The most stringent reatrictions to signals affecting the near navi. gation or the immediate safety of the ships in communication. Present signals are all that are required. 2. Persons, firms, socie- Date of reply. Whether the time has ties, etc., applied to for observations. arrived for establishing a system whereby the signals in the International Code Book may be made by night as well as by day? [Inclosure G.] Note showing proposed alteration at pages xv and xvi of the signal book. [Extract from the report of a committee of 1855.] * "First, its comprehensiveness and distinctness, the combination of the signs expressing the nature of the signal made-[two flags or symbols in a hoist always meaning either danger or urgency]-and the signals throughout being arranged in a consecutive series, so that any individual signal, whether a word or a sentence, may readily be found; secondly, that the flags and pennants are so arranged as by their position to characterize the signals made; thus, "and thirdly, that the arrangement of the code is such as to hold out to foreigners the same advantages that it affords to our own marine." This committee [of 1888] have slightly departed from the recommendations contained in the last part of the above report as follows, viz: Instead of the words in brackets, as above, this committee have adopted the following words: [Two flags in one hoist mean attention and demand, compass, and urgent or important signals, which are now classed into three groups, according to the sign which is uppermost, as follows, viz: SUPPLEMENTARY INCLOSURE TO INTERIM REPORT. Since the publication of Parliamentary Paper, No. C. 5695, the following additional replies to the letter dated January 20, 1888 (Inclosure F), have been received. 2. Persons, firms, socie- Date of reply. Whether the time has ties, etc., applied to for observations. arrived for establish. ing a system whereby the signals in the International Code book may be made by night as well as by day? Submit the opinions of their marine superintendents and commanders. Knows of no special de- | No serious danger, as | If the system adopted sire for such a system. The only safe system would be the Morse. No knowledge of gen. Has heard of no demand for such a system. Night signals should be Flash signals best as adopted. colored lights are easily mistaken. they would not be much used. was Morse flashing signals there need not be any restriction. 6. Is it desirable to establish some special warning signals to Answer in the negative. Answer in the negative. Sees no danger from this Restrictions would be repoint of view. Considers night signal. ing impracticable and unnecessary. Thinks demand is not great. quired in narrow waters. Might prove dangerous in narrow waters. Persons, firms, socie- Date of reply. Whether the time has ties, etc., applied to for observations. arrived for establishing a system whereby the signals in the International Code book may be made by night as well as by day? 3. If there is a general demand for such a system, what system should be adopted? 4. If such a system were established, whether any danger is likely to arise therefrom owing to the inducement it might afford to ships to approach one another too closely at night for the purpose of signaling? 3. To report whether there ought to be any, and, if so, what restrictions on the use of night signals, especially in crowded waters? 6. Is it desirable to establish some special warning signals to indicate danger to passing vessels. If so, what should they be, and by what means should they be made? |