In regard to Article 7, paragraph 3, the point is made that it refers to all boats, to small rowing boats, and that they shall exhibit a certain light. Well, that principle has been in the rule since 1863, and I have only had, in my practice, one case where the rule ever came under discussion, and that was a case where one of the Staten Island ferry-boats ran down a small boat which was clearly held at fault for not having shown this light.

Admiral BOWDEN-SMITH (Great Britain). Mr. President, may I ask the learned delegate for the United States where in the old rules it occurs that row-boats are to show a red and green light, because I do not know of any such rule.

Mr. GOODRICH (United States). I say a white light. Admiral BOWDEN-SMITH (Great Britain). It is a red and green light which a row-boat has now to show.

Mr. GOODRICH (United States). Mr. President, this is a new principle as to the red and green lights. My last remarks were addressed to the subject of the white light to be carried by small boats, which is provided for in the old rules of 1863.

Mr. VERNEY (Siam). Mr. President, I forsee that my application is by no means a popular one and I did not suppose it would be. I hope the Conference will pardon me if I said a single word which implied that every member of this Conference was not treated with absolute courtesy. If I said a word of that kind I wish to withdraw it, because it is not the fact. But I still must insist upon it that if the Collocation Committee had observed the rules which they laid down when they first started we should not have had in all respects the rules which we now have. I do strongly object to the use of that term "bright" in one sense in one rule and in another sense in another rule. The word "brilliant" or some other word would do just as well, if they want to call attention to the kind of light or to the intensity of the light to be carried. The learned delegate has not given any satisfactory reply with regard to paragraph b of Article 7. What I intended to say was that as the article now stands it is not clear where the light there mentioned is to be carried.

That same remark applies to another article, Article 11, the second paragraph. There the rule has most carefully defined the height at which the forward of the two lights shall be put above the hull. You leave the second or stern light undefined. I think that is a serious omission in the rule.

Mr. GOODRICH (United States). Mr. President, may I interrupt the learned delegate from Siam to ask him what he considers the effect in Article 11 of the use of the words in the last line of the second paragraph "another such light?"

Mr. VERNEY (Siam). Mr. President, I consider that it refers to the first paragraph, that is to say, to a lantern so constructed as to show a clear, uniform, and unbroken light, visible all around the horizon at a distance of at least 1 mile. The lantern may be constructed so as to show a clear and uniform light. The construction may be perfect, but if it is not in the right place it will not show.

Mr. GOODRICH (United States). Then you would consider that it would be "another such light" if it were in the cabin?

Mr. VERNEY (Siam). Certainly the lantern might be perfectly constructed, and unless the light was properly fixed it would not show. In every other case you have been providing for the lights to be fixed as well as for their construction. These objections, as I said at the beginning, are merely objections which the Collocation Committee can take into their consideration, and which they could in the course of a very few hours make all right. I am not asking the committee to remain in this country or anywhere else for an indefinite period of time. I do not want anything of that kind; but I want them to round off their work in a way which all of us know that they are abundantly capable of doing. I will not keep the Conference any longer at this time. I have deemed it to be my duty to say what I have said on this occasion, and if there is no support for it I will not even bring a resolution before the Conference, because it has always been my wish not to take up the time of the Conference for a single moment longer than is necessary for some practical purpose.

Mr. GOODRICH (United States). Mr. President, then I suggest that the order of business is, the question upon the motion which I presented.

The PRESIDENT. The question is upon the motion of the delegate from the United States that the final report of the Collocation Committee be adopted.

The question was put to the Conference upon the motion of the delegate from the United States, and the motion was carried.

Mr. GOODRICH (United States). Mr. President, I suppose we might now just as well adjourn until to-morrow morning.

Mr. HALL (Great Britain). Mr. President, may I suggest that, perhaps if an indication were made to the printers who are printing the report for us that we are really now waiting for their report and have nothing else to do, they might possibly be able to expedite their work. I have no doubt that Mr. Cottman has used a great deal of influence already, and if that influence were backed up by an order from the President I think possibly it might have due weight in that respect.

The PRESIDENT. The Chair desires to state that the printer is in the hands of the chairman of the committee and the Secretary has had nothing to do with the printing of their report. Therefore, it rests with the committee to have their work completed.

The Conference thereupon adjourned until Tuesday, December 31 1889, at 11 o'clock a. m.

WASHINGTON, Tuesday, December 31, 1889. 11 o'clock a. m.

The Conference was called to order at 11 o'clock a. m., with RearAdmiral Franklin in the chair.

The PRESIDENT. The first business in order this morning is the consideration of the report of Committee No. 3 on General Division 10, which will be read by the Secretary.

The report of Committee No. 3 on General Division 10 is as follows:

"GENERAL DIVISION 10.-Reporting, marking, and removing dangerous wrecks or obstructions to navigation.

" (a) A uniform method of reporting and marking dangerous wrecks and derelicts.

"(b) The division of the labor, cost, and responsibility among the several maritime nations, either by geographical apportionment or otherwise.

"Of the removal of dangerous derelicts;

"And of searching for doubtful dangers with a view of removing them from the charts.

"The heading of this division leaves it doubtful whether the Conference expect the committee to consider measures dealing with dangerous wrecks and obstructions in territorial waters as well as on the high

seas.

"The committee are of opinion that it is not necessary or desirable to propose international action regarding territorial waters, except the marking of wrecks, which subject is treated under General Division 12.

"(a) A UNIFORM METHOD OF REPORTING AND MARKING DANGEROUS

WRECKS AND DERELICTS.

"Wherever the word 'wreck' is used in this report it is meant to designate an abandoned vessel aground,' and wherever the word 'derelict' is used, it is meant to designate a vessel afloat permanently abandoned.' "Wrecks are not always to be considered a source of danger to navigation. When lying outside of the fair-ways, as, for instance, on dangerous sands, or on coral reefs, they may even contribute to the safety of navigation by becoming conspicuous day marks; but when they are lying in a fair-way, in water of not sufficient depth to allow vessels to pass without striking the hull or spars of the wreck, they become a serious danger to navigation.

"Derelicts are always a danger to navigation, as other vessels may run into them without any warning, particularly at night or during thick weather. Since January 1, 1889, five collisions with derelicts are

S. Ex. 53-85

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known to have taken place in the North Atlantic Ocean alone, by one of which lives were imperiled. [See Appendix A, page 16.]

"Undoubtedly the number of lives and the value of property lost through collision with derelicts at sea has been very considerable, and such losses might be greatly reduced if proper steps were taken to clear the seas of such dangers.

"Other dangerous obstructions (icebergs, newly discovered shoals, reefs, etc.) would seem to be included under the heading of 'General Division 10,' and although not alluded to in paragraph a should, in the opinion of the committee, be discussed here, as they may constitute the most serious of all the dangers dealt with in this division.

"REPORTING DANGEROUS WRECKS AND DERELICTS.

"The danger caused by wrecks and derelicts might be considerably lessened if their exact position were known to the mariner. For obvious reasons it is often most difficult to attain this end completely. Much, however, would be gained if as accurate a report as possible were secured and brought to the notice of mariners without loss of time.

"Regarding the manner in which such reports should be brought to the central office in charge of the distribution of 'Notices to Mariners,' the committee propose the following resolutions:

"1. That it is advisable to make it the duty of any of the officers, or of the crew of a wreck or derelict, to report, as soon as possible after landing, to the nearest harbor-authority, if necessary through their consul, as follows:

"(a) Name of the vessel abandoned.

"(b) Her distinguishing number.

"(c) Name of her home port, port from which she sailed, and place of destination.

"(d) General description of vessel and her rig.

"(e) Place where abandoned (latitude and longitude as near as possible).

"(f) Weather and current experienced before leaving the vessel, and in case she was a derelict, the direction in which she would most likely drift.

"(g) Whether or not it is intended to take any steps toward her recovery.

"2. That a similar report should be made to the same authorities, by the master of any vessel sighting a wreck or derelict, and a suitable entry made in the ship's log.

"3. Such reports should be published in 'Notices to Mariners,' the daily press, and, if necessary, by giving telegraphic information to the ports which it most concerns."

Captain MENSING (Germany). Mr. President, I beg leave to submit whether it would not be advisable to have every paragraph discussed as we go along, or every division of the report discussed in this way. For instance, there are several propositions made here, and perhaps it would help to clear up the matter if we go from one to the other. So I would like to propose that if there is any discussion of the propositions it should be disposed of now.

The PRESIDENT. The delegate from Germany suggests that any discussion on the propositions should be held as the report is being read. Captain MENSING (Germany). Yes, sir; from division to division. The PRESIDENT. Discussion will now be in order upon the two divisions which have been read.

The Chair hears no suggestions. The Secretary will please read the next division.

"REPORTING OTHER OBSTRUCTIONS TO NAVIGATION, AS ICEBERGS, NEWLY DISCOVERED SHOALS, REEFS, ETC.

"Regarding the manner in which such reports should be transmitted to the proper authorities the committee propose the following resolution:

"4. That it is advisable to make it the duty of every commander or master of a vessel to report the fact that an iceberg or dangerous field ice has been sighted, or a shoal, reef, or other obstruction has been discovered to the harbor authorities or the hydrographic office of that country to which the port next reached belongs, giving a full description of the obstruction and all facts that may lead to the determination of its position; for instance, the time elapsed since the last reliable astronomical observation and the rate of the chronometer. If the obstruction be a shoal or reef, the depth of water actually obtained by sounding on it should be given. Also when land is in sight the position of any off-lying shoal or reef should be determined by compass bearings of fixed objects in view, the error of the compass being stated, with information as to how and when that error was observed. Angles should also be taken between such objects and a drawing of the coast and the position of the observer be added.

"Regarding the reporting of ice met with in the vicinity of the Newfoundland Banks by signal from a vessel to other vessels, the committee are aware than an ice code' has been published by a private individual which, according to his own statement, is rather extensively used amongst steamers employed in the regular trade between the port of New York and the ports of northern Europe.

"This code seems to offer some advantages, but as there was no evidence before the Committee showing whether its use had been found to be beneficial or otherwise, they were unable to decide whether the introduction of this code or a similar one could be recommended."

The PRESIDENT. The subject of reporting other obstructions to navigation as icebergs, newly discovered shoals, reefs, etc., is now before the Conference for discussion. The Chair hears no proposition with reference to that section. The Secretary will please read the next division.

The next division of the report is as follows

"MARKING WRECKS AND DERELICTS.

"As it appears impracticable in most cases for the master and crew of a sunken vessel to mark the wreck in any effective manner, no such obligation should be imposed upon them; and it would also be a great burden, aside from the peril of the undertaking, to compel a passing vessel to mark a derelict. Neither does it seem feasible that any national government should assume such a duty; but so far as possible means should be employed by which derelicts may be recognized at