Note. Where in ships already fitted the required cubic contents of boats placed under davits is provided, although by a smaller number of boats than the minimum required by this table, such ships shall be regarded as complying with the rules as to boats to be carried under davits.

In case of vessels under 200 tons gross tonnage, the capacity of any boat to be supplied should not be less than 125 feet. If, however, in any case this rule be found impracticable, a discretion may then be exercised by the Board of Trade.

In cases where a small vessel is unable to carry more than one boat, a discretion may be exercised by the Board of Trade; but whenever one boat only is carried, there must be proper provision to enable it to be placed readily in the water on either side of the ship.

Capacity and Form of Life-Boats. - As regards the boats of Sections A, B, C, and D, Rule 1, the surveyors will see that the requirements of the Rules are observed, and that the capacity of the boats, and the number of persons they are fit to carry, are ascertained by Rules 2 and 3 (page 430). In measuring boats the length and breadth are to be regarded as the extreme dimensions measured to the outside of the plank. The number of persons for which a boat is to be passed is, however, subject to the further condition that the space in the boat shall be sufficient for the seating of them all, and the proper use of the oars. That this requirement is fulfilled must be ascertained by practical experiment in all cases before a declaration is granted, unless one or more boats in a ship are of the same pattern, when only one of such boats need be tested. Life-boats (except those of Section C) should be built whale-boat fashion, both ends alike. In ships which have been fitted with boats previous to the Rules coming into force, square-sterned boats need not be condemned if fitted with the required amount of buoyancy, but all life-boats of Sections A and B subsequently supplied, or supplied to new ships, must be built whale-boat fashion. All collapsible boats, and all boats whether collapsible or not, if constructed of any material other than wood or metal, must be in accordance with a pattern approved by the Board of Trade before they are passed as a portion of the life-saving appliances required by the Rules.

Stowage of Boats. All boats required by the Rules to be placed under davits are to be kept fit and ready for use; and when they are swung inboard and resting on the chocks, the chocks are to be so constructed that the boat can be at once swung outboard without requiring to be lifted by the tackles-i.e., it shall not be necessary to take more than the weight of the boat.

The manner in which the additional boats, not requiring to be

placed under davits, are to be stowed, will vary in different, ships, but they must be stowed to the satisfaction of the surveyors, so as to be as readily available for use as is practicable, having due consideration to the circumstances mentioned in the Rules.

In all cases where boats are stowed on skids, a batten and space platform of about 21′′ planks should be fitted from skid to skid, under and alongside the boat, when being launched forward or aft, and as a platform for the men.

Equipments.-The equipments for all boats are provided for in the Rules, and surveyors are to see that the requirements are carefully complied with. The painters for boats are not to be less

than 20 fathoms in length.

When the Rules require a life-boat of Section C to be carried, and owners choose to provide a boat of Section A or B, the additional equipments required by General Rule 6 for boats of Section A and Section B need not be insisted on.

Rudder. In some of the collapsible boats it is difficult to fit a rudder; in this case a steering oar properly fitted may be passed instead.

Buoyancy. The buoyancy of life-boats of Section B must be partly inside and partly outside the boat, and a boat in which it is wholly inside or wholly outside shall not be passed as a boat of Section B.

In the case of life-boats of Section C, one-half the buoyancy must be outside the boat; the remainder may be either inside or outside, or partly inside and partly outside.

The inside buoyancy for boats of Sections A, B, and C, must consist of strong and serviceable enclosed air-tight compartments, such that water cannot find its way into them.

The outside buoyancy for boats of Section B must consist of solid cork covered with canvas, and painted and attached to the outer skin of the boat to the satisfaction of the surveyors, both as regards its position and also as regards its attachment. No other material is to be used unless expressly sanctioned by the Board of Trade. The outside buoyancy must be equal to at least half the buoyancy required for boats of Section A, and the inside and outside buoyancy together must equal in efficiency the buoyancy required for a boat of Section A.

To effect this 1.25 cubic feet of cork is to be considered as equivalent to 1 cubic foot of air-case.

The foregoing remarks apply to outside buoyancy for boats of Section C, excepting that the total buoyancy is only required to be half that of boats of Section A or Section B. When the solid cork is not permanently attached to the side of the boat in such a

manner that moisture cannot collect between the two surfaces, it will require to be removed every time a declaration is granted to ascertain (1) whether the cork is becoming sodden; (2) whether moisture is collecting between the cork and the skin of the boat, and in that way rotting the wood. The consideration (2) will not apply to metal boats.

Air-Cases, Material and Construction.- Air-cases are re quired by the Rules to be constructed of wood, or of copper or yellow metal of not less than 18 ounces to the superficial foot, or of other durable material.

The average weight of 18 ounce copper air-cases is about 5 pounds per cubic foot, and if air-cases of other material exceed this weight, the cubic capacity of the air-cases must be correspondingly increased.

As yellow metal in time becomes extremely brittle, copper is far preferable. Zinc is not durable material, and should not be passed; neither should galvanized iron or steel cases be passed for new boats.

A note should be made in each district of all ships whose boats are already filled with galvanized iron or steel air-cases, with a view to their being frequently inspected. Steel or iron air-cases previously passed of less thickness than 21 ounces are not to be rejected so long as they continue in good condition.

Copper and yellow metal air-cases are to be made with proper hook joints not less than three-eighths of an inch in width, hammered well down and soldered, and no other joint is to be passed unless specially approved by the Board of Trade.

The cases are not to exceed four feet in length; they are to he substantially enclosed with wood, which is to be close-jointed so as to cover any exposed part of the air-case, and the wood forming the top is not to be less than one inch in thickness.

The coverings in the boats over the air-cases should be secured with brass screws, so as to enable the cases to be removed without difficulty for examination, and no air-case which is not enclosed from the outer shell of the boat should be passed.

Spaces filled with or containing any material are not to be deemed air-spaces unless specially approved by the Board of Trade.

Copper or yellow metal air-cases must not be carried in contact with the skin of the metal boats.

Where boats not required by the Rules to be fitted with aircases are so fitted, as, for instance, in some of the collapsible or semi-collapsible boats, these provisions as to air-cases need not be insisted upon.

Steam Launches, etc., Carried by Steamships. In the cases of launches or other boats propelled by steam power, which

are carried as part of the additional boat equipment required by the Rules made under the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Act, an inspection of the boat, machinery, and boilers, and of the mounting and fitting thereof, should be made. Steam launches must not be passed as a part of the boat equipment required to be under davits.

In case of any vessel provided with a steam launch or boat in addition to the boat capacity required under the Rules, the surveyors need not interfere unless they have reason to believe that there is some defect in the boat, machinery, or boiler, or in the fittings or arrangement thereof, which might be dangerous to life.

Boats Already Supplied. In carrying these instructions into effect, surveyors are to be careful not to interfere unnecessarily with boats supplied before November, 1890, but in the case of new boats coming under survey for the first time, as well as in all cases in which the fittings of the boats require renewal, the Rules contained in these instructions are to be strictly adhered to.

Appliances for Lowering Boats. These appliances must be in accordance with Rule 4, of the General Rules, and must, in the surveyor's opinion, be such as not to endanger human life. They should be tested at each survey for renewal of a passenger certificate.

The question of determining whether the requirements of the Rules respecting appliances for lowering boats are complied with in the case of any particular kind of gear coming under the surveyor's notice, shall be left to the principal officers of the districts. In order to insure uniformity of practice, each principal officer, who may pass any particular disengaging gear, should request the maker to supply 50 copies of the plans and specifications for distribution among the surveyors in the several districts. These copies should be sent to the Board of Trade by the Principal Officer, together with his report upon the gear. No certificates of approval for disengaging gear will be issued.

The Principal Officer should also report to the Board of Trade when any particular disengaging gear has been inspected and deemed unsatisfactory or unsafe, and should explain fully in such report the details which, in his opinion, render it undesirablé. No formal certificate of approval will, however, be granted by. the Board of Trade or their officers for any special kind of gear.

Life-Rafts, Buoyant Apparatus. —No part of the gear which is intended to bear the weight of the boat must be made of cast iron, and life-rafts are to be approved by the Board of Trade; they are to be supplied with a suitable equipment to the satisfac

tion of the surveyors, and this must include a sea-anchor, not less than 20 fathoms of hawser, and oars in proportion to the size of the raft.

The number of persons that any approved life-raft for use at sea is to be deemed capable of carrying is the number that the raft is able to seat safely, provided always that for every person so carried there are at least three cubic feet of strong and serviceable enclosed air-tight compartments.

Approved buoyant apparatus is to be deemed sufficient for a number of persons to be ascertained by dividing the number of pounds of iron which it is capable of supporting in fresh water by 32, provided also that the sides and ends of the apparatus shall afford a space of one horizontal foot for each person for whom it is certified, and that a line for the people to cling to is properly becketted all round it. Such buoyant apparatus shall not require to be inflated before use, and shall be of approved construction.

Marking. Surveyors will note that rafts and buoyant apparatus shall be marked in such a way as to plainly indicate the number of adult persons for which they are deemed sufficient. Plates will be supplied by the Board of Trade to be screwed on to the woodwork of both rafts and buoyant apparatus, indicating this number; and forms of demand (surveys 116 for rafts and 116a for buoyant apparatus) for plates, to be filled up and returned to the Board of Trade, will be issued for the use of the Principal Officer. No raft or buoyant apparatus is to be regarded as finally approved until the marking-plate has been affixed.

Air-Cases of Rafts, etc. The instructions in the case of lifeboats apply equally to life-rafts and buoyant apparatus, so far as the length, weight and enclosure of the air-cases are concerned, excepting that as life-rafts and buoyant apparatus are only intended to be used in cases of extreme need, and are consequently not exposed to the same wear and tear as the life-boats, a minimum weight of 16 ounces, copper or yellow metal, may be passed.

Life-Belts. No life-belt is to be passed that is not capable of floating in fresh water for 24 hours with 15 pounds of iron suspended from it. It should be cut out 2 inches under the armpits, and fitted so as to remain securely in its place when put on. When any other material than solid cork is used for buoyancy, it must be specially approved by the Board of Trade. All new lifebelts should be fitted with adjustable shoulder-straps.

It is desirable that notices should be posted indicating the place of stowage of any belts which are not plainly visible to passengers.