Rules to Prevent Collisions.

632....ARTICLE 3. All steam vessels when under way shall carry-(a) At the foremost head a bright, white light, so fixed as to show an uniform and unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of twenty points of the compass, so fixed as to throw the light ten points on each side of the ship, 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, a distance of at least five miles.

(b) On the starboard side a green light, so constructed as to throw an 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 two miles.

(c) On the port side a red light, so constructed as to show an uniform, 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 two miles.

(d) The said green and red side lights shall be fitted with inboard screens, projecting at least three feet forward from the light, so as to prevent these lights from being seen across the bow.

633....ARTICLE 4. Steamships, when towing other ships, shall carry two bright, white masthead lights, vertically, in addition to their side lights, so as to distinguish them from other steamships. Each of these masthead lights shall be of the same construction and character as the masthead lights which other steamships are required to carry.

634....ARTICLE 5. Sailing ships under way, or being towed, shall carry the same lights as steamships under way, with the exception of the white masthead lights, which they shall never carry.

635....ARTICLE 6. Whenever, as in the case of small vessels during bad weather, the green and red lights cannot be fixed, these lights shall be kept on deck, on their respective sides of the vessel, ready for instant exhibition, and shall, on the approach of or to other vessels, be exhibited on their respective sides in sufficient time to prevent collision, in such manner as to make them most visible, and so that the green light shall not be seen on the port side, nor the red light on the starboard side.

Rules to Prevent Collisions.

To make the use of these portable lights more certain and easy, they shall each be painted outside with the color of the light they respectively contain, and shall be provided with suitable screens.

636....ARTICLE 7. Ships, whether steamships or sailing ships, when at anchor in roadsteads or fair-ways, shall, between sunset and sunrise, exhibit, where it can best be seen, but at a height not exceeding twenty feet above the hull, a white light in a globular lantern of eight inches in diameter, and so constructed as to show a clear, uniform, and unbroken light, visible all around the horizon, and at a distance of at least one mile.

637....ARTICLE 8. Sailing pilot vessels shall not carry the lights required for other sailing vessels but shall carry a white light at the masthead, visible all around the horizon, and shall also exhibit a flareup light every fifteen minutes.

638....ARTICLE 9. Open fishing boats and other open boats shall not be required to carry side lights required for other vessels, but shall, if they do not carry such lights, carry a lantern having a green slide on the one side and a red slide on the other side; and on the approach of or to other vessels, such lantern shall be exhibited in sufficient time to prevent collision, so that the green light shall not be seen on the port side, nor the red light on the starboard side. Fishing vessels and open boats when at anchor, or attached to their nets and stationary, shall exhibit a bright white light. Fishing vessels and open boats shall, however, not be prevented from using a flare-up in addition, if considered expedient.

639.... ARTICLE 10. Whenever there is a fog, whether by day or night, the fog signals described below shall be carried and used, and shall be sounded at least every five minutes, viz:

(a) Steamships under way shall use a steam whistle, placed before the funnel, not less than eight feet from the deck.

(b) Sailing ships under way shall use a fog-horn.

(c) Steamships and sailing ships when not under way shall use a bell. 640....ARTICLE 11. If two sailing ships are meeting end on, or nearly end on, so as to involve risk of collision, the helms of both shall be put to port, so that each may pass on the port side of the other.

641....ARTICLE 12. When two sailing ships are crossing, so as to involve risk of collision, then, if they have the wind on different sides

Rules to Prevent Collisions.

the ship with the wind on the port side shall keep out of the way of the ship with the wind on the starboard side, except in the case in which the ship with the wind on the port side is close-hauled, and the other ship free, in which case the latter ship shall keep out of the way. But if they have the wind on the same side, or if one of them has the wind aft, the ship which is to windward shall keep out of the way of the ship which is to leeward.

642.... ARTICLE 13. If two ships under steam are meeting end on, or nearly end on, so as to involve risk of collision, the helms of both shall be put to port so that each may pass on the port side of the other.

643....ARTICLE 14. If two ships under steam are crossing so as to involve risk of collision, the ship which has the other on her own starboard side shall keep out of the way of the other.

644....ARTICLE 15. If two ships, one of which is a sailing ship and the other a steamship, are proceeding in such directions as to involve risk of collision, the steamship shall keep out of the way of the sailing ship.

645....ARTICLE 16. Every steamship, when approaching another ship so as to involve risk of collision, shall slacken her speed, or if necessary stop and reverse; and every steamship shall, when in a fog, go at a moderate speed.

646....ARTICLE 17. Every vessel overtaking any other vessel shall keep out of the way of the said last-mentioned vessel.

648....ARTICLE 18. Where, by the above rules, one of two ships is to keep out of the way, the other shall keep her course, subject to the qualifications contained in the following article.

648.... ARTICLE 19. In obeying and construing these rules due regard must be had to all dangers of navigation, and due regard must also be had to any special circumstances which may exist in any particular case, rendering a departure from the above rules necessary in order to avoid immediate danger.

649.... ARTICLE 20. Nothing in these rules shall exonerate any ship, 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

Rules to Prevent Collisions....Preservation of the Crew.

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.

650....Should a collision unfortunately take place, each commanding officer is required to furnish the Department with the following information:

1st. His own report, that of the pilot, the officer of the deck, and other officers who witnessed the occurrence. These reports and statements are to be exemplified by a diagram, and must contain the courses steered, the point at which the vessel was first seen, the bearing, the time when the engine was slowed, when the vessel was stopped, whether in motion, and if so at what speed at the moment of collision, the direction of the wind, the condition of the weather and atmosphere, what lookouts were placed, what lights were exhibited by both vessels, whether either vessel deviated from the above rules and regulations, whether any blame can attach to any one, and if so to whom, and any and all other facts bearing upon the subject.

2d. Written statements and estimate of damage from officers of the vessel with which the vessel of the United States navy collided, if they can be obtained.

3d. Survey of the injury to both vessels by United States officers.

4th. If the vessel is in charge of a pilot, and the collision has occurred from his acting in violation of the above rules and regulations, the fact must be established in the report, and no pilotage paid to him.

ARTICLE X.

Preservation of the Crew.

651.... As cleanliness, dryness, and pure air are essential to health, the Commanding Officer is to use his utmost endeavor to secure each in the greatest degree possible. Sea water is not to be admitted to the holds, the ship is always to be pumped dry, the pump-well frequently swabbed out and dried, and chloride of lime and whitewash used wherever it is practicable. He is to take care that there is a free passage fore and aft for water, and that those places where from the trim of the ship a lodgment may occur, be bailed and swabbed out

frequently.

Preservation of the Crew.

In steam vessels, especially, he is to take care that every possible means be taken for the free circulation of air; that the bilges be frequently cleansed and whitewashed, and that all offensive matter be removed from the limbers. The man-hole plates of the coal-bunkers should be kept off during the day, whenever the state of the weather will permit.

652....He will personally inspect the vessel frequently, on which occasions he shall be accompanied by the Executive Officer, and shall satisfy himself that nothing has been neglected for the efficiency of the vessel or the health of the crew.

653....He shall cause the bedding and clothing of the crew to be inspected by the officers of divisions once a month, and the bedding and clothing aired and cleansed once a fortnight, when the weather will permit.

654.... He shall not allow men to sleep about the deck in situations where they will be exposed to night dews or rains, to sleep in wet clothes or bedding, or to take them below the gun-deck, when it can be avoided.

655....He shall cause the crew to bathe or wash themselves daily, and when they are washing decks or scrubbing clothes or hammocks, he will direct that they take off their shoes and stockings and roll up their trowsers, unless the temperature of the water or air should be at or below 45° Fahrenheit.

656.... He shall pay great attention to the suitable clothing of the men, obliging them to make such changes as, in the opinion of the Medical Officers and himself, will be most conducive to health, according to the changes of climate to which they may be subjected.

657.... He shall take care that the boats' crews have their breakfasts before leaving the vessel, and their other meals at the usual times, except special duties shall prevent it.

658.... He shall not allow the boats to be away from the ship after sunset, without his special permission.

659....He shall prevent all unnecessary exposure of those under his command.

660....He shall adopt suitable precautions to prevent the use o improper fruits or of other articles which may endanger the health of the crew.