Rule III. If, when steam vessels are approaching each other, either vessel fails to understand the course or intention of the other, from any cause, the vessel so in doubt shall immediately signify the same by giving several short and rapid blasts, not less than four, of the steam whistle; and, if the vessels shall have approached within half a mile of each other, both shall be immediately slowed to a speed barely sufficient for steerage way until the proper signals are given, answered, and understood, or until the vessels shall have passed each other.

Vessels approaching each other from opposite directions are forbidden to use what has become technically known among pilots as "cross signals "—that is, answering one whistle with two, and answering two whistles with one. In all cases, and under all circumstances, a pilot receiving either of the whistle signals provided in the rules, which for any reason he deems injudicious to comply with, instead of answering it with a cross signal, must at once observe the provisions of this rule.

Rule IV.1 When steamers are running in a fog, mist, falling snow, or heavy rain storms, except when towing, it shall be the duty of the pilot to cause a long blast of the whistle to be sounded at intervals not exceeding one minute.

A steam vessel when towing shall, at intervals of not more than one minute, sound three blasts in succession-namely, one prolonged blast followed by two short blasts. A vessel towed may give this signal, and she shall not give any other.

A vessel is "under way" within the meaning of these rules when she is not at anchor, or made fast to the shore, or aground.

Every steam vessel shall, in a fog, mist, falling snow, or heavy rain storms, go at a moderate speed, having careful regard to the existing circumstances and conditions.

This rule was adopted by the Board of Supervising Inspectors, Jan. 22, 1900, and approved by the Secretary of the Treasury, Jan. 30, 1900.

M.

Y

A steam vessel hearing, apparently forward of her beam, the fog signal of a vessel the position of which is not ascertained shall, so far as the circumstances of the case admit, stop her engines, and then navigate with caution until danger of collision is over.

Rule V. Whenever a steam vessel is nearing a short bend or curve in the channel, where, from the height of the banks or other causes, a steam vessel approaching from the opposite direction cannot be seen for a distance of half a mile, such steam vessel, when she shall have arrived within half a mile of such curve or bend, shall give a signal by one long blast of the steam whistle, which signal shall be answered by a similar blast, given by any approaching steam vessel that may be within hearing. Should such signal be so answered by a steam vessel upon the further side of such bend, then the usual signals for meeting and passing shall immediately be given and answered; but, if the first alarm signal of such vessel be not answered, she is to consider the channel clear and govern herself accordingly.

When steam vessels are moved from their docks or berths, and other boats are liable to pass from any direction toward them, they shall give the same signal as in the case of vessels meeting at a bend; but immediately after clearing the berths so as to be fully in sight they shall be governed by the steering and sailing rules.

This rule applies to vessels approaching Brown's Point, near Hell Gate. If the steam vessel giving the signal on reaching a point when it should be given, stops at a wharf or is otherwise detained, she is not relieved from the duty of giving it again when she resumes her approach to the bend. The rule is imperative on every steamer nearing such bend, whatever may be her intention as to future navigation after she shall have reached it.?

Rule VI. The signals, by the blowing of the whistle, shall be given and answered by pilots, in compliance with these rules, not only when meeting "head and head," or nearly so, but at all times when passing or meeting at a distance

1 The Zouave (1898), 90 Fed. Rep. 440.

2 The Transfer No. 8 (1899), 96 Fed. Rep. 253.

within half a mile of each other, and whether passing to the starboard or port.

Rule VII. When two steamers are approaching the narrows known as "Hell Gate," on the East River at New York, side by side, or nearly so, running in the same direction, the steamer on the right or starboard hand of the other (when approaching from the west), when they shall have arrived abreast of the north end of Blackwells Island, shall have the right of way, and the steamer on the left or port side shall check her way and drop astern. In like case, when two steamers are approaching from the east and are abreast of Negro Point, the steamer on the right or starboard hand of the other shall have the right of way, and shall proceed on her course without interference, and the steamer on the port side of the other shall keep at a safe distance astern (not less than three lengths) until both steamers have passed through the difficult channels.

Rule VIII. When steam vessels are running in the same direction, and the vessel which is astern shall desire to pass on the right or starboard hand of the vessel ahead, she shall give one short blast of the steam whistle as a signal of such desire, and if the vessel ahead answers with one blast, she shall put her helm to port; or if she shall desire to pass on the left or port side of the vessel ahead, she shall give two short blasts of the steam whistle as a signal of such desire, and if the vessel ahead answers with two blasts, shall put her helm to starboard; or if the vessel ahead does not think it safe for the vessel astern to attempt to pass at that point, she shall immediately signify the same by giving several short and rapid blasts of the steam whistle, not less than four, and under no circumstances shall the vessel astern attempt to pass the vessel ahead until such time as they have reached a point where it can be safely done, when said vessel ahead shall signify her willingness by blowing the proper signals. The vessel ahead shall in no case attempt to cross the bow or crowd upon the course of the passing vessel.

Rule IX. The whistle signals provided in the rules under

this article for steam vessels meeting, passing, or overtaking are never to be used except when steamers are in sight of each other, and the course and position of each can be determined in the daytime by a sight of the vessel herself, or by night by seeing its signal lights. In fog, mist, falling snow, or heavy rainstorms, when vessels cannot so see each other, fog signals only must be given.

N.B.-The foregoing rules are to be complied with in all cases, except when steamers are navigating in a crowded channel, or in the vicinity of wharves; under such circumstances steamers must be run and managed with great caution, sounding the whistle, as may be necessary, to guard against collision or other accidents.1

Rule X. All double-ended ferry boats on lakes and seaboard shall carry a central range of clear, bright, white lights, showing all round the horizon, placed at equal altitudes forward and aft; also such side lights as specified in Act of June 7, 1897,2 Art. 2, paragraphs (b) and (c).

Local inspectors in districts having ferry boats shall, whenever the safety of navigation may require, designate for each line of such boats a certain light, white or coloured, which shall show all around the horizon, to designate and distinguish such lines from each other, which light shall be carried on a flagstaff amidships, 15 feet above the white range lights.

The line dividing jurisdiction between the pilot rules in western rivers and harbours, rivers and inland waters, at New Orleans, shall be the lower limits of the city.

Lights for Barges and Canal Boats in tow of Steam Vessels. Rule XI. On the inland rivers, bays, sounds, and harbours of the United States, except on the waters of the Hudson River and its tributaries from Troy to Sandy Hook, the waters of the East River and Long Island Sound, and the waters entering thereon and to the Atlantic Ocean, to and including Narragansett Bay, R. I., and tributaries, and

This note is part of the instructions issued by the Board of Supervising Inspectors.

2 See page 314.

Lake Champlain, barges and canal boats towing astern of steam vessels, when towing singly, or what is known as tandem towing, shall each carry a green light on the starboard side and a red light on the port side.

When two or more boats are abreast, the coloured lights shall be carried at the outer sides of the bows of the outside boats.

Barges or canal boats towing alongside a steam vessel shall, if the deck, deck-houses, or cargo of the barge or canal boat be so high above water as to obscure the side lights of the towing steamer, when being towed on the starboard side of the steamer, carry a green light on the starboard side; and when towed on the port side of the steamer, a red light on the port side of the barge or canal boat; and if there is more than one barge or canal boat abreast, the coloured lights shall be displayed from the outer side of the outside barges or canal boats.

Barges and canal boats, when being towed by steam vessels on the waters of the Hudson River and its tributaries from Troy to Sandy Hook, the East River, and Long Island Sound (and the waters entering thereon, and to the Atlantic Ocean), to and including Narragansett Bay, R. I., and tributaries, and Lake Champlain, shall carry lights as follows:

Barges and canal boats being towed astern of steam vessels, when towing singly, or what is known as tandem towing, shall each carry a white light on the bow and a white light on the stern.

Barges and canal boats when towed at a hawser two or more abreast, when in one tier, shall carry a white light on the bow and a white light on the stern of each of the outside boats; when in more than one tier, each of the outside boats shall carry a white light on its bow; and the outside boats in the last tier shall each carry, in addition, a white light on the outer after part of stern.

Barges or canal boats towed alongside a steam vessel, if on the starboard of said steam vessel, shall display a white light on her own starboard bow, and if on the port of said