Local rules (Thames).

(b) On the starboard side, a green light so fixed and fitted with an inboard screen as to throw the light from direct ahead to two points abaft the beam on the starboard side.

(c) On the port side, a red light so fixed and fitted with an inboard screen as to throw the light from direct ahead to two points abaft the beam on the port side.

(d) Provided, however, that no passenger steam-vessel whilst navigating the said river above London Bridge, and when under way, shall be bound to exhibit between sunset and sunrise any other lights than two bright white lights, one at her mast-head and one at her stem.

33. Steamers towing vessels shall, between sunset and sunrise, exhibit, in addition to the above-mentioned three lights, a white light on the fore-mast or funnel not less than four feet vertically above the first-mentioned white light, of the like power and similar to it in every respect.

34. Every steam dredger moored in the River Thames shall, between sunset and sunrise, exhibit three bright lights from globular lanterns of not less than eight inches in diameter, the said three lights to be placed in a triangular form, and to be of sufficient power to be distinctly visible with a clear atmosphere, on a dark night, at a distance of at least one mile, and to be placed not less than six feet apart on the highest part of the framework athwart ships.

35. Every steam-vessel, when the steam is up, and when under way, shall, in all cases of fog, use as a signal a steam-whistle, which shall be sounded at least every three minutes.

(a) Sailing-vessels, when under way, shall in like manner use a fog-horn.

(b) When at anchor, all vessels shall in like manner use a bell. 46. No steam-vessel shall be worked or navigated upon the said river between Teddington Lock, in the parish of Ĥam, in the county of Surrey, and Cricklade, in the county of Wilts, at such speed as shall endanger or cause damage to other vessels, or cause any injury to the banks of the river.

(The following was approved by Order in Council of 20th November, 1873.)

All barges on the River Thames above Putney Bridge, whether navigated by sail or towed by steam or horses, shall, between sunset and sunrise, while under way, exhibit in their bows or on their masts a red light of sufficient power to be distinctly visible with a clear atmosphere, on a dark night, at a distance of at least one mile.

(The following were approved by Order in Council of 17th March, 1875.) 1. All vessels under sail east of London Bridge shall exhibit,

between sunset and sunrise, two lights, namely, a green light on the starboard side, so fixed and fitted with an inboard screen as to throw the light from direct ahead to two points abaft the beam on the starboard side; and a red light on the port side, so fixed and fitted with an inboard screen as to throw a light from direct ahead to two points abaft the beam on the port side, such lights to be visible on a dark night, with a clear atmosphere, at a distance of at least one mile.

2. Every person in charge of a dumb-barge, when under way and not in tow, shall, between sunset and sunrise, when below or to the eastward of a line drawn from the upper part of Silvertown, in the county of Essex, to Charlton Pier, in the county of Kent, have a white light always ready, and exhibit the same on the approach of any vessel.

3. The person in charge of the sternmost or last of a line of barges, when being towed, shall exhibit, between sunset and sunrise, a white light from the stern of his barge.

4. All vessels and barges, when at anchor in the fairway of the river, shall exhibit the usual riding light.

5. All vessels, when employed to mark the positions of wrecks or other obstructions, shall exhibit two bright lights placed horizontally not less than six feet apart.

(The following were approved by Order in Council of 11th July, 1877.)

2. All vessels navigating the river between the Albert Bridge, at Chelsea, and Charlton Pier, shall be navigated singly and separately, except small boats fastened together, or towed alongside, or astern of other vessels, and except vessels towed by steam.

3. Vessels towed by steam shall be placed two abreast, if more than four in number, and not more than six shall be towed together at one time.

4. Above and to the westward of the Albert Bridge, at Chelsea, six vessels and no more may be towed together in a single line, at one time, and the distance between any two of the vessels, so towed, shall not exceed fifty feet.

5. Every steam-vessel, before passing any vessel employed in dredging or in lifting any sunken vessel or in removing any obstruction from the river, shall ease her engines so as to reduce her speed while passing. In construing this bye-law the word "vessel" shall have the same interpretation as is assigned to it by Bye-law 2 of the Bye-laws of 1872.

Local rules

(Thames).

Proposed new rules for the Thames.

PROPOSED NEW RULES FOR THE THAMES.

The Conservators of the River Thames have published a notice that they propose, in exercise of their statutory powers, and with the consent of Her Majesty in Council, to repeal the bye-laws stated in the text, Nos. 28, 29, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 46 of the 5th of February, 1872, that of the 20th of November, 1873, Nos. 1, 4 and 17 of the 17th of March, 1875, and No. 5 of the 11th of July, 1877, and to enact the following new rules, dated 16th January, 1880, in their place :

The word "vessel" shall mean any ship, lighter, barge, boat, wherry, punt, canoe, and any kind of craft whatever, whether navigated by steam or otherwise.

The word "river" shall mean that part of the River Thames which is within the jurisdiction of the Conservators between Cricklade, in the county of Wilts, and Yantlet Creek, in the county of Kent.

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

2. Nothing in the following 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 look-out, or of the neglect of any precaution which may be required by the ordinary practice of seamen, or by the special circumstances of the case.

Bye-law for the Regulation of the Navigation of the River.

3. Every steam-vessel navigating the river shall be navigated with care and caution, and at a speed and in a manner which shall not endanger the safety of other vessels or moorings, or cause damage thereto, or to the banks of the river. Special care and caution shall be used in navigating such steam-vessels when passing vessels employed in dredging or removing sunken vessels or other obstructions.

If the safety of any vessel or moorings is endangered, or damage is caused thereto or to the banks of the river by a passing steamvessel, the onus shall lie upon the owner of such steam-vessel to show that she was navigated with care and caution, at such speed and in such manner as directed by this rule.

Bye-laws and Rules for the Regulation of the Navigation of the Proposed rules River between Yantlet Creek and Teddington Lock. (Thames).

Rules concerning Lights.

4. The lights mentioned in the following rules, numbered 5 to 10, and no others, shall be carried in all weathers from sunset to sunrise.

5. A steam-vessel, when under way, shall carry

(a.) On or before the foremast, or if there be no foremast, on a staff at the forepart of the vessel at a height above the hull of not less than twenty feet, and if the breadth of the vessel exceeds twenty feet then at a height above the hull not less than such breadth, a bright white light, so constructed as to show a uniform and unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of twenty points of the com pass, so fixed as to throw the light ten points on each side of the vessel-viz., from right ahead to two points abaft the beam on either side, and of such a character as to be visible on a dark night, with a clear atmosphere, at a distance of at least two miles. Provided that steam-vessels which navigate both above and below London Bridge shall not be required to carry their lights at a greater height than twelve feet above the hull.

Steam-vessels navigating only above London Bridge may carry the white light at any convenient height above the stem.

(b.) On the starboard side, a green light so constructed as to show a uniform and unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of ten points of the compass, so fixed as to throw the light from right ahead to two points abaft the beam on the starboard side; and of such a character as to be visible on a dark night, with a clear atmosphere, at a distance of at least one mile.

(c.) On the port side, a red light so constructed as to show a uniform and unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of ten points of the compass, so fixed as to throw the light from right ahead to two points abaft the beam on the port side; and of such a character as to be visible on a dark night, with a clear atmosphere, at a distance of at least one mile.

(d.) The said green and red side lights shall be fitted in such a manner as to prevent these lights from being seen across the bow. (e.) A steam-vessel, when towing another vessel, shall, in addition to her side lights, carry two bright white lights in a vertical line one over the other, not less than four feet apart. Each of these lights shall be of the same construction and character, and shall be carried in the same position, as the white light which other steamvessels are required to carry.

Proposed rules (Thames).

(f.) A steam-vessel towing may also carry a light showing astern as a guiding light to the vessel or vessels towed, but this light must be so screened as not to be visible further forward than four points abaft her beam.

6. A sailing-vessel under way, or being towed, shall only carry the side lights provided by (b.) and (c.) of Rule 5 for a steam-vessel under way.

7. A steam-vessel, a sailing-vessel, or a barge when at anchor in the river, shall carry where it can best be seen, at a height not exceeding twenty feet above the hull, a white light, in a globular lantern of not less than eight inches in diameter, and so constructed as to show a clear, uniform, and unbroken light, visible all round the horizon, at a distance of at least one mile; provided always that where masted vessels are lying in tiers, the outermost off-shore masted vessels only of each tier shall each carry a light similar to that required for vessels at anchor; but barges lying at the usual barge-moorings in the river above Barking Creek shall not be required to exhibit such riding light.

8. A vessel which is being overtaken by another vessel below Barking Creek shall show from her stern to such last-mentioned vessel a white light, or a flare-up light.

This rule shall not apply to boats, wherries, punts, or canoes. 9. All vessels, when employed to mark the positions of wrecks or other obstructions, shall exhibit two bright lights placed horizontally not less than six nor more than twelve feet apart.

10. Every steam dredger moored in the river shall, between sunset and sunrise, exhibit three bright lights from globular lanterns of not less than eight inches in diameter, the said three lights to be placed in a triangular form, and to be of sufficient power to be distinctly visible with a clear atmosphere, on a dark night, at a distance of at least one mile, and to be placed not less than six feet apart on the highest part of the framework athwart ships.

Rules concerning Fog, &c., Signals.

11. All vessels entering or being overtaken by a fog shall be navigated with the greatest caution, and at a very moderate speed. 12. Every steam-vessel navigating the river shall be provided with a steam-whistle or other efficient steam sound signal, so placed that the sound may not be intercepted by any obstruction, and also with an efficient bell. Every sailing-vessel navigating the river shall be provided with an efficient fog-horn, and also with an efficient bell.

13. In fog, whether by day or night, the signals described in this Rule shall be used, that is to say: