THE COMMERCIAL CO

Has many advantages and facilities for signallin how the form of a Hoist will usually denote the natur

ONE FLAG.

TWO FLAGS.

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TAKING IN A MAIN YARD.

Your main yard is alongside, proceed to get it on board. Reeve a hawser from a block at the forward trestletree, and hitch it a foot or so from the midships of the yard, and stop it at the yard-arm; hoist away, cast off the stop, and lay the yard before the mast athwart ships, resting it on the two rails.

ADDITIONAL FOR MASTERS.

COMMERCIAL CODE OF SIGNALS.

1. How can you tell the Quadrants of the compass by any particular characteristic in the hoist ?

Each Quadrant of the Compass has one of the four Pennants allotted to it, thus

From N to EN, the C pennant uppermost.

From E to SE, the D

From S to WS, the F

From W to NW, the G

2. What is the meaning of a Two Flag Signal, with a Pennant uppermost and the Flag W below?

It is a Meteorological (Wind) forecast.

3. What Flag in the Spelling Table is common to every syllable ?

The C (white) Pennant uppermost.

4. How is the Commercial Code applied in making Boat Signals?

The Distance Signals are used. The Ball is represented by a bundle or hat; the Pennant by something longer than it is broad; the Square Flag by a handkerchief, &c. These signals are made from right to left, but read from left to right.

5. What means are there for reporting ships passing along the English Coast?

Signal Stations have been established at many of the principal points of the coast; and on ships passing and making their names known by the Commercial Code Signals, the Officers in charge of the Stations forward reports to the Shipping Gazette" for publication.

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6. How are Signal Letters for the purpose of making a ship's name at sea, to be obtained for British registered ships?

By applying to a Registrar of Shipping at one of the Custom-houses, or to the Registrar General of Seamen, London, E. C.

CHART. (ADDITIONAL)

7. What do you understand those small numbers to indicate that you see placed about the chart?

Depth of water in fathoms, if not otherwise stated.

8. At what time of the tide ?

At low water, ordinary springs, if not otherwise stated

9. What are the requisites you should know in order that you may compare the depths obtained by your lead line on board with the depths marked on the chart?

The time of the tide and the "mean spring range."

10. What do the Roman numerals indicate that are occasionally seen near the coast and in harbours ?

The time of high water at that place at full and change of the moon.

11. How would you find the time of high water at any place, the Admiralty Tide Tables not being at hand, nor any other special Tables available?

To the time of high water at full and change I would add 49 minutes for every day that has elapsed since the full and change of the moon; the sum would be the p.m. tide for the given day, approximately.

Or, to the time of the moon's meridian passage corrected for longitude, add the port establishment; the sum would be the p.m. tide for the day required.

DEVIATION OF THE COMPASS.

N.B.-The Candidate is to answer correctly at least eight of such of the following questions as are marked with a cross by the Examiner. The Examiner will not mark less than 12.

The Candidate must draw a curve of deviation on a Napier's diagram, supplied to him by the Examiner.

1. What do you mean by deviation of the compass? How much the N of the needle is drawn to the right or left of the correct magnetic N by the influence of the iron in the ship.

2. How do you determine the deviation (a) when in port, and (b) when at sea?

(a) By swinging the ship, and taking reciprocal bearings with the ship's head at every point of the compass, by taking the bearing of a distant object whose correct bearing is known. At Liverpool and Cronstadt there are figures on the dock walls for this.

(b) By Amplitudes and Azimuths, and Evans' Variation Chart.

3. Having determined the Deviation with the ship's head on the various points of the compass, how do you know when it is Easterly and when Westerly.

It is Easterly when the correct magnetic bearing is to the right of that by the ship's standard compass, and Westerly when to the left.

4. Why is it necessary, in order to ascertain the deviations, to bring the ship's head in more than one direction?

Because the deviation is different for every direction of the ship's head.

5. For accuracy, what is the least number of points to which the ship's head should be bronght?

Eight: the best are N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, and NW.

6. How would you find the deviation when sailing along a well-known coast ?

By choosing two objects which are eight or ten miles distant from the ship, and taking their bearing when in one by the standard compass, with the ship's head on different points. Then the difference between the correct magnetic and standard compass bearings is the deviation for that direction of her head. The Chart will give the correct magnetic bearing.

7, 8, 9, and 10. Note.-These are the deviation curve questions, and must be worked out; they cannot be learned off by heart. (See REED'S NEW GUIDE BOOK.)

11. Name some suitable objects by which you could readily obtain the deviation of the compass when sailing along the coasts of the English Channel ?

South Foreland Lights, Portland Bill Lights, or the Lizard Lights in one; or any two prominent objects which are on the Chart.

12. Do you expect the Deviation to change? if so, state under what circumstances.

Yes for some time after the ship is built; when she changes her magnetic latitude; a change in her cargo, particularly if it be at one time iron; keeping on one course for a long time, and then suddenly changing it; sometimes by a heavy blow from a wave, or collision; and by heeling.

13. How often is it advisable to test the accuracy of your Table of Deviations.

As often as possible, particularly in the cases mentioned in the answer to question 12.

14. State briefly what you have to guard against in selecting a position for the compass.

Placing it near any considerable mass of iron, or the extremity of any elongated iron, particularly if vertical, as the capstan, iron stanchions, iron davits, iron funnel, iron masts, &c.

15. The compasses of iron ships are more or less affected by what is termed the heeling error. On what courses does this error vanish, and on what courses is it the greatest.

It vanishes on East and West courses. North and South courses.

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