separated from each other by complicated channels such as in the Baltic Sea, etc.

"In some of such districts a parti-colored buoy is used with much advantage as a port-hand buoy. In a few-notably in England—a single black color is used as a starboard-hand buoy. Inasmuch as a single black color is in general use as a port-hand buoy in neighboring districts visited by the same shipping, we suggest that the authorities of such countries should be invited to consider the great general advantages to shipping that would result from the adoption of uniformity in color, by discontinuing this dangerous custom of using a black color to denote a starboard-hand as well as a port-hand buoy.

"In some countries white is used as a distinctive color, and with ad; vantage when contrasted with a dark background. As this practice can not lead vessels into danger, we hesitate to advise that it should be compulsorily interfered with.

"We are of opinion that where form is adopted, the two shapes 'conical' and 'can' are appropriate for marking the starboard and port sides of a channel, a spar-buoy taking the place of the can in certain

cases.

"These forms are practically used in the United States, Germany, Canada, India, and Great Britain. But the various countries are not all in agreement as to which side of the channel is to be marked by a conical buoy and which by a can or spar buoy.

"It follows that one or more of the countries would necessarily have to re-arrange their system, but, if the work were done gradually, the committee believe that this could be performed at a minimum of expense in no way comparable with the great advantage that would result to navigation.

"In connection with such a change of system we are informed that an extensive re-arrangement in buoyage was recently carried out by Great Britain, the different shapes being changed from one side of the channels to the other side, the change being brought about without any casualty to navigation.

"As regards top-marks, we recommend that those countries whose buoyage is based on color alone should, whenever top-marks are used to denote sides of a channel, use conical or can shaped marks on the existing buoys or beacons.

"We are of opinion that the mode of distinguishing buoys from each other by names, numbers, or letters should be left to the decision of the various countries, but that all numbers and letters should be in consecutive order, commencing at the seaward end of the district.

"The committee are of opinion that districts where the buoyage is so complicated as to have led the authorities to adopt a compass system of marking, such as in the Baltic Sea, can not, with a view to general uniformity, be coupled with the simpler systems found sufficient elsewhere; they therefore hesitate to recommend a fundamental change in such districts. But, after studying the Sailing Directions' and the publi cation of Mr. S. A. Philipsen, Copenhagen, on Beaconage and Buoyage of Different Nations,' which presents graphically the plans adopted by several nations, particularly those interested in the navigation of the Baltic Seas, the committee find that the systems now in use, so far as color and top-marks are concerned, are so similar, that they recommend the Conference to suggest to the countries interested the desirability of the adoption of one uniform system, at least as regards color.

"The committee understand that the following are the colors and top-marks at present in use in the various districts using the compass

system to define the bearing of the mark or buoy from the danger it indicates:

Marks on the north side of a shoal:

Marks on a middle ground, with fair-way channels on either side:

On buoys or marks on the north side of a shoal:

Norway...... Brooms turned downwards.

Russia..

Finland.

Sweden

Broom or brooms not systematically arranged.
A pole without a top mark.

A ball.

On buoys or marks on the south side of a shoal:

On marks on a middle ground with fair-way channels on either side:

Owing to the difficulty in choosing a fourth single color, green being universally used to denote a wreck, it practically becomes necessary, in arranging for a general system, if four distinct modes of coloring are adopted to mark the four cardinal bearings of or from a shoal, to resort to one or more parti-colors to be used in conjunction with red, black, and white.

On the principle of using four colors to mark the four sides of a shoal, the committee put forward the following scheme, based on the least change that would be necessary in altering the present systems to a uniform plan; and they recommend the Conference to bring it to the notice of the countries interested, as an example showing that uniformity is attainable if they will agree to consider the subject:

All shoals, marked on the compass system, to be marked—
On the north side by a single black or white color.
south side by red.

east side by half red and half white combined.
west side by half white and half black combined.

On rocks in fair-way, with channels on either hand, to be marked black or red, with horizontal bands.

If such colors were adopted, then the following changes of color would be necessary:

The marks on the north side of a shoal would remain colored black or white as they now are in all countries using the compass system.

The marks on the south side of a shoal would in—

Norway, have to be changed from white to red.
The marks on the east side of a shoal would in-

Norway, have to be changed from black to half red and
half white.

Sweden, have to be changed from black and white to half red and half white.

Denmark, have to be changed from red to half red and half white.

The marks on the west side of a shoal would in

Norway

Denmark S

have to be changed from white to half white

and half black.

Sweden, have to be changed from red to half white and half black.

Finland, have to be changed from white and red to half

white and half black.

The marks on a rock in fair-way, with channel on either side, if a white horizontal band is generally adopted, would in Russia have to be changed from black to black or red with white horizontal bands, in agreement with other countries.

The committee advise the Conference to invite the various powers interested to consider the following general principles, which they put forward as a basis on which to build up a uniform international buoyage system for districts other than those where the compass system is in use.

The term starboard hand shall denote that side of a navigable channel which is on the right hand of the mariner entering from seaward; the term port hand shall denote that side which is on the left hand under the same circumstances.

Color.-Buoys defining the starboard hand shall be painted a single red color.

Buoys defining the port hand shall be painted a single black color, or a parti-color.

Buoys defining middle grounds shall be painted with horizontal bands. Form.-Wherever form is used as a distinctive character.

Buoys defining the starboard hand shall be conical, and those defining the port hand shall be can or spar.

Top marks.-Countries where form is not used as a distinctive character for buoys may adopt as another distinctive feature for the buoys on either side of a channel, top marks resembling a cone to be used on the starboard side, or a cylinder on the port side of a channel.

Numbers and letters.-Numbers, letters, and names may be painted on the buoys, but they must never be so large as to interfere with their distinctive coloring.

Wherever numbers and letters are used they shall be in consecutive order, commencing from seaward.

"Buoying and marking of wrecks.-(a) All buoys and the top sides of vessels used for the marking of wrecks, shall be painted green with a suitable white inscription. (b) Where it is practicable, by day one ball shall be exhibited on the side of the vessel nearest the wreck, and two placed vertically on the other side; three fixed white lights similarly arranged, but not the ordinary riding light, shall be shown from sunset to sunrise."

The PRESIDENT. The report is before the Conference for consideration.

Captain NORCROSS (United States). Mr. President, before this report is adopted, I would like to call attention to the third paragraph on the second page, which reads:

"We are of opinion that where form is adopted the two shapes, 'conical' and 'can' are appropriate for marking starboard and port sides of a channel, the spar buoy taking the place of the can in certain cases.”

I would like to call attention to the fact that in many parts of the world can and conical buoys are entirely taken up in the winter time and replaced by spar buoys. I think this would be better if it should read in the last line: "The spar buoys taking their places in certain cases."

Captain MENSING (Germany). Mr. President, the use of the spar buoy is different in different countries. In the United States they are only used in the winter time; but in other countries these spar buoys have been found and are considered to be, one of the very best day marks that we can have, and on that account they have been adopted into the German system of buoyage on all the German coasts. It is different somewhat from the American spar buoy, in that the American spar buoy consists only of a wooden spar attached to the ground by some means. In Germany we only give them the general outline of a

spar, and hence the name; but we make them of iron or steel and give them sufficient height so that they show above the water line up to 9 meters, that is to say, 27 or 28 feet.

Now, this has been a most difficult subject. I do not believe that anybody who reads this report can form really any conception of what a difficult task this has been for the committee. The buoyage of the different countries represents an immense sum. I believe that the alterations which were introduced in Germany on the first of last year have cost them very near three million marks, and the sums invested in this particular branch of service in other countries is even larger. It would have been very easy for the committee to say: There is no very pressing need, so we will let things be as they are, because in one country the system is based on color, in another country form is put in the foreground, and in other countries different features are com bined to make the system.

The committee thought it would be better to try and find out whether it was not possible to come to some understanding and to lay some foundation upon which to act in the future, and I will mention here, and I speak in the name of the committee, that it is due to the gallant admiral from Great Britain, Sir George Nares, that we have been able to come to some conclusion on this subject. He made propositions to us, in this committee, and the different systems were thoroughly discussed, and we came to the conclusion that we might try to have this one system adopted. You will see that color is considered as being of the first importance. Now, for my personal opinion, I will say that I believe that form is better than color, and that both combined are the best of all. But at the outset we found that there are different countries using the system based on color and that we could not change that system, because it is intimately connected with the system that is used on shoals to indicate the direction of a fair-way through those most intricate channels to be found for instance on the French coast. That could not be given up, and so the question was what can we do under the circumstances? Under the circumstances we have placed color first, because we found that we could all agree on that. But there had to be some changes made in order to bring uniformity in this direction.

The second question was what could we do with regard to form, and if the honorable delegate for the United States will be kind enough to read through the seventh paragraph on page 5 he will find that it says there, "Wherever form is used as a distinctive character, buoys defining the starboard hand shall be conical and those defining the port hand shall be can or spar." Now, if the United States do not see fit to introduce shape into their system, all that they have to do is to paint the buoys of the colors mentioned in the preceding paragraph. But if they base their system or if they declare that they base their system on form and color, then we thought that they should adopt either one of these forms. But if they should base their system on form only,