Page:Federal Reporter, 1st Series, Volume 5.djvu/109

 JENSEN V. STEAM-Smp BBLGENLAND. 97 �the saine as that steered, exeept the swell of the sea mîglit set her a little to leewalrd bodily, and having a heel to star- board of 12 degrees -would have a tendency to divergence from the course steered by compass, and to bring the ship's head a little to windward. �Third. Sûpposing the respective compasses of the vessels îndieated the same course, in opposite directions, would it follow that the course was the same? State howmuch com- passes vary when placed side by side; and howmuch the steam-ship's compass would probably be affected by attrac- tion of the iron in the vessel? State whether the indi- cation of the compasses, under the circumstances above sùp- posed, in this interrogatory, (that the vessels were on the same course,) would be irreconcilable with the idea that their courses were slightly intersecting ? Answer. It does not fol- low that the vessels were on the same course because the compasses on board so indicated. Variations in compasses are very common. That on the steam-ship would be affected by attraction of the iron, and the one on the bark would probably not agree with it precisely if the two were pîaced side by side, either there or elsewhere. Out of half a dozen compasses, adjusted with ordinary care, three may not be found to agree precisely. The indications of a compass are not, therefore, a sure guide to the precise direction of the vessel, though it will approximate very nearly. While the compasses of the two vessels, going in opposite directions, indicate the same courses, the triie courses of the vessels may be intersecting; very slight variations in the compasses would be necessary to produce this resuit. �Fourth. Sûpposing the steam-ship, when first seen from the bark, to have been a mile away; that she appeared to star- board of a line directly ahead ; that, as the vessels approached, she seemed to be drawing towards the bark's starboard bow, and, when they met, their respective headings were such as to show the steamer's starboard light to the bark's port light, — might this change occur with proper care over the wheels of the respective vessels, and while each was endeavoring to keep her course, the wind and sea being as before stated ? If �v.5,no.l — 7 ����