light on the port bow of the port barge, and at a distance of not less than ten feet above the surface of the water. The colored side-lights referred to in the foregoing rules must be fitted with inboard screens, so as to prevent them from being seen across the bow, and 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 either side. The minimum size of glass globes used shall not be less than six inches in diameter, and five and one-half inches high in the clear.

RULE X. 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 point 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 and the Red River of the North, 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 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 head-light 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.

RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISING INSPECTORS OF STEAM-VESSELS, JANUARY 25, 1889, RECOMMENDING LIGHTS FOR TOW

BOATS.

Resolved, That it is the sense of this board that where tow-boats navigating rivers whose waters flow into the Gulf of Mexico find it neces

sary to use a signal light or lights on the stern of their boats, they are advised to use, uniformly, two white lights, one above the other, three feet apart, the upper light not to be less than fifteen feet above the roof of the upper deck, on the afterpart of the stern of the steamer.

RULE XI. 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 in diameter, so placed as to throw a good light all around the horizon.

RULE XII. The signal lights on ferry-boats on waters flowing into the Gulf of Mexico and their tributaries shall be the same as those on all other steamboats on the same waters, except double-ended ferryboats shall carry a central range of clear, bright, white lights, showing all around the horizon, placed at equal altitudes forward and aft; also such side-lights as specified in section 4233 of the Revised Statutes, rule 3, paragraphs B and C.

RULE XIII. All other steamers, ferry or otherwise, having but one chimney, shall have brackets securely fastened to each side of the same, so as to carry the red and green lights the same as passenger steamers. RULE XIV. The line dividing jurisdiction between the pilot rules on western rivers and harbors, rivers, and inland waters at New Orleans, shall be the lower limits of the city.

EXTRACTS FROM REVISED STATUTES.

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 I. 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.

LIGHTS.

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

RULE III. 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 un

broken 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 IV. Steam-vessels when towing other vessels shall carry two bright white masthead lights vertically, in addition to their side-lights, so as to distinguish them from other steam-vessels. Each of these masthead lights shall be of the same character and construction as the masthead lights prescribed by Rule III.

RULE V. 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 III, except in the case provided in Rule VI.

RULE VI. 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. Such lights shall show both forward and abeam on their respective sides.

RULE VII. All coasting steam-vessels, and steam-vessels 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 VI, 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 tow of steam-vessels, shall be regulated by such rules as the board of supervising inspectors of steam-vessels shall prescribe. When towing, the law will be complied with by having an additional light aft two or three feet below the proper after-light, also showing around the horizon, and from a flagstaff of sufficient height put anywhere abaft the pilot-house.

Lights so displayed on towing vessels without masts are considered the equivalents of the two masthead lights required by Rule 4, section 4233, Revised Statutes.

(Decision of the secretary of the treasury, No. 3838, dated January 8. 1879.)

AS TO RAFTS, ETC.

The board of supervising inspectors on February 3, 1891, adopted the following resolution:

Resolved, That all coal-boats, trading-boats, produce-boats, oysterboats, fishing-boats and other water-craft navigating any bay, harbor or river, propelled by hand-power, horse-power, sail or by the current of the river, or which shall be moored in or near the channel or fairway of any bay, harbor or river, shall carry one bright white light forward not less than six feet above the rail or deck. Rafts of one crib and not more than two in length shall carry one bright white light on a pole not less than twelve feet high. Three or more cribs in length shall carry one white light at each end of the raft at the same height. Boom-rafts with cross-binders towed ahead of steamers on the Mississippi and Ohio rivers and other waters flowing into the Gulf of Mexico, and on the Red River of the North, shall carry a white light twelve feet high at the forward end of the raft, and one such light each side midway between the forward and after end.

Rafts of more than one crib abreast shall carry one white light on each outside corner of the raft, making four lights in all. Bag or boom rafts navigating or anchored in the fair-way of any bay, harbor or river shall carry a white light at least twelve feet high at each end of the raft, and one of such lights on each side midway between the forward and after end. Row-boats shall carry one white light two feet above the

stern.

NOTE-For Pilot Rules for the Great Lakes and their connecting and tributary waters as far east as Montreal, see post, page 439.

Sec. 25. Visibility.

CHAPTER III.

LIGHTS.

The word "visible," in the rules of navigation, when applied to lights means capable of being seen on a dark night with a clear atmosphere.' It is the duty of every vessel at night, whether under way or at rest, to exhibit the regulation lights prescribed by law, or in case of their absence, by reason of accident or other unavoidable cause, to exhibit such other lights as will indicate its position to approaching vessels, and it will be held at fault for assuming a position in which its lights cannot be seen. A vessel assuming a position in which her colored lights are obscured does not comply with the law requiring lights to be visible for ten points around the horizon.

128 U. S. Stat. at L. 320.

2 The Howard, 30 Fed. R. 280; The Sea Caucus, 34 Fed. R. 68; The Manhassett, 34 Fed. R. 408.

3 The Sea Caucus, 34 Fed. R. 68; The Charles L. Jeffrey, 55 Fed. R. 685.

Where a tug in towing a barge placed it in such a position as to obscure one of her side-lights without having any corresponding light on the barge to take its place, it was held that such omission was negligence. The Howard, 30 Fed. R. 280; Tug No. 13, 50 Fed. R. 628. In a collision between two sailing-vessels meeting nearly end on, one was held in fault for placing her red light near the taffrail where it was liable to be obscured by the sails and by the shape of the ves

sel's sides. The Johane Auguste, 21 Fed. R. 134.

In a collision between a sailingvessel and a steamer the side-lights of the schooner became obscured by her jib, and were not visible to approaching steamers. It was held that the schooner was alone at fault. The Vesper, 9 Fed. R. 569.

Where officers and crew of a steamer testified that no green light was visible on a schooner with which they collided, and after collision it was ascertained that the lights were dim and insufficient, it was held that such evidence overbalanced the evidence of the schooner's witnesses that the light was properly set and was burning brightly. The La Champagne, 60 Fed. R. 299.