GENERAL DIVISION 5—Continued. 1. Saving of life and property from shipwreck at sea-Cont'd. (c) The use of oil and the necessary apparatus for its use. (d) Uniform inspections as to (b) and (c). 2. Saving of life and property from shipwreck by operations from shore. (a) Organization of, and methods employed by, life-saving institutions. (b) The employment of drilled and disciplined crews at lifesaving stations. (c) The maintenance of a patrol upon dangerous coasts by night, and during thick weather by day, for warning off vessels standing into danger, and for the early discovery of wrecks. (d) Uniform means of transmitting information between stranded vessels and the shore. (e) Life-boats, life-saving apparatus and appliances. 3. Official inquiries into causes and circumstances of shipwrecks and other casualties. GENERAL DIVISION 6. NECESSARY QUALIFICATIONS FOR OFFICERS AND SEAMEN, INCLUDING TESTS FOR SIGHT AND COLOR BLINDNESS. (a) A uniform system of examination for the different grades. (b) Uniform tests for visual power and color blindness. (c) General knowledge of methods employed at life-saving stations. (d) Uniform certificates of qualification. GENERAL DIVISION 7. LANES FOR STEAMERS ON FREQUENTED ROUTES. (a) With regard to the avoidance of steamer collisions. GENERAL DIVISION 8. NIGHT SIGNALS FOR COMMUNICATING INFORMATION at sea. (a) A code to be used in connection with the International Code Signal Book. (b) Or a supplementary code of limited scope to convey informa tion of special importance to passing vessels. (c) Distress signals. GENERAL DIVISION 9. WARNINGS OF APPROACHING STORMS. (a) The transmission of warnings. (b) The uniformity of signals employed. GENERAL DIVISION 10. REPORTING, MARKING, AND REMOVING DANGEROUS WRECKS OR OBSTRUCTIONS TO NAVIGATION. (a) A uniform method of reporting and marking dangerous wrecks and derelicts. (b) The division of the labor, cost, and responsibility among the several maritime nations, either by geographical apportionment or otherwise Of the removal of dangerous derelicts; And of searching for doubtful dangers, with a view of removing them from the charts. GENERAL DIVISION 11. NOTICE OF DANGERS TO NAVIGATION.-NOTICE OF CHANGES IN LIGHTS, BUOYS, AND OTHER DAY AND NIGHT MARKS. (a) A uniform method of taking bearings, of designating them (whether true or magnetic), and of reporting them. (b) A uniform method of reporting, indicating, and exchanging information by the several maritime nations-to include the form of notices to mariners. (c) A uniform method of distributing this information. GENERAL DIVISION 12. A UNIFORM SYSTEM OF BUOYS AND BEACONS. (a) Uniformity in color of buoys. (b) Uniformity in numbering of buoys. GENERAL DIVISION 13. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PERMANENT INTERNATIONAL MARITIME COMMISSION. (a) The composition of the commission. (b) Its powers and authority. PROPOSED GROUPING OF SUBJECTS FOR CONSIDERATION BY COMMITTEES OF THE INTERNATIONAL MARINE CONFERENCE. 1. Rules of the road and signais-General Divisions 1 and 8. 3. Construction and equipment of vessels, and saving of life and 4. Qualifications of officers and seamen-General Division 6. 5. Steam lanes-General Division 7. 6. Official inquiries into shipwrecks and other casualties-General Division 5, subdivision No. 3. 7. Transmission of warnings and information, buoys, etc.-General Divisions 9, 10, 11, and 12. 8. Permanent Maritime Commission-General Division 13. All of which is respectfully submitted. S. R. FRANKLIN, Rear Admiral. W. P. SAMPSON, Commander, U. S. Navy. S. I. KIMBALL, General Superintendent Life-Saving Service. JAS. W. NORCROSS, Master Mariner. JOHN W. SHACKFORD, Master, Merchant Marine. WILLIAM W. GOODRICH, Counsellor-at-Law. WASHINGTON, Monday, December 2, 1889. 11 o'clock a. m. The Conference was called to order at 11 o'clock a. m., Rear-Admiral · Franklin in the chair. The PRESIDENT. The first business in order this morning will be the reports of committees. If there are no reports to be made, the next order of business will be extra amendment No. 59. The Secretary will please read extra amendment No. 59. The amendment is as follows: "All steamers under way may carry an additional white light, similar to the present light mentioned in Art. 3 (a). These lights must be so placed in line with the keel that one must be at least twenty feet higher than the other, and should be in such a position with reference to each other that the lower light should be forward of the upper one, and for a vertical distance of twenty feet between them there should be a horizontal distance of thirty feet, or in the proportion of two to three, as near as practicable." Captain SHACKFORD (United States). Mr. President, I find that there is some opposition to this proposed amendment among the delegates, and I would like to have permission to change the amendment, in the manner in which I have it drawn up here. The PRESIDENT. The Secretary will please read the amendment as changed. The amendment as changed is as follows: "All steamers under way may carry an additional white light, similar to the light mentioned in Article 3 (a). These lights must be so placed in line with the keel that one must be at least 15 feet higher than the other, and should be in such a position with reference to each other that the lower light shall be forward of the upper one. The vertical distance between these lights must be less than the horizontal distance. Mr. HALL (Great Britain). Mr. President, we understand the reasons for altering this amendment, and on behalf of my colleagues and myself, we give our hearty support to this proposition. There were diffi culties in the way of dealing with the amendment as it had been carried originally by the Conference; but now these difficulties appear to be surmounted; and, having regard to the evidence which has been given to us of the great use of range lights in American waters, we cordially support the proposal that range lights should be tried not only in American waters, but in all waters. Upon these grounds, we beg to support the amendment which is now before the Conference. |