Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 28.djvu/678

 FIFTY-THIRD CONGRESS. Sess. III. Ch. 64. 1895. 649 RULE 20. Where, by any of the rules herein prescribed, one of two Keeping mural vessells shall keep out of the way, the other shall keep her course and spee. RULE 21. Every steam vessel which is directed by these rules to keep Avvrmhingout of the way of another vessel shall, on approachin g her, if necessary, slacken her speed or stop or reverse. RULE 22. Notwithstanding anything contained in these rules every 0'°*¤¤l¤¤8· vessel overtaking any other shall keep out of the way of the overtaken vesse. RULE 23. In all weathers every steam vessel under way in taking any wmmr supra. course authorized or required by these rules shall indicate that course by the following signals on her whistle, to be accompanied whenever required by corresponding alteration of her helm; and every steam vessel receiving a signal from another shall promptly respond with the same signal or, as provided in Rule Twentysix: One blast to mean, "I am directing my course to starboard? One blast. Two blasts to mean, “I am directing my course to port." But the Two mam. giving or answering signals by a vessel required to keep her course shall not vary the duties and obligations of the respective vessels. _ _ RULE 24. That in all narrow channels where there is a current, and ,,,§.,°§,‘{‘,°Q}}"Q}’§'_';§_‘° in the rivers Saint Mary, Saint Clair, Detroit, Niagara, and Saint Lawrence, when two steamers are meeting, the descending steamer shall have the right of way, and shall, before the vessels shall have arrived within the distance of one-half mile of each other, give the signal necessary to indicate which side she elects to take. . RULE 25. In all channels less than five hundred feet in width, no Pnsningin narrow steam vessel shall pass another going in the same direction unless the °h""'°l° '°""°°°"‘ steam vessel ahead be disabled or signify her willingness that the steam vessel astern shall pass, when the steam vessel astern may pass, subject, however, to the other rules applicable to such a situation. And when steam vessels proceeding in opposite directions are about to meet Meetingin such channels, both such vessels shall be slowed down to amoderate speed, according to the circumstances. RULE 26. If the pilot of a steam vessel to which a passing signal is nemmwprrr. sounded deems it unsafe to accept and assent to said signal, he shall not sound a cross signal; but in that case, and in every case where the pilot of one steamer fails to understand the course or intention. of an approaching steamer, whether from signals being given or answered erroneously, or from other causes, the pilot of such steamer so receiving the first passing signal, or the pilot so in doubt, shall sound several short and rapid blasts of the whistle; and if the vessels shall have approached within half a mile of each other both shall reduce their speed to bare steerageway, and, if necessary, stop and reverse. RULE 27. In obeying and coustruing these rules due regard shall be rrr. ger at bo had to all dangers of navigation and collision and to any special cir- "°*‘l°°‘ cumstances which may render a departure from the above rules necessary in order to avoid immediate danger. RULE 28. Nothing in these rules shall exonerate any vessel, or the Lsrbmiymrrsgim, 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 a neglect of any precaution which may be required by the ordinary practice of seamen, or by the special circumstances of the case. Sec. 2. That a fine, not exceeding two hundred dollars, may be tifyuty f" '*°'* imposed for the violation of any of the provisions of this Act. The ' vessel shall be liable for the said penalty, and may be seized and proceeded against, by way of libel, in the district court of the United States for any district within which such vessel may be found. Sec. 3. That the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States shall R°€“”*“°“°· have authority to establish all necessary regulations, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, required to carry the same into eifect. The Board of Supervising Inspectors of the United States shall have authority to establish such regulations to be observed by all steam