Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 50 Part 2.djvu/398

 TREATIES NO VESSEL UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES TO NEGLECT PROPER PRECAUTIONS. ARTICLE 29. proper precatuto;ne Nothing in these Rules shall exonerate any vessel, 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 look-out, 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. RESERVATION OF RULES FOR HARBOURS AND INLAND NAVIGATION. ARTICLE 30. Reservation of rules Nothing in these Rules shall interfere with the operation of a special navigation. rule, duly made by local authority, relative to the navigation of any harbour, river, or inland waters. DISTRESS SIGNALS. ARTICLE 31. Distresssignals. When a vessel is in distress and requires assistance from other vessels or from the shore, the following shall be the signals to be used or displayed by her, either together or separately, viz.:- Ih the daytime- 1. A gun or other explosive signal fired at intervals of about a minute; 2. The International Code signal of distress; indicated by N. 3. The distant distance signal, consisting of a square flag, having either above or below it a ball or anything resembling a ball; 4. A continuous sounding with any fog-signal apparatus; 5. The international distress signal made by radiotelegraphyor radiotelephony, or by any other distance signalling method. At night- 1. A gun or other explosive signal fired at intervals of about a minute; 2. Flames on the vessel (as from a burning tar-barrel, oil-barrel, &c.); 3. Rockets or shells, throwing stars of any colour or description, fired one at a time, at short intervals; 4. A continuous sounding with any fog-signal apparatus; 5. The internationaldistress signal made by radiotelegraphyor radiotelephony, or by any other distance signalling method. The use of any of the above signals, except for the purpose of indicating that a vessel is in distress, and the use of any signals which may be con- fused with any of the above signals, is prohibited. 1304

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