the requirements of modern shipping with its increasing navies covering every sa, demanded that a system of flags that could be used by all nations, and read in all languages, should be adopted. Varions methods of signaling were invented with this view, in different countries, but there was considerable confusion in communicating between vessels of different nations, and the lack of a uniform system was generally felt until the year 1856, when, in pursuance of a report of a committee appointed by the British Board of Trade to inquire into and report upon the subject of a code of signals to be used at sea, the International Code of Signals was adopted by the British Government. This code, which combines some of the colors used in previous systems, has received the official sanction of nearly every maritime nation. The International Code of Signals, which consists of a combination of some of the flags used in previous systems, with others of colors most easily distinguished, making nineteen in all, have now received the official sanction of nearly every maritime nation. It is the universal means of communication between the ships and shore stations for signaling. It is used on board the ships of war of Great Britain and by the mercantile navies of the world. Since the code has been so generally adopted, the British Admiralty has ordered that masters and mates belonging to the royal naval reserve shall be instructed in its use, and the Board of Trade has directed that all candidates for masters' and mates' certificates of competency must, in future, pass a satisfactory examination in the use of the International Code of Signals. This code is the only one now used at the signal stations of the United Kingdom and British Possessions, and is recognized at the semaphores of other countries, and at many of these stations the officers have no means of reading signals made by other systems of flags. It is therefore important that the system so generally used should be recognized by the Government. It is also of great advantage to ships to be provided with the means of signaling by this code, as cases have been reported in which officers have hoisted international signals warning ships of danger, and they have been afterwards lost from inability of the persons on board to read the signal. The flags are already in use on board many of the ships in our service and the system may be said to be practically adopted by the United States merchant marine, and it is to be hoped that the International Code of Signals may be legalized by Congress. Night signaling.-The flags of the International Code can of course only be used as day signals or when there is sufficient light to make out their colors. The need of a system of night signals by the use of lights adapted to the same signal code book has been felt, especially for the use of steamers crossing in frequented tracks, and several devices for signaling by sound or by lights have been brought out. The invention of Capt. Joseph Wall, of the English mercantile service, is now receiving some attention in the British steam marine. It consists of three horizontal lamps lighted by oil or electricity and adjusted to show different colored lights. The apparatus is made of a standard fixed to the bridge, or high enough to show the lights in the right direction, surmounted with a horizontal arm which is pivoted so that it can be moved in such a manner as to have three lanterns that are placed upon it spread in full view of the ship being signaled. Each lantern can be made to show a bright light, a red light, or a green light, as may be desired, and by combinations of these lights all the signals of the code can, it is said, be given with as much rapidity as by means of flags in the day time. EXTENSION OF THE PROVISIONS OF LAW RELATING TO THE DOCUMENTING OF WRECKED FOREIGN VESSELS. The Revised Statutes of the United States and the regulations made thereunder, provide that, in case of an application for the registry of a vessel wrecked in the waters of the United States, and purchased and repaired by a citizen or citizens thereof, the applicant must furnish the collector of the port where the vessel is brought, proof of the wreck within the waters of the United States, of his title thereto by purchase, of the citizenship of the owner or owners, of the amount of the purchase money paid therefor, and a detailed statement of the items of expenditure for repairs, accompanied by the bills receipted, which will be submitted by the collector of customs, with the other papers in the case, to the Commissioner of Navigation, who, if he shall find the same satisfactory, and that the repairs have amounted to three-fourths of the entire cost of the vessel, will return the papers to the collector with authority to register the vessel, and issue a certificate thereto. In a few cases hardship has been incurred by American citizens, who have purchased vessels wrecked in waters not of the United States but contiguous thereto and have brought them to ports in this country and afterwards expended for repairs sums equal to or exceeding three times the original cost without being permitted to take out American papers. In view of the fact that the letter of the law amounts at times to a check upon American enterprise in cases where our citizens are in a position to purchase abandoned ship property on the uninhabited reefs of the West Indies or coasts of Central America, it is suggested that the present legislation be extended so as to cover such cases, subject of course to all the restrictions as to value, citizenship, &c., of the act now in force. The operation of the act proposed might be limited to vessels abandoned on the high seas or wrecked in waters of North and South America, south of the British Provinces, or in the West Indies. The work in the formation of a new bureau has necessarily been ar duous, requiring much pains,-and in view of what has been accomplished I feel it a duty as well as pleasure to place on record some recognition of the valuable aid of the deputy commissioner and the faithful and efficient staff of clerks in the office. Fully appreciating your co-operation in effecting the permanent organization of the Bureau of Navigation, I am, sir, very respectfully, yours, Hon. DANIEL MANNING, Secretary of the Treasury. JARVIS PATTEN, Commissioner of Navigation. |