Detailed programme of subjects to be considered by the International marine ...

new, represents almost, if not quite, as great a value, in number of lives and amount of property, as the entire fishing-fleet of every nationality-considering all these things, I must say it seems to me that all other interests are necessarily subordinate, and any regulations likely to be effective must be framed accordingly.

WASHINGTON, D. C.

APPENDIX B.

BOSTON, October 17, 1889.

The honorable SECRETARY OF STATE,

Washington, D. C.:

SIR: Learning of the proposed conference of nations on the subject of maritime regulations, George V. Steele, esq., president of the Gloucester Mutual Fishing Insurance Company, in the interest of American fishing vessels, addressed a circular to many masters of fishermen asking information as to the dangers of the fishing banks caused by steamers. A few specific answers were received, many remain unanswered. I transmit at his request the accompanying circular and answers for your consideration.

I am, very respectfully,

CHAS. L. WOODBURY.

[Circular.]

JUNE 26, 1889.

Have any vessels disappeared under circumstances which induce the opinion that they have been run down by any steamer or steam-ship and are a total loss?

Do you know of any that have had narrow escapes?

Give the names of such vessels, the date and situation when last seen, and also state the circumstances so far as you have learned them.

[Replies.]

"I have several times narrowly escaped being struck by steamers in thick weather, both while lying at anchor and under sail, on and in the neighborhood of fishing grounds. In some instances the steamer has been almost upon me before her way could be stopped or course changed. I have no particular instance in mind.

"SAMUEL HILTZ."

"On northeast part of Georges had very narrow escape from being run down by steamer at night, it being thick fog at the time. She came within 75 feet, and would have run over the vessel if it had not been for our torches and horns. This was last February, in schooner Carl Schurz.

"JOHN CONSTANCE, M."

"Schooner Golden Hind, in 1885, on southern edge of Georges, at night, had a narrow escape from collision with steamer. We were lying-to, and steamer came so near that we hauled up the boat to leave the vessel, but after showing our torch and making a noise, she kept off.

"RUBEN CAMERON."

"Schooner James A. Garfield, in 1886, in longitude 60°, latitude 43° 30', had narrow escape from being run down by steamer at 10 o'clock p. She came within 25 feet of the vessel, and changed her course when we showed our torch.

"THOMAS BOHLIN, M."

"I don't know of any vessel being run down by a steamer, but have had several narrow escapes from steamers going at full speed across the Banks.

"CHAS. PETERSON, P."

"Have been master to the Grand Banks ten years. The passage of steamers across the Banks is, in my opinion, very dangerous, and I have no doubt that vessels have been run down by steamers in foggy weather. Have seen steamers daily when fishing on the Banks, and have heard their whistle in foggy weather.

"JOHN GAURVILLE.”

REPORT OF COMMITTEE No. 2 ON GENERAL DIVISION 8.

NIGHT-SIGNALS FOR COMMUNICATING INFORMATION AT SEA.

WASHINGTON, December 6, 1889.

Rear-Admiral S. R. FRANKLIN, U. S. Navy,

President of the International Marine Conference, etc.:

SIR: With regard to subsections (a) and (b) of General Division 8, the committee have considered systems of night-signals with ordinary colored lights, but the objection exists that they cannot be seen so far as a white light. It is the opinion of the committee that nightsignaling at sea can better be carried on by a system of long and short flashes from a white light than by any system in which colored lights are used.

The committee have concluded that the systems of signaling by pyrotechnic lights which have been brought to their notice are too expensive for general use.

The committee have had before them "A supplementary code of limited scope to convey information of special importance to passing vessels," which has been prepared by a committee of the British Board of Trade and has been presented by the British Government to the various powers for their consideration.

Your committee, after careful consideration, suggest that the Conference recommend the adoption, for optional use, of that suplementary code, with the following change, which will become necessary if the Conference adopt the signal suggested by the joint committee on "PilotSignals, viz: To strike out signal P G, "Beware of derelict dangerous to navigation," and substitute in its place N P, "I want assistance. Remain by me." Appendix A contains this supplementary code as amended.

To illustrate the importance attached to the subject of night-signals the committee refer to the great number of proposals on that subject mentioned by the report of the committee on Systems and Devices.

That part of the proposed amendment to Article 27, entitled extra amendment No. 6, which reads as follows—

"Vessels in want of a pilot have to display their national flag with a white border or make the signal indicated by P T at the fore.

"At night, together or separately.

The pyrotechnic light, commonly known as a blue light, every fifteen minutes, or a bright white light, flashed or shown at short intervals just above the bulwarks for about a minute at a time,”

which was referred to this committee, the committee find is already included in the International Code Signal Book under the head of "Pilot Signals." The committee therefore recommend no further action on the amendment.

With reference to the twenty-third amendment to Article 4, viz, “A tug wishing to offer her service to a vessel shall exhibit to such vessel, in addition to the ordinary lights, a white and red flare-up alternately," which was referred to this committee, the committee beg leave to report that they do not think it expedient to allot any special signal to vessels of this class.

Subsection (c) referring to distress signals was not considered, as it has been disposed of by the Conference.

In compliance with the resolution of the Conference referring to this committee, assisted by the Committee on Sound-Signals, the subject of fog-signals to be allotted to pilots and to vessels seeking pilots, the joint committee met and decided upon the following signals:

For vessels requiring pilots-a prolonged blast followed by a short blast,

For pilots wishing to offer their services-short blast followed by a long blast,

And the committee recommend that they be inserted in the International Code Book under the "Pilot-Signals."

While considering the subject of signals to convey information of special importance to passing vessels, the decision of the conference in adding to the signals now in use, consisting of short and long blasts, the favor in which such signals seem to be held, and the convenience which an extended use of such signals would be to mariners, have led the committee to consider the benefits which might accrue from the more general use of the Morse system now in use by the navies of various powers.

Up to the present time no better system seems to have been devised for signaling purposes; it is one which can be used under all circumstances, it is readily acquired by young persons of ordinary ability, and is already taught on some training ships. If its use were encouraged it might lead to the study of the code by more young men qualifying as officers of the Merchant Marine, or as signal men, and thus come into more general use.

Such studies are beneficial in developing the intellectual activity of seamen, and every accomplishment of the kind acquired and made necessary by the requirements of the service helps to develop the morale of the sailor.

To thus encourage the use of the system the committee suggest to the Conference that the complete alphabet of the Morse Code be inserted in the International Code Book for optional use.

AUG. GARDE,

Delegate for Denmark.

HENRI LANNELUC,

Delegate for France.

CHRISTIAN DONNER,

Delegate for Germany.

N. BOWDEN-SMITH,

Delegate for Great Britain.

H. A. P. CARTER,

Chairman of Committee, Delegate for Hawaii.

T. DE SOUZA ROZA,

Delegate for Portugal.

FREDERICK MALMBERG,

Delegate for Sweden.

D. HUBERT,

Delegate for the Netherlands.

JOHN W. SHACKFORD,

Delegate for the United States.

The undersigned desire to record that in signing the above report they do so without prejudice to the opinions they hold as to the desirability of giving special signals to use with fog-horns on board pilot-vessels.