Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 17.djvu/383

* EULES OF THE ROAD. 345 RULES OF THE ROAD. beam, each on its own siile; these lights must lie fitted with screens on the inboard side so that the green light cannot be seen over the port side, nor the red light over the starboard side. Sail- ing vessels and vessels being towed are required tu carry the red and green side liglit. but nuist rot carry the white (or niasthea<l) light. A ves- sel which is not under control because of injury to her steering or motive power must carry two red lights, one over the other, in place of the white (masthead) light. If moving through the water, such a vessel must carry her red and green lights, but not otherwise. In the daytime a vessel which is not under conti'ol nuist carry, in place of the red lights, two balls or shajjcs at least two feet in diameter. A steam vessel tow- ing other vessels carries the red aud green lights and two white lights, one over the other, in place of a single white light. In the inland waters of the Cnited States steam vessels (ex- cept sea-going vessels) are required to carry two white range lights, the forward one being the white masthead light, while the after one, showing all around the horizon, must be at least fifteen feet above the other. Sea-going vessels may carry the range lights under the interna- tional and United States rules. Small steam vessels (under forty tons, gross measurement) may carry the white light at a height of nine feet ; it must be visible at a distance of two miles and the side lights must be visible at a dis- tance of one mile. .Steam launches, such as are carried by sea-going vessels, may carry the white light at a less height than nine feet, but it must be carried above the side lights, or such a I)oat may have a combination red and green lantern which will show the proper colored light on each side and be visible on that side only. Vessels under oars or sails, if of less than twenty tons, must have ready at hand a lantern with red and green sides which may be shown on the proper side to prevent collision. Small boats, whether under oars or sails, must be provided with a white lantern which they must exhibit when necessary. A sailing pilot vessel carries the ordinary lights ; also a white light at the mast- head which is visible all around the horizon, and must exhibit a flare-up light at intervals of fifteen minutes or less. A steam pilot vessel, in addition to the lights prescribed for steamers, must carry a red light, visible all around the horizon, and placed at a distance of eight feet l>elow the white masthead light. A vessel which is being overtaken by another must exhibit from her stern, where it can best be seen, a white light or flare-up light. A vessel at anchor must carr_v a white light forward, which must be visi- ble all around the horizon and must not be over twenty feet above the hidl ; if over one hundred and fifty feet in length she must also carry, at or near the stern and at a height of not more than fifteen feet below the forward light, a white light which is visible all around the horizon. Kecogni- tinn signal lights may also be carried if duly authorized by proper authority; also fiare-up lights to attract attention. All double-ended ferry boats are required to carry white lights, visible all around the horizon, on poles or masts forward and aft. These lights are to be at the same height. ilidway between them, at an altitude fifteen feet higher, a white or colored light must be carried. This light must likewise be visible all around the horizon. l''ou SiG.NALs, In fog, mist, or fulling »now, steamers under way must, at intervals of not more than two niinutos, sound u blaut of four to six seconds duration on their steam whiHtlii). It the steamer should stop she nuist sound two such l>lasls with an interval of ulsuit one second. In the inland waters of the United States, steam vessels which are under way must souml their whistle once a minute instead of once in two minutes, A sailing vessel when under way nuist once cveiy minute sound on her fog horn one blast when on the starboard taek. two blasts when on the port tack, and three blasts when the wind is abaft the beam. A vessid which is tow ing, laying, or ])icking up telegraph cable, or under way, but unable to keep out of the way of an approaching vessel through not Indng uinler conunand, or is unable to mameuvre as r(i|ulre<l by the rules, nuist, at intervals of not more tliun two minutes, sound one long blast followed by two short ones, A vessel being towed may sound this signal and must not sound luiy other. Ves- sels at anchor must, at intervals of not more than one minute, ring the bell rapidly for about five seconds. Sailing vessels and boats of les.s than twenty tons gross measurement are not obliged to give the signals prescribed for larger craft, but must make an ellicient sound signal once every minute, Stkehixg and Saii.i.N(Riles. These are ap- plicable to all conditions. Vessels must, in a tog, mist, or falling snow, go at ii moderate speed, having careful regard to the existing cir- <'umstances anil conditions. It is customary to construe this rnh' very liberally: fast steamers slow down very little during such weather, but if a ves.scl hears the whistle of another vessel ahead she should slow down at once until slic has been passed. When two steam vessels are ai)proaching end on or nearly end on so as to involve risk of col- lision, each nnist alter her course to starboard (i. e. incline to the right) so that each may pass on the port side of the other. In I nited States waters vessels apjuoaching nearly end on must alter their courses to slarlxiard and either must give, as a signal of her intention, one short and distinct blast of her whistle which the other must answer with a similar blast. If the courses of such vessels are so far on the starboard side of each other that they would not be considered as meeting end on, either will give as a signal of her intention two short and distinct lilasts of her whistle, which the other must answer with two similar blasts; the vessels will then pass on the starboard side of each other. U'here two steam vessels are steering courses which cross each other the vessel which lias the other on her own starboard beam must keep out of the way of the other. In United States waters if there is risk of collision the vessel which has the other on her own starboard bow must, if she intends to turn to starboard and pass under the stern of the other, indicate her intention by one blast of her whistle, while if she intends to turn to port she must sound two blasts. These signals must be promptly answered by the other vessel. In the international rules, when vessels are in sight of one another, a steam vessel which is taking any course authorized by the rules must indicate that course by the following signals on her whistle or siren, namely; One short blast to