to abandon his judgment, and substitute in its place a mere mechanical routine. We will, therefore, examine them closely, in order to ascertain why the clipper tea ship, the dull heavy collier, and the Atlantic mail steamer should be classed in the same category.

We shall extract his rules, verbatim, from the pamphlet. "Under sail only." "Close hauled on port tack."

(1st.) "Take bearing."

(2nd.) Ascertain whether a steamer or not.
(3rd.) If a steamer keep your course.
(4th.) If a sailing vessel

(a) If to windward of you keep your course.

(b) If ahead of you keep your course.

The above rules would be perfectly in accordance with those of the Board of Trade if all vessels had similar sailing qualities, but it would often occur in practice that a fast weatherly ship, if she carried this rule out, must inevitably come in collision with the more leewardly one. For example, a clipper ship in a strong breeze will sail nine knots per hour on a bowline, and make no perceptible leeway: say she is on the port tack, and a sail is reported ahead. As her true position depends in somewise on the position of the lookout-man, it is possible that she may be half a point on the lee bow. It is discovered, when too late, that the stranger is a light vessel in ballast standing off and on, waiting for daylight. Anyone who is acquainted with this class of vessels will readily agree that 3 points leeway would not be an excessive quantity under such circumstances. Should a collision occur, the ship on the port tack would be held blameable by the Admiralty Court.

(c.) "If to leeward of you or on lee bow."

(1.) "Take bearing again."

(2.) "If her bearing has altered materially and continues so to alter, keep your course.

Now, in the first instance, what does Captain De Horsey mean by the term, to leeward of you. The great majority of seamen would answer, If a ship were two points on the lee bow, we should consider her to be to leeward. A perpendicular on the wind will prove that she would not be to leeward when on that bearing, and here a difference of opinion would at once arise. Where then, in practice, would Captain De Horsey fix the zero point?

(3.) "If her bearing has not altered materially, bear away until it does so."

What, in the Admiralty Court, would be considered the limit of

the term "materially," we know not, and should you attempt to pass on the wrong side, because you deemed the approaching vessel had altered her bearing materially, and a collision ensue, you would incur the responsibility. Whoever attempts to lay down arbitrary rules for such cases, which are at variance with the acknowledged laws of the country, incurs a grave responsibility. It is one's duty to keep these laws continually in view, and to use much discrimination before you infringe them.

When a vessel is seen at night in dangerous proximity, there is no time to study her bearing by compass. In such cases an officer

must trust more to his judgment and correct eye, for the advancing ship is frequently obscured by the foots of the courses from the binnacle.

"Going Free." "Under sail only."

(1.) "Take bearing."

(2.) "If her bearing has not altered materially, alter course several points to starboard or port to assist to alter her bearing."

The Board of Trade Regulations on this point are clear and simple, and are contained in sections 12 and 17. When a ship is carrying a heavy press of sail off the wind, it is a serious thing to alter the course "several points," unless the danger is imminent, as it would often bring her by the lee or aback. If this recommendation were carried out in a fleet when running up the English or Irish channels, it would cause a total disarrangement and confusion in the columns.

"Under steam." The same arbitrary rules are laid down in this part for altering course several points, so that the sails in crowded waters would be constantly aback or by the lee. From experience in the command of Atlantic steam ships in the Irish channel and elsewhere, the writer is unable to see the necessity of carrying out the suggestions contained in these rules.

Article 17 of the Board of Trade Regulations seems to be perfectly clear and easy to carry out in practice. For one vessel to overtake another she must have a commanding speed, and it is not reasonable or even possible to make the slow sailor get out of the way of the fast.

The same rule applies when approaching from the beam, no seaman would attempt to cross the bows of another vessel in dangerous proximity, under such circumstances.

48. Australia-Victoria-Warrnambool.-The alteration in the lights notified in the March number has been made.

The Upper light is a fixed white light 109 feet above the sea, visible from East, round by North, to N.W., should be seen 14 miles.

The Lower light is a fixed red, visible from N. E. to N. by W., should be seen 5 miles.

A fixed green light is exhibited from the end of the jetty.

and

Directions.-Vessels entering Warrnambool harbour from the westward or southward, should first sight the red light (carefully avoiding the 17-foot patch which lies S.S.E. half-a-mile from Middle Island), and then bringing it in line with the white light, bearing North, steer in between the five-fathom bank and the foul ground South-east of the Breakwater rock until the green light on the jetty is opened, when steer in for it and anchor. From the eastward, either bring the marks above described on, or cross the bar to the south-eastward, taking care not to shut the white light in when standing towards the mouth of Hopkins river.

It is not safe to enter or leave the harbour in south-westerly or southerly gales. In bad weather, or with a heavy southerly swell, the sea breaks at the distance of a mile from the land.

49. Irish Channel-Isle of Man-Point of Ayre.-The red and white light has been changed from a revolving light every two minutes, to a revolving light every minute.

England-East Coast-Lowestoft.-The width of the Corton Gatway channel having decreased, rendering the navigation of it by night unsafe, the Corton High and Low lights have been extinguished.

50. St. Lawrence Gulf-Seven Islands.—A light has been established on Carousal island, one of the Seven Islands, on the north shore of the Gulf. The light is a fixed white light, 195 feet above the sea, and visible 20 miles in clear weather. Position, lat. 50° 5' 40" N., long. 66° 22' 40" W.

St. Lawrence River-Cape Rouge.-A fixed white light, 175 feet above the sea, has been established on this Cape, it should be seen ten miles. Position, lat. 47° 7' 20" N., long. 70° 42′ 45° W.

51. Japan-Nipon-East Coast.-A reef of rocks reported by the Russian frigate Arkold, and noticed in the "China Pilot," has recently been seen by the Russian gunboat Sibole. The reef (Arkold reef) on which the sea appeared to break with great force, was estimated to be 20 feet above water. The mean position of the reef is in lat. 36° 10' N., long. 141° 26' E.

52.-Newfoundland-Ferryland Head.-A fixed white light 200 feet above the sea, and visible 16 miles, has been established on this headland, in lat. 47° 0' N., long. 52° 51′ W.

53.-Mediterranean-Algeria-Bona. - This port is now lighted with four harbour lights, viz., a fixed red light on the North Jetty, a fixed green light on the South Jetty, and two orange yellow lights at the entrance of the basin.

54.-Korean Archipelago.-A dangerous sunken reef, lying in the fairway of navigation, has recently been discovered about midway between Ripple and Nimrod Islands, in the Korean Archipelago. The reef (Seven Reef), is about half a mile in extent, on which the sea was breaking heavily. From the bearings taken, the reef is in lat. 34° 6' N., long. 126° 10' E.

55.-Mediterranean—Alexandria-Boghaz or Central Pass.-A floating beacon, painted black and white in horizontal stripes, showing about 20 ft. above water, with a bell on the top, has been placed on the 3-fathoms patch in 4 fathoms water with the El-kot beacon bearing S.E. E. Also a black beacon has been placed on the outer shoal or 3-fathom rock, and 1 cables S.W. of the above named beacon.

Ships approaching the Central Pass will steer between the beacons and then steer by the marks, Mediterranean-Port Said.

The following signals have been established:-A vessel in the Road exhibiting lights at the foremast head, followed either by rockets, blue lights, or a gun, is the signal that she requires a pilot to enter the Port. The above will be thus answered from the Harbour office. If by a rocket,-pilot is going to you. If by a blue light,-pilot cannot go off to you.

56.-Ireland-Lough Foyle-Inishowen Lights. In accordance with Notice No. 39, in our July Number, the alteration in these lights have been made. The lights now exhibited are fixed white lights from both towers, that from the east tower being 67 feet, and that from the west tower 92 feet above high water. The red sector of light shewn over the north-east end of the Tuns Bank is exhibited from the west tower 25 feet below the main light, and when shut in to the northwards, clears the Tuns Bank.

57.-St. Lawrence River-Red Islet Bank.-A light-vessel painted red with Red Island Light-ship on her sides, has been moored in 10 fathoms, in a north-easterly direction from Red Islet: from her fore-mast, 34 feet above the deck, a fixed white light is exhibited which, in clear weather, should be seen 12 miles. The approximate position of the vessel is in lat. 48° 6' N., long. 69° 31′ W. In foggy weather a storm whistle will be sounded 10 seconds in every minute.

58.—Africa—West Coast-Accra.--A fixed white light of the third order, 50 feet above the sea, has been established on the western bastion of Fort James, in lat. 5° 31′ 48′′ N., long. 0° 11′ 31′′ W.

59.-Newfoundland - Cape Ray.-A flashing light, showing a flash every ten seconds, but having the appearance of a steady light at a great distance, is now exhibited on the western side of Cape Ray in lat. 47° 37' N., long. 59° 18′ W.

Gulf of St. Lawrence-Magdalen Islands-Amherst Island.—A revolving light showing red and white alternately 30 seconds, is now exhibited on the south cape of Amherst Island in lat. 47° 13′ N., long. 61° 58′ W. In clear weather the light will probably be seen about 20 miles.

60.-Nova Scotia-North Coast-Pugwash Harbour.-A fired light, showing red seaward, and white towards the harbour, has been placed on Seaman's or Fishing Point, on the east side of the entrance of the harbour in lat. 45° 52' N., long. 63° 40′ W.