport -0 7 Brest +6 38 Greenock -5 17 Leith -01 N. Shields -0 53 Weston-s.-Mare -0 11 Leith +0 22 N. Shields -1 12 Weston-s.-Mare -5 49 Leith +0 17 Devonport -0 41 Kingstown +0 13 Queenstown MARINE INVENTIONS. Monthly List of Patents-Communicated by Messrs. Wm. P. Thompson & Co., British and International Patent and Trademark Agents and Consulting Engineers, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 323, High Holborn, London, W.C. ENGLISH (APPLICATIONS). 4633. Frank Ricardo Francis, Lawford Road, London, Engineer. "Improvements in apparatus for ship-steering indications and other purposes." 4654. Henry Lüdecke, Peckham. "Improvements in the mode of and apparatus for indicating and registering the speed, distance, and position of vessels at sea, whether and how far deviating from their course." 4661. Alexander Friedmann, Vienna, Engineers. "Improvements in apparatus for increasing the draft in the chimneys of steamships, and in other chimneys or funnels." 4729. Wm. Bell, Messrs. W. Walker & Co.'s, Deptford Green Dockyard, London. "An improved system of longitudinal framing, combined with diagonal beams and pillars, constituting an arrangement for the construction of iron or steel vessels, the principle of which is especially applicable to vessels of extreme proportions, and to torpedo boats and river steamers where great lightness is required, as well as for all vessels wherein water-ballast tanks or water-tight partitions have to be fitted." 4788. Wm. Jas. Damer, Peckham. "An improvement in the means of stopping leakage and of saving vessels which have suffered fracture from collision, shot, ram, or other casualty." 4802. Wm. Waring, London. "Improvements in or additions. to ships' logs." 4874. Middleton Pratt, Rood Lane, London, Engineer. "Improvements in screw propellers, and method of driving." 4910. Isaac Blue Harris, Edinburgh. "Improvements in pontoons, constructed of textile materials." 4918. Edwin Ruthven Whitney and Horace Janson Beemer, Montreal, Canada. "Fog-horns and signals." 4919. Josiah Latimer Clark and John Standfield, Civil Engineers, Westminster. "Improvements in apparatus for and in the mode of constructing artificial breakwaters, groins, piers, and other submarine foundations." 4954. Frederic Bradley, Kidderminster, Worcester. provements in steering apparatus." 4959. Charles Ambrose McEvoy, Adelphi, Middlesex. provements in torpedo apparatus." "Im "Im 4987. John Louis Lay, Paris, France. "Improvements in apparatus for propelling, guiding, firing, and otherwise controlling or operating torpedo boats." 5007. Edmund Thompson, Sutton, Surrey. "Improvements in the bridges, seats, and other deck fittings of vessels to render them available as floats or rafts for saving life in case of accident, such as vessels sinking." 5042. James Long, Brighton. struction of ships and vessels." 66 'Improvements in the con 5088. James Ballantyne Hannay, Glasgow. "A new or im proved chemical compound or mixture for preventing the fouling of ships' bottoms, and other submerged surfaces, part or parts whereof are adapted as a paint or varnish for protecting other surfaces." "Improvements in or 5099. Joseph Burridge, Middlesex. connected with rockets to be used for war, life-saving, and illuminating purposes." 5137. Kate Jessie Abercromby Maxwell King, Victoria Park, London. "Improvements in apparatus for saving life from drowning." ABRIDGEMENTS. 1499. Frederick Charles Weir, of Clifton. "Improvements in apparatus or appliances for supporting persons in water." The apparatus presents the appearance of a jacket, to which are attached five or more hermetically sealed cylindrical vessels, made of tin in front and a similar number at the back. They are arranged either vertically or horizontally, and the whole is secured |