STEAM VESSEL SHALL SLACKEN SPEED OR STOP.

ART. 23. Every steam vessel which is directed by these rules to keep out of the way of another vessel shall, on approaching her, if necessary, slacken her speed or stop or reverse.

OVERTAKING VESSELS.

ART. 24. Notwithstanding anything contained in these rules, every vessel overtaking any other shall keep out of the way of the overtaken vessel.

NARROW CHANNELS.

ART. 25. In narrow channels every steam vessel shall, when it is safe and practicable, keep to the side of the fairway or midchannel, which lies on the starboard side of such vessel."

RIGHT OF WAY OF FISHING VESSELS.

ART. 26. Sailing vessels under way shall keep out of the way of sailing vessels or boats fishing with nets or lines or trawls. This rule shall not give to any vessel or boat engaged in fishing the right to obstructing a fairway used by vessels other than fishing vessels or boats.

GENERAL PRUDENTIAL RULE.

ART. 27. In obeying and construing these rules, due regard shall be had to all dangers of navigation and collision and to any special circumstances which may render a departure from the above rules necessary in order to avoid immediate danger.

SOUND SIGNALS FOR PASSING STEAMERS.

(See art. 18.)

ART. 28. When vessels are in sight of one another a steam vessel under way whose engines are going full speed astern shall indicate that fact by three short blasts on the whistle.

PRECAUTIONS.

ART. 29. Nothing in these rules shall exonerate any vessel, or the owner or master or crew thereof, from the consequences of any neglect to carry lights or signals, or of any neglect to keep a proper lookout, or of neglect of any precaution which may be required by the ordinary practice of seamen, or by the special circumstances of the case.

DISTRESS SIGNALS.

ART. 31. When a vessel is in distress and requires assistance from other vessels or from the shore the following shall be the signals to be used or displayed by her, either together or separately, namely: In the daytime

A continuous sounding with any fog-signal apparatus, or firing a gun.

At night

First. Flames on the vessel as from a burning tar barrel, oil barrel, etc.

Second. A continuous sounding with any fog-signal apparatus, or firing a gun.

SPECIAL FLAGS AND PENNANTS.

NATIONAL ENSIGN.

(Pl. I.)

182. The following paragraphs (extracts from the Regulations) are intended to show when, where, and under what conditions the national ensign is to be displayed by ships of the Navy. They do not pertain to or modify the instructions for gun salutes and other honor but pertain to the flag only.

183. The national ensign shall be displayed on board ships of the Navy:

(1) At anchor, at 8 a. m., and until sunset.

(2) When a ship comes to anchor or gets under way, if there is sufficient light for the ensign to be seen, although it be earlier or later than the times specified in (1).

(3) When a ship has anchored at night, at daylight for a short period to show the nationality. It is customary for other men-of-war to show their colors in return.

(4) Unless there is good reason to the contrary, when falling in with other ships of war or when near land, especially when passing or approaching ports, lighthouses, or towns.

184. The national ensign shall be displayed on shore from 8 a. m. to sunset at every shore station under the jurisdiction of the Navy Department at such point as the commandant thereof may direct, and, except as specified in the following sentence, at that point only. Where there exist outlying reservations under the command of such commandant, which lie so far from the main reservation that their

governmental character is not clearly indicated by the display of the ensign at such main reservation, the commandant shall direct the national ensign to be displayed at such point on each such outlying reservation as he may deem desirable.

185. The national ensign shall be displayed from boats belonging to naval ships

(1) Between 8 a. m. and sunset in a foreign port, when away from the ship.

When the ship is dressed, in such boats as are water-borne. (3) In a home port, when boarding a foreign vessel.

(4) In a home port, when a flag or commanding officer of or above the rank of captain is embarked in uniform.

(5) At such other times as may be prescribed by the commanding officer.

(6) Boat ensigns are half-masted whenever the vessel to which the boat belongs half-masts her colors. If absent out of sight of the ship, and men-of-war in vicinity have colors half-masted, it is proper to follow their movements.

(7) Except when the ship is full dressed, the ensign is never to be left flying in boats made fast astern or at the boom.

(8) A boat under sail is never to fly its ensign at a staff, but the ensign shall be flown from the peak, or head of the mainsail.

(9) As a general rule, boats pulling less than four oars are not to fly boat ensigns.

186. In half-masting the ensign it shall, if not previously hoisted, be first hoisted to the truck or peak with the usual ceremonies and then lowered to half-mast. Before lowering from half-mast it shall be first hoisted to the truck or peak and then lowered with the usual ceremonies.

187. Upon all occasions on board ship or at naval stations of hoisting, lowering, or half-masting the colors, or displaying the Union jack, the motions of the senior officer present in sight shall be followed.

188. When any vessel salutes a ship of the Navy by dipping her national ensign, it shall be returned dip for dip. If before 8 a. m. or after sunset, the ensign shall be hoisted, the dip returned, and after a suitable interval the ensign hauled down. No ship of the Navy shall dip her ensign unless in return for such compliment.

189. On occasions which require salutes, the national ensign of the United States is displayed

(1) At the main during On the occasion of a visit of an ex-President salutes. of the United States to a ship of the Navy in a foreign country.

(2) At the fore, during Vice President visits ship of Navy.

salute. (3) At the fore, during the salute.

(4) At the fore, during the salute.

Visit of Cabinet Member (other than Secretary of the Navy) or President pro tempore of the Senate...

(1) Visit of Chief Justice of Supreme Court.

(2) Governor General of island or group of
islands occupied by United States
Forces, when visit is made within
waters of which he is Governor
General.

Visit of Committee of Congress.
Visit of Speaker of House.
Visit of governor of State or Territory
of the United States, or of an island
under the control of the United
States, within the waters of that
State, Territory, or island.

(5) At the fore, during Visit of United States ambassador, envoy

salute.

extraordinary or diplomatic representative of or above the rank chargé d'affaires.

(6) At the fore, during Visit of consul general, consul, consular salute, agent or vice consul within the foreign port to which accredited.

(7) At the fore, during To officials of the United States other than salute. naval in a foreign port.

190. On occasions indicated, the national ensign of the foreign power concerned shall be displayed

(1) At the main, during Visit of president of foreign republic or fortime on board. eign sovereign.

(2) At the main, during Visit of member of royal family.

salute.

13050-20- 9

(3) At the main, during Whenever a ship of the Navy falls in with a
salute.
friendly foreign ship of war flying the
Jasbeer-xo as to Jiziv si lic, sovereign, or
odt to qide s of asteta ba

standard or flag resident of a repub

a foreign ship of motor trobisor to (va of the same nat when returning a salute (5) At the main, during On the occasion of celebrating foreign national anniversaries or festivals, to quere to basler to fatoning the salute and for such further times astala batin yd, boique remain dressed. In case of an anniver ships of such nations present may midtin obem at Jieiv

(6) At th

the fore, d during Whenever a ship of the Navy falls in with a salute. friendly foreign man-of-war flying a flag sdt to fort jedt to arte odd aidor pennant of a foreign flag officer or commodore or while returning such salute.

NOTE When a foreigner entitled to a gun salute visits a ship of the Navy while the ship is dressed or full dressed, the United States ensign at the fore (or main) is to be hauled down to make way for the ensign of the nation represented by the visitor being saluted, the United States ensign to be replaced at once when the ensign of the nation represented by the visitor is hauled down at the last gun of the salute. A()

191. On board a ship, where, for want of masts, the national ensign can not be displayed as prescribed, the point of display may be modified as necessary, following the spirit of the rules herein laid down, but its display must not be omitted.