SECTIONS OF THE REVISED STATUTES OF THE UNITED STATES AND ACTS OF CONGRESS RELATING TO THE NAVIGATION OF VESSELS ON THE RED RIVER OF THE NORTH AND RIVERS EMPTYING INTO THE GULF OF MEXICO AND THEIR TRIBUTARIES.

That sections forty-two hundred and thirty-three, and forty-four hundred and twelve (with the regulations made in pursuance thereof, except the rules and regulations for the government of pilots of steamers navigating the Red River of the North and rivers emptying into the Gulf of Mexico and their tributaries, and except the rules for the Great Lakes and their connecting and tributary waters as far east as Montreal), and forty-four hundred and thirteen of the Revised Statutes of the United States, and chapter two hundred and two of the laws of eighteen hundred and ninety-three, and sections one and three of chapter one hundred and two of the laws of eighteen hundred and ninety-five, and sections five, twelve, and thirteen of the Act approved March third, eighteen hundred and ninety-seven, entitled “An act to amend the laws relating to navigation," and all amendments thereto, are hereby repealed so far as the harbors, rivers, and inland waters aforesaid (except the Great Lakes and their connecting and tributary waters as far east as Montreal and the Red River of the North and rivers emptying into the Gulf of Mexico, and their tributaries) are concerned.

SEC. 4233. The following rules for preventing collisions on the water, shall be followed in the navigation of vessels of the Navy and of the mercantile marine of the United States:

STEAM AND SAIL VESSELS.

RULE ONE. Every steam vessel which is under sail and not under steam shall be considered a sail vessel; and every steam vessel which is under steam, whether under sail or not, shall be considered a steam vessel. The words steam vessel shall include any vessel propelled by machinery.

LIGHTS.2

RULE TWO. The lights mentioned in the following rules, and no others, shall be carried in all weathers, between sunset and sunrise.

Act of June 7,

1897, sec. 5 (30

Stat., 103).

R. S., 4233, as amended by

acts of Mar. 3, 1893 (27 Stat.,

557), and Mar. 3, 1897, secs. 5, 12, and 13 (29 Stat., 689, 690).

1As amended by the act of Congress approved Mar. 3, 1905, effective on and after July 1, 1905.

2 Rules 3, 5, 6, and 7, under the head of " Lights," were amended by act of Congress approved June 9, 1910, effective on and after July 9, 1910, in rules for lights required to be carried by every vessel propelled by machinery and not more than 65 feet in length, except tugboats and towboats propelled by steam. See p. 19.

RULE THREE. All ocean-going steamers, and steamers carrying sail, shall, when under way, carry

(A) At the foremast head, a bright white light, of such a character as to be visible on a dark night, with a clear atmosphere, at a distance of at least five miles, and so constructed as to show a uniform and unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of twenty points of the compass, and so fixed as to throw the light ten points on each side of the vessel, namely, from right ahead to two points abaft the beam on either side.

(B) On the starboard side, a green light, of such a character as to be visible on a dark night, with a clear atmosphere, at a distance of at least two miles, and so constructed as to show a uniform and unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of ten points of the compass, and so fixed as to throw the light from right ahead to two points abaft the beam on the starboard side.

(C) On the port side, a red light, of such a character as to be visible on a dark night, with a clear atmosphere, at a distance of at least two miles, and so constructed as to show a uniform and unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of ten points of the compass, and so fixed as to throw the light from right ahead to two points abaft the beam on the port side.

The green and red lights shall be fitted with inboard screens, projecting at least three feet forward from the lights, so as to prevent them from being seen across the bow.

RULE FOUR. Steam-vessels, when towing other vessels, shall carry two bright white mast-head lights vertically, in addition to their side-lights, so as to distinguish them from other steam-vessels. Each of these mast-head lights shall be of the same character and construction as the mast-head lights prescribed by Rule three.1

RULE FIVE. All steam-vessels, other than ocean-going steamers and steamers carrying sail, shall, when under way, carry on the starboard and port sides lights of the same character and construction and in the same position as are prescribed for side-lights by Rule three, except in the case provided in Rule six.

RULE SIX. River-steamers navigating waters flowing into the Gulf of Mexico, and their tributaries, shall carry the following lights, namely: One red light on the outboard side of the port smoke-pipe, and one green light on the outboard side of the starboard smoke-pipe. lights shall show both forward and abeam on their respective sides.

Such

1 Resolution adopted by the Board of Supervising Inspectors, Jan. 31, 1908, and approved by the Acting Secretary of Commerce on Aug. 20, 1908, recommending lights for towboats:

Resolved, That it is the sense of this board that where towboats navigating rivers whose waters flow into the Gulf of Mexico find it necessary to use a signal light or lights on the stern of their boats, they are advised to use, uniformly, two red lights, one above the other, 3 feet apart, the upper light not to be less than 15 feet above the roof of the upper deck, on the afterpart of the stern of the steamer.

RULE SEVEN. All coasting steam-vessels, and steamvessels other than ferry-boats and vessels otherwise expressly provided for, navigating the bays, lakes, rivers, or other inland waters of the United States, except those mentioned in Rule six, shall carry the red and green lights, as prescribed for ocean-going steamers; and, in addition thereto, 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 head-light shall be so constructed as to show a good light 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 so as to show all around the horizon. The lights for ferry-boats, barges and canal boats when in 1893 (27 Stat., tow of steam vessels, shall be regulated by such rules as the Board of Supervising Inspectors of Steam Vessels shall prescribe.

RULE EIGHT. Sail-vessels, under way or being towed, shall carry the same lights as steam-vessels under way, with the exception of the white mast-head lights, which they shall never carry.

RULE NINE. Whenever, as in case of small vessels during bad weather, the green and red lights cannot be fixed, these lights shall be kept on deck, on their respective sides of the vessel, ready for instant exhibition, and shall, on the approach of or to other vessels, be exhibited on their respective sides in sufficient time to prevent collision, in such manner as to make them most visible, and so that the green light shall not be seen on the port side, nor the red light on the starboard side. To make the use of these portable lights more certain and easy, they shall each be painted outside with the color of the light they respectively contain, and shall be provided with suitable

screens.

RULE TEN. All vessels, whether steam-vessels or sailvessels, when at anchor in roadsteads or fairways, shall, between sunset and sunrise, exhibit where it can best be seen, but at a height not exceeding twenty feet above the hull, a white light in a globular lantern of eight inches in diameter, and so constructed as to show a clear, uniform, and unbroken light, visible all around the horizon, and at a distance of at least one mile.

RULE ELEVEN. Sailing pilot-vessels shall not carry the lights required for other sailing-vessels, but shall carry a white light at the mast-head, visible all around the horizon, and shall also exhibit a flare-up light every fifteen minutes.

Amended by act of Mar. 3,

557).

act of Mar. 3,

Steam pilot boats shall, in addition to the masthead Amended by light and green and red side lights required for ocean 1897, sec. 5 (29 steam vessels, carry a red light hung vertically from three Stat., 689). to five feet above the foremast headlight, for the purpose of distinguishing such steam pilot boats from other steam vessels.

PILOT RULES FOR WESTERN RIVERS.

RULE TWELVE. Coal-boats, trading-boats, produce-boats, canal-boats, oyster-boats, fishing-boats, rafts, or other water-craft, navigating any bay, harbor, or river, by handpower, horse-power, sail, or by the current of the river, or which shall be anchored or moored in or near the channel or fairway of any bay, harbor, or river, shall carry one or more good white lights, which shall be placed in such manner as shall be prescribed by the board of supervising inspectors of steam-vessels.

RULE THIRTEEN. Open boats shall not be required to carry the side-lights required for other vessels, but shall, if they do not carry such lights, carry a lantern having a green slide on one side and a red slide on the other side; and, on the approach of or to other vessels, such lantern shall be exhibited in sufficient time to prevent collision, and in such a manner that the green light shall not be seen on the port side, nor the red light on the starboard sile. Open boats, when at anchor or stationary, shall exhibit a bright white light. They shall not, however, be prevented from using a flare-up, in addition, if considered expedient.

Amended by act of Mar. 3, RULE FOURTEEN. The exhibition of any light on board 1897, sec. sec. 1 of a vessel of war of the United States may be suspended (20 Stat., 690) whenever, in the opinion of the Secretary of the Navy, the commander in chief of a squadron, or the commander of a vessel acting singly, the special character of the service may require it. The exhibition of any light on board of a revenue cutter of the United States may be suspended whenever, in the opinion of the commander of the vessel, the special character of the service may require it.

Rule 15, ex

of Mar. 3.

1897, sec.

FOG-SIGNALS.

cept par. (D), RULE FIFTEEN. (a) Whenever there is a fog, or thick amended by act weather, whether by day or night, fog signals shall be used 12 as follows: Steam vessels under way shall sound a steam (29 Stat., 890). whistle placed before the funnel, not less than eight feet from the deck, at intervals of not more than one minute. Steam vessels, when towing, shall sound three blasts of quick succession repeated at intervals of not more than one minute. (b) Sail vessels under way shall sound a fog horn at intervals of not more than one minute. vessels and sail vessels, when not under way, shall sound a bell at intervals of not more than two minutes. (c) Steam

(D) Coal-boats, trading-boats, produce-boats, canalboats, oyster-boats, fishing-boats, rafts, or other watercraft, navigating any bay, harbor, or river, by handpower, horse-power, sail, or by the current of the river, or anchored or moored in or near the channel or fairway of any bay, harbor, or river, and not in any port, shall sound a fog-horn, or equivalent signal, which shall make a sound equal to a steam-whistle, at intervals of not more than two minutes.

STEERING AND SAILING RULES.

RULE SIXTEEN. Risk of collision can, when circumstances Rules 16 and permit, be ascertained by carefully watching the compass act of Mar. 3, 17 amended by bearing of an approaching vessel. If the bearing does 1897, sec. 12 not appreciably change such risk should be deemed to exist.

RULE SEVENTEEN. When two sailing vessels are approaching one another, so as to involve risk of collision, one of them shall keep out of the way of the other, as follows, namely:

(a) Á vessel which is running free shall keep out of the way of a vessel which is close-hauled.

(b) A vessel which is close-hauled on the port tack shall keep out of the way of a vessel which is close-hauled on the starboard tack.

(c) When both are running free, with the wind on different sides, the vessel which has the wind on the port side shall keep out of the way of the other.

(d) When both vessels are running free, with the wind on the same side, the vessel which is to the windward shall keep out of the way of the vessel which is to the leeward.

(e) A vessel which has the wind aft shall keep out of the way of the other vessel.

RULE EIGHTEEN. If two vessels under steam are meeting end on, or nearly end on, so as to involve risk of collision, the helms of both shall be put to port, so that each may pass on the port side of the other.

RULE NINETEEN. If two vessels under steam are crossing so as to involve risk of collision, the vessel which has the other on her own starboard side shall keep out of the way of the other.

RULE TWENTY. If two vessels, one of which is a sailvessel and the other a steam-vessel, are proceeding in such directions as to involve risk of collision, the steam-vessel shall keep out of the way of the sail-vessel.

RULE TWENTY-ONE. Every steam-vessel, when approaching another vessel, so as to involve risk of collision, shall slacken her speed, or, if necessary, stop and reverse; and every steam-vessel shall, when in a fog, go at a moderate speed.

RULE TWENTY-TWO. Every vessel overtaking any other vessel shall keep out of the way of the last-mentioned vessel.

RULE TWENTY-THREE. Where, by Rules seventeen, nineteen, twenty, and twenty-two, one of two vessels shall keep out of the way, the other shall keep her course, subject to the qualifications of Rule twenty-four.

RULE TWENTY-FOUR. In construing and obeying these rules, due regard must be had to all dangers of navigation, and to any special circumstances which may exist in any particular case rendering a departure from them necessary in order to avoid immediate danger.

(29 Stat., 690).