Rules to Prevent Collisions.

them has the wind aft, the ship which is to windward shall keep out of the way of the ship which is to leeward.

932..ARTICLE 13. If two ships 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.

933..ARTICLE 14. If two ships under steam are crossing so as to involve risk of collision, the ship which has the other on her own starboard side shall keep out of the way of the other.

934..ARTICLE 15. If two ships, one of which is a sailing ship and the other a steamship, are proceeding in such directions as to involve risk of collision, the steamship shall keep out of the way of the sailing ship.

935.. ARTICLE 16. Every steamship, when approaching another ship so as to involve risk of collision, shall slacken her speed, or, if necessary, stop and reverse; and every steamship shall, when in a fog, go at a moderate speed.

936..ARTICLE 17. Every vessel overtaking any other vessel shall keep out of the way of the said last-mentioned vessel.

937..ARTICLE 18. Where, by the above rules, one of two ships is to keep out of the way, the other shall keep her course, subject to the qualifications contained in the following article.

938..ARTICLE 19. In obeying and construing these rules, due regard must be had to all dangers of navigation, and due regard must also be had to any special circumstances which may exist in any particular case, rendering a departure from the above rules necessary in order to avoid immediate danger.

939.. ARTICLE 20. Nothing in these rules shall exonerate any ship, or the owner or master or crew thereof, from the consequences of any neglect to carry lights or signals, or of any neglect to keep a proper lookout, or of the neglect of any precaution which may be required by the ordinary practice of seamen, or by the special circumstances of the case.

940..Should a collision unfortunately take place, each Commanding Officer is required to furnish the Department with the following information:

1st. His own report, that of the pilot, the Officer of the Deck, and other officers who witnessed the occurrence. These reports and

Preservation of Health of Crew.

statements are to be exemplified by a diagram, and must contain the courses steered, the point at which the vessel was first seen, the bearing, the time when the engine was slowed, when the vessel was stopped, whether in motion, and, if so, at what speed at the moment of collision, the direction of the wind, the condition of the weather and atmosphere, what lookouts were placed, what lights were exhibited by both vessels, whether either vessel deviated from the above rules and regulations, whether any blame can attach to any one, and if so to whom, and any and all other facts bearing upon the subject. 2d. Written statements and estimate of damage from officers of the vessel with which the vessel of the United States Navy collided, if they can be obtained.

3d. Survey of the injury to both vessels by United States officers. 4th. If the vessel is in charge of a pilot, and the collision has occurred from his acting in violation of the above rules and regulations, the fact must be established in the report, and no pilotage paid to him.

ARTICLE XI.

Preservation of Health of Crew.

941..As cleanliness, dryness, and pure air, are essential to health, the Commanding Officer is to use his utmost endeavor to secure each in the greatest degree possible. Sea water is not to be admitted to the holds, the ship is always to be pumped dry, the pump-well frequently swabbed out and dried, and a solution of nitrate of lead or sulphate of iron, and whitewash, used wherever it is practicable. He is to take care that there is a free passage in the bilges, fore and aft, for water, and that those places where, from the trim of the ship, a lodgment may occur, be bailed and swabbed out frequently. In steam vessels, especially, he is to take care that every possible means be taken for the free circulation of air; that the bilges be frequently cleansed and whitewashed, and that all offensive matter be removed from the limbers. The man-hole plates of the coal-bunkers should be kept off during the day, whenever the state of the weather will permit.

942..He shall cause the bedding and clothing of the crew to be inspected by the officers of divisions once a month, and the bedding

Preservation of Health of Crew.

and clothing aired and cleansed once a fortnight, when the weather will permit.

943..Whenever it shall be deemed necessary, upon the report of the Medical Officer, to destroy the clothing, or other personal effects of officers or men, to prevent the spread of disease, the Commanding Officer will direct a survey to be held on the articles to be destroyed, and the report of survey, approved by him, will be transmitted to the Department, and will contain a descriptive list of the articles, with an estimate of their value.

944.. He shall not allow men to sleep about the deck in situations where they will be exposed to night dews or rains, to sleep in wet clothes or bedding, or to take them below the gun-deck, when it can be avoided.

945..He shall cause the crew to bathe or wash themselves frequently, and when they are washing decks or scrubbing clothes or hammocks, he will direct that they take off their shoes and stockings and roll up their trowsers, unless the temperature of the water or air should be such as not to justify it.

946..He shall pay great attention to the suitable clothing of the men, obliging them to make such changes as, in the opinion of the Medical Officers and himself, will be most conducive to health, according to the changes of climate to which they may be subjected.

947..He shall take care that the boats' crews have their breakfasts before leaving the vessel, and their other meals at the usual times, except when special duties prevent.

948..He shall not allow the boats to be away from the ship after sunset, without his special permission.

949..He shall prevent all unnecessary exposure of those under his command.

950..He shall prevent the introduction on board and use of improper fruits or of other articles which may endanger the health of the crew.

951.. Before water is received on board to be placed in the tanks or for present use, he will cause it to be tested by the senior Medical Officer, and will not permit any to be drunk which is impure.

952.. Unless absolutely indispensable, the men are not to be placed on a daily allowance of water of less than one gallon.

953.. When in port, he may cause fresh meat and vegetables to

Stores and Outfits.

be issued to the crew, not exceeding four days in the week, unless the Surgeon may recommend more frequent issue as necessary to their health.

954.. When men are sent to the hospital they are to be accompanied by a Medical Officer, with a statement of the case, who is to see that the clothing and bedding of the men are carefully delivered to the proper officer of the hospital, with a complete list of the

same.

955..Whenever sick or wounded men are sent from one vessel to another, to be, on the arrival of the latter at her destined port, transferred to a naval hospital, the Commanding Officer of the former will take especial care to make every necessary arrangement in his power for having them properly attended to while on board the vessel to which they are sent, and also for their being properly placed in the hospital on her arrival. If necessary, to insure such attention, a suitable person will be sent in charge of them. Unless for urgent reasons, such sick or wounded men will be sent only in store or supply vessels, or other vessels of the Navy.

956..Men who may be sent to a hospital from a vessel in commission lying in the port where the hospital is located, are to be transferred to the receiving ship.

957..The life-buoys are to be always ready to be dropped, and at sea, and in strong tide-ways in port, shall have men stationed by them. They shall be examined every evening by the gunner, and their condition reported to the Executive Officer. The quarter boats are to be kept in condition to be immediately lowered, with a crew for each in each watch, in charge of a Petty Officer.

958..The lives of the men shall not be exposed by setting them to do unnecessary work outside the ship at sea, or in strong tideways. When necessary to employ them outside of the vessel every precaution shall be taken to rescue them in case any should fall overboard.

ARTICLE XII.

Stores and Outfits.

559..The Commander of a vessel, when she is first equipped, shall be furnished by the Commandant of the yard with inventories

Stores and Outfits.

of all the articles belonging to the different departments; and he is thereafter to cause accurate accounts to be kept of all expenses incurred for the vessel in the different departments, and shall make quarterly returns to the Commander of the division, squadron, or fleet, embracing a complete abstract of the expenditure of stores in the Master's, Boatswain's, Gunner's, Carpenter's, and Sailmaker's departments, which the latter will investigate and forward to the Bureaus to which they belong, with his remarks thereon.

960..He shall examine all the returns of expenditures, all requisitions for supplies, all accounts rendered against the vessel, and, on being satisfied of their correctness, shall approve the same.

961..In making or approving requisitions for stores of any kind, he will, unless otherwise specially authorized, only require or approve for the articles which may be necessary to complete such quantities as are or may be established as the allowance for the vessel or specially authorized, and the requisition must state that it is so made.

962..He shall use the utmost economy and care in everything which relates to the expenses of the vessel or the public service, and shall require from all those under his command a rigid compliance with the regulations for the receipt, conversion, and expenditure of stores of every description.

963.. When a vessel is ordered to be placed in ordinary, he shall, unless otherwise directed, after a survey shall be made upon the different articles, cause all the stores to be tallied, and properly marked and safely delivered to the proper officers of the navy yard.

964..Should a cable be slipped or parted, the Commander of the vessel, or, if he cannot, the senior officer present, shall use every exertion possible to recover it; but should neither have an opportunity so to do, then information of the fact must at once be forwarded to the Navy Department, or to the nearest public agent of the United States, whichever course may best lead to a prompt recovery.

965..When the ship is paid off or placed in ordinary he shall require from the Officers and Yeomen charged with stores an abstract statement of the receipts and expenditures of stores during each fiscal year, and the total quantity during the cruise, and shall, under this abstract, enter the quantities remaining on hand, as shown