The bell weighs 3 cwt. This is a water-ballast buoy, and is shown in Fig. 15, in which a is the outer water-tight compartment; b, the inner water-tight compartment; d, d, the India-rubber springs.

This vessel, which marks the dangerous shoal of rocks in- Position. dicated by its name, lies about twenty miles to the westward of Land's End, or about midway between it and Saint Agnes (Scilly Islands) light, in what is probably one of the most exposed positions in the world for a light-ship.

It is one of the latest constructions, and has been on the station about two years.

Age.

paratus.

It has two masts, besides the mast for a jigger or miz- Masts and apzen, which is stepped on the taffrail. The former carry two fixed catoptric lights, 28 and 20 feet above the sea.

A fog-trumpet, of Professor Holmes's patent, shown in Fog-trumpet. Plate XXII, is operated by a hot-air engine, the cylinder of which is 24 inches in diameter.

The engine is placed between-decks, amidships, and the Engine and horn between the masts on deck.

I should think the utility of the signal much impaired by the length of time required to generate sufficient pressure to operate it, which I was informed is an hour and three quarters.

This is a serious objection in any fog-signal, since the fires are ordinarily not started till the fog comes on, and in the S. Ex. 54-10

horn, position of.

Length of time erate steam imthe signal.

required to gen

pairs utility of

"Heaters" used

signals.

long interval before the warning is given serious accidents are liable to occur.

For our signals operated by steam, we frequently provide at our steam fog-heaters," by which, with a very small expenditure of fuel, the water in the boiler is kept hot, so that when the signal is required, a quick fire will raise the pressure to the required point in a few minutes.

Fog-horn

hand.

can

The fog-signal on the Seven Stones can be operated by be operated by hand, by means of a pair of air-pumps on deck, in case of accident to the hot-air engine, or when waiting for the required pressure, but it is extremely hard work for the seamen, and I fancy the signal may not be satisfactorily sounded at such times.

Signal-gun There is also a signal-gun on deck which is fired when a vessel is seen standing into danger.

fired when ves

seen

sels are standing into danger.

Measurements and moorings.

Crew.

Uniforms

crew.

Location.

Rough prevalent.

The measurement of the Seven Stones is 188 tons. It is moored in 41 fathoms of water by 200 fathoms of 11inch chain to a mushroom anchor weighing 40 cwt. Three hundred and fifteen fathoms of chain can be run out when necessary.

This light-ship carries a crew of fifteen men besides the master and mate; one of the latter and five of the seamen of are constantly on shore with their families. They are all uniformed, and the name of the vessel is marked upon their hats and shirts. This rule applies to the crews of all the light-ships of England, and to those of the yachts or tenders belonging to the Trinity House.

seas

Form of rock.

THE LONGSHIPS.

The Longships is the name of some rocks about a mile and a quarter to the westward of Land's End, on the largest of which is the new first-order light-house of that name, which, at the time of my visit, was on the point of comple tion.

As at The Wolf, the sea is generally rough at The Longships, and when we approached it on our return from the Seven Stones light-ship to Penzance, we found it impossible to land. The following day, however, we made another attempt, and were successful.

The rock on which the tower is built is conical in form and rises about 60 feet above the sea; and the tower, which is precisely like that at The Wolf, is placed on a ledge in front, about 20 feet above the sea. The rock in the rear was being blasted down to the level of the top of the solid part of the tower, at which is the door or entrance.