or second, a vessel is crossing his bows to port in some direction, as D D' D"

4. If A sees a white mast-head light above the Red light, he knows that the vessel is a steamer, and is either approaching in the same direction as B, or is crossing to port in the same direction as D D' D".

5. In the first position A sees B a little on the port bow. B's red light exposed, and, by the diagrams, B should see A's red light as well, in which case both vessels should put their helms to port.

6. In the second positions A sees D on his starboard bow, and from the fact that he only sees D's red light, he knows that D must be steering in some direction, as at D D' D"; at the same time D D' D" will see A's green light on his port bow. In this case A having D clearly on his starboard bow, should put his helm to starboard to turn from D, and D having A clearly on his port bow, should put his helm to port to turn to starboard from A.

7. THIRD. When the Green light is seen, and the Red light is not seen.-A sees a green light ahead or on his bow; A knows that either, first, a vessel is approaching him on his starboard bow, as B,

or second, a vessel is crossing his bow in some direction to starboard, as D D' D".

8. If A sees a White mast-head light above the Green light, A knows that the vessel is a steamer, and is either approaching him in the same direction as B, or is crossing to starboard in some direction as D D′ D”.

9. In the first position A sees B on his starboard bow; B's green light exposed, and, by the diagram, B should see A's green light as well, in which case both vessels should put their helms to starboard.

10. In the second position A sees D on his port bow, and from the fact that he only sees D's green light, he knows that D must be steering in some direction, as D D' D'; at the same time D will see A's red light on his starboard bow. In this case, A having D clearly on his port bow, should put his helm to port to turn from D, and D having A clearly on his starboard bow, should put his helm to starboard to turn to port from A.

11. Steam vessels discovering other vessels near them at night, should slow down, and, if need be, stop the engines until the exact position of both vessels is ascertained.

RULES AND REGULATIONS

FOR THE

Government of Pilots on board of Steamers in the United States, revised and adopted by the Board of Supervising Inspectors, October 17, 1865, in compliance with the provisions of the 29th section of the act of Congress entitled "An act to amend an act entitled 'An act to provide for the better security of the lives of passengers on board of vessels propelled in whole or in part by steam, and for other purposes.'" Approved August 30, 1852.

RULE I.—When steamers are approaching each other, the signal for passing shall be one sound of the steam-whistle to keep to the right, and two sounds of the steam-whistle to keep to the left. These signals to be made first by the ascending steamer. If the dangers of navigation, darkness of the night, narrowness of the channel, or any other cause, render it necessary for the descending boat to take the other side, she can do so by making the necessary signals, and the ascending steamer must govern herself accordingly. These signals to be observed by all steamers, either day or night.

RULE II. Should steamers be likely to pass near each other, and these signals should not be made and answered by the time such boats shall have arrived at the distance of eight hundred yards from each other, the engines of both boats shall be stopped; or should the signal be given and not properly understood from any cause whatever, both boats shall be backed until their headway shall be fully checked, and the engines shall not be again started ahead until the proper signals are made, answered, and understood.

RULE III.-When two boats are about to enter a narrow channel at the same time, the ascending boat shall be stopped below such channel until the descending boat shall have passed through it; but should two boats unavoidably meet in such a channel, then it shall be the duty of the pilot of the ascending boat to make the proper signals, and when answered by the descending boat to lie as close as possible to the side of the channel the exchange of signals may have determined, as allowed by Rule First, and either stop the engines or move them so as only to give the boat steerage way, and the pilot of the descending boat shall cause his boat to be worked slowly until he has passed the ascending boat.

RULE IV. When a steamer is ascending and running close on a bar or shore, the pilot shall in no case attempt to cross the river when a descending boat shall be so near that it would be possible for a collision to ensue therefrom.

RULE V.-No pilot of a descending steamer shall run down any island chute which is not the usual channel of the river-except such chutes as are designated by these rules, or may hereafter be designated by the Board of Supervising Inspectors.

RULE VI.—When any steamer, whether ascending or descending, is nearing a short bend or point, where, from any cause, a steamer approaching in an opposite direction cannot be seen at a distance of six hundred yards, the pilot of such steamer, when he shall have arrived within six hundred yards of that bend or point, shall give a signal by one long sound of his steam-whistle as a notice to any steamer that may be approaching; and should there be any approaching steamer within hearing of such signal, it shall be the duty of the pilot thereof to answer such signal by one long sound of his steam-whistle, when both boats shall be navigated with the proper precautions, as required by preceding rules.

RULE VII.-When a steamer is running in a fog or thick weather, it shall be the duty of the pilot to sound his steam-whistle at intervals not exceeding two minutes.

RULE VIII. When steamers are running in the same direction, and the pilot of the boat which is astern shall desire to pass either side of the boat ahead, he shall give the signal as in Rule I, and the pilot of the boat ahead shall answer by the same signal, and allow the other to pass on the side selected, and shall in no case attempt to cross her bow or crowd upon her course.

RULE IX.-When boats are moving from their dock or berth, and other boats are liable to pass from any direction towards them, they shall give the same signal as in case of boats meeting at a bend; but immediately after clearing the berth so as to be fully in sight, they shall be governed by Rule II.

RULE X.-Doubts or fears of misunderstanding signals may be expressed by several short sounds of the whistle in quick succession.

RULE XI.-Steamers descending the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers between Louisville, Ky., and New Orleans, La., shall not run down any island chute, either by day or night, except those herein or hereafter designated, unless such chutes are the usual channel of the river.

RULE XII.-The following island chutes may be navigated by descending steamers on the Ohio River between Louisville, Ky., and Cairo, Ill., when the river shall be sufficiently high for them to do so with safety, viz: Blue River Island, Diamond Island, Golconda Island, Sister Islands, Stewart's Island, and Cumberland Island, either by day or night, and Wabash Island chute by daylight only.

RULE XIII. The following island chutes on the Mississippi River, between Cairo and New Orleans, may be navigated by descending steamers during daylight, when the river shall be sufficiently high for them to do so with safety, viz: Islands Nos. 8, 34, 35, 40, 41, called Paddy's Hen; 46, or President's Island; 65, 75, or Ozark Island; 76, 93, 97, 109, or Palmyra Island; 110, or Big Black Island; 116, or Glasscock's Island; or 123, or Profit's Island.

RULE XIV.—The following island chutes may be navigated by descending steamers during the night, when the river may be sufficiently high for them to do so with safety, viz: Islands Nos. 8, 34, 41, or Paddy's Hen; 65, 76, 93, 97, 109, or Palmyra Island; 110, or Big Black Island; 116, or Glasscock's Island.

RULE XV.-Ascending steamers are not prohibited from running any island chutes.

RULE XVI.-Signal lights for steamers under way are provided by law as follows, the same to be carried between sunset and sunrise:

For ocean steamers and steamers carrying sail, a bright white light at the foremast head, to throw the light through ten points of the compass

on each side of the ship, viz: from right ahead to two points abaft the beam, and to be visible at least five miles. On the starboard side a green light, and on the port side a red light, each to throw the light through ten points of the compass on their respective sides, viz: from right ahead to two points abaft the beam, and to be visible at least two miles. These colored lights are to be fitted with inboard screens, projecting at least three feet forward from the light, to prevent them from being seen across the bow.

For steamers navigating waters flowing into the Gulf of Mexico, a red light on the outboard side of the port smoke-pipe, and a green light on the outboard side of the starboard smoke-pipe; these lights to show both forward and aft, and also abeam on their respective sides.

For coasting steamers and those navigating bays, lakes, or other inland waters, other than ferry-boats and those above provided for, the red and green side-lights as prescribed for ocean steamers, and a central range of two white lights, the after light being carried at an elevation of at least fifteen feet above the light at the head of the vessel; the headlight to show through twenty points of the compass, namely: from right ahead to two points abaft the beam on either side of the vessel; and the after-light to show all around the horizon.

For steamers towing other vessels, the colored lights will be the same as prescribed for ocean steamers; and two white mast-lights shall also be carried vertically, to distinguish them from other steamers; the white lights to show through twenty points of the compass, viz: from right ahead to two points abaft the beam on either side of the vessel; white lights shall also be placed on the extreme outside of the tow on either hand, and also on the extreme after part of the same.

RULE XVII.-A bright white light, not exceeding twenty feet above the hull, shall be exhibited by all steamers when at anchor, between sunset and sunrise, in a globular lantern of eight inches diameter, so placed as to show a good light all around the horizon.

[Signed by the Supervising Inspectors of Steamboats.]

ACT OF JULY 7, 1838.
CHAPTER 191.

AN ACT to provide for the better security of the lives of passengers on board of vessels propelled in whole or in part by steam.

SEC. 10. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the master and owner of every steamboat running between sunset and sunrise to carry one or more signal lights that may be seen by other boats navigating the same waters, under the penalty of two hundred dollars.