Speed in thick weather.

Steering and. sailing rules. Sailing vessels.

to be heard in ordinary weather at a distance of at least two miles, and with an efficient bell, and it is hereby made the duty of the United States local inspectors of steam vessels when inspecting the same to require each steamer to be furnished with such whistle and bell. A sailing vessel shall be provided with an efficient fog horn and with an efficient bell.

Whenever there is thick weather by reason of fog, mist, falling snow, heavy rainstorms, or other causes, whether by day or by night, fog signals shall be used as follows:

(a) A steam vessel under way, excepting only a steam vessel with raft in tow, shall sound at intervals of not more than one minute three distinct blasts of her whistle.

(b) Every vessel in tow of another vessel shall, at intervals of one minute, sound four bells on a good and efficient and properly placed bell as follows: By striking the bell twice in quick succession, followed by a little longer interval, and then again striking twice in quick succession (in the manner in which four bells is struck in indicating time.) (c) A steamer with a raft in tow shall sound at intervals of not more than one minute a screeching or Modoc whistle for from three to five seconds.

(d) A sailing vessel under way and not in tow shall sound at intervals of not more than one minute

If on the starboard tack with wind forward of abeam, one blast of her fog horn;

If on the port tack with wind forward of abeam, two blasts of her fog horn;

If she has the wind abaft the beam on either side, three blasts of her fog horn.

(e) Any vessel at anchor and any vessel aground in or near a channel or fairway shall at intervals of not more than two minutes ring the bell rapidly for three to five seconds.

(f) Vessels of less than ten tons registered tonnage, not being steam vessels, shall not be obliged to give the abovementioned signals, but if they do not they shall make some other efficient sound signal at intervals of not more than one minute.

(g) Produce boats, fishing boats, rafts, or other water craft navigating by hand power or by the current of the river, or anchored or moored in or near the channel or fairway and not in any port, and not otherwise provided for in these rules, shall sound a fog horn, or equivalent signal, at intervals of not more than one minute.

RULE 15. Every vessel shall, in thick weather, by reason of fog, mist, falling snow, heavy rain storms, or other causes, go at moderate speed. A steam vessel hearing, apparently not more than four points from right ahead, the fog signal of another vessel shall at once reduce her speed to bare steerageway, and navigate with caution until the vessels shall have passed each other.

RULE 16. When two sailing vessels are approaching one another so as to involve risk of collision one of them shall keep out of the way of the other, as follows, namely:

(a) A vessel which is running free shall keep out of the way of a vessel which is closehauled.

(b) A vessel which is closehauled on the port tack shall keep out of the way of a vessel which is closehauled on the starboard tack.

(c) When both are running free, with the wind on different sides, the vessel which has the wind on the port side shall keep out of the way of the other.

(d) When they are running free, with the wind on the same side, the vessel which is to windward shall keep out of the way of the vessel which is to leeward.

RULE 17. When two steam vessels are meeting end on, or nearly end on, so as to involve risk of collision each shall alter her course to starboard, so that each shall pass on the port side of the other.

RULE 18. When two steam vessels are crossing so as to involve risk of collision the vessel which has the other on her own starboard side shall keep out of the way of the other.

RULE 19. When a steam vessel and a sailing vessel are proceeding in such directions as to involve risk of collision the steam vessel shall keep out of the way of the sailing vessel.

RULE 20. Where, by any of the rules herein prescribed, one of two vessels shall keep out of the way, the other shall keep her course and speed.

RULE 21. Every steam vessel which is directed by these rules to keep out of the way of another vessel shall, on approaching her, if necessary, slacken her speed or stop or

reverse.

RULE 22. Notwithstanding anything contained in these rules every vessel overtaking any other shall keep out of the way of the overtaken vessel.

RULE 23. In all weathers every steam vessel under way in taking any course authorized or required by these rules shall indicate that course by the following signals on her whistle, to be accompanied whenever required by corresponding alteration of her helm; and every steam vessel receiving a signal from another shall promptly respond with the same signal or, as provided in Rule Twenty-six: One blast to mean, "I am directing my course to star

board."

Two blasts to mean, "I am directing my course to port." But the giving or answering signals by a vessel required to keep her course shall not vary the duties and obligations of the respective vessels.

RULE 24. That in all narrow channels where there is a current, and in the rivers Saint Mary, Saint Clair, Detroit, Niagara, and Saint Lawrence, when two steamers are meeting, the descending steamer shall have the right of way, and shall, before the vessels shall have arrived within the distance of one-half mile of each other, give the signal necessary to indicate which side she elects to take.

RULE 25. In all channels less than five hundred feet in width, no steam vessel shall pass another going in the same direction unless the steam vessel ahead be disabled or sig

Steam vessels.

Steamers in narrow channels

Direct signals.

Immediate

danger.

Negligence.

Fines.

Authority to

tions.

uify her willingness that the steam vessel astern shall pass, when the steam vessel astern may pass, subject, however, to the other rules applicable to such a situation. And when steam vessels proceeding in opposite directions are about to meet in such channels, both such vessels shall be slowed down to a moderate speed, according to the circumstances.

RULE 26. If the pilot of a steam vessel to which a passing signal is sounded deems it unsafe to accept and assent to said signal, he shall not sound a cross signal; but in that case, and in every case where the pilot of one steamer fails to understand the course or intention of an approaching steamer, whether from signals being given or answered erroneously, or from other causes, the pilot of such steamer so receiving the first passing signal, or the pilot so in doubt, shall sound several short and rapid blasts of the whistle; and if the vessels shall have approached within half a mile of each other both shall reduce their speed to bare steerageway, and, if necessary, stop and reverse.

RULE 27. In obeying and construing these rules due regard shall be had to all dangers of navigation and collision and to any special circumstances which may render a departure from the above rules necessary in order to avoid immediate danger.

RULE 28. 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 lookout, or of a neglect of any precaution which may be required by the ordinary practice of seamen, or by the special circumstances of the

case.

SEC. 2. That a fine, not exceeding two hundred dollars, may be imposed for the violation of any of the provisions of this Act. The vessel shall be liable for the said penalty, and may be seized and proceeded against, by way of libel, in the district court of the United States for any district within which such vessel may be found.

SEC. 3. That the Secretary of the Treasury of the United make regula States shall have authority to establish all necessary regulations, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, required to carry the same into effect.

Repeal of rules.

The Board of Supervising Inspectors of the United States shall have authority to establish such regulations to be observed by all steam vessels in passing each other, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, as they shall from time to time deem necessary; and all regulations adopted by the said Board of Supervising Inspectors under the authority of this Act, when approved by the Secretary of the Treasury, shall have the force of law. Two printed copies of any such regulations for passing, signed by them, shall be furnished to each steam vessel, and shall at all times be kept posted up in conspicuous places on board.

SEC. 4. That all laws or parts of laws, so far as applicable to the navigation of the Great Lakes and their connecting

and tributary waters as far east as Montreal, inconsistent with the foregoing rules are hereby repealed.

SEC. 5. That this Act shall take effect on and after March first, eighteen hundred and ninety-five.

Consular pow

Feb. 20, 1845, s.

SEC. 1433. The commanding officer of any fleet, squad- Title 15, chap. 2. ron, or vessel acting singly, when upon the high seas or in any foreign port where there is no resident consul of the ers. United States, shall be authorized to exercise all the pow- 2, v. 5, p. 725. ers of a consul in relation to mariners of the United States.

ice.

SEC. 1440. If any officer of the Navy accepts or holds Accepting ap pointments in an appointment in the diplomatic or consular service of diplomatic serv the Government, he shall be considered as having resigned Mar. 30, 1868, s. his place in the Navy, and it shall be filled as a vacancy. 2, v. 15, p. 58. SEC. 1674. The official designations employed through- Title 18, chap. 1. out this Title shall be deemed to have the following mean- Definition of ings, respectively:

official designations employed

Aug. 18, 1856, 8.

First. "Consul-general," "consul," and "commercial in this title. agent," shall be deemed to denote full, principal, and per-1, v. 11, p. 64; manent consular officers, as distinguished from subordi- June 20, 1864, 8. nates and substitutes.

1, v. 13, p. 138; July 25, 1866, v.

Second. "Deputy consul" and "consular agent" shall 14, p. 225. be deemed to denote consular officers subordinate to such principals, exercising the powers and performing the duties within the limits of their consulates or commercial agencies respectively, the former at the same ports or places, and the latter at ports or places different from those at which such principals are located respectively.

Third. "Vice-consuls," and "vice commercial agents," shall be deemed to denote consular officers, who shall be substituted, temporarily, to fill the places of consuls-general, consuls, or commercial agents, when they shall be temporarily absent or relieved from duty.

Fourth. "Consular officer" shall be deemed to include consuls-general, consuls, commercial agents, deputy consuls, vice-consuls, vice-commercial agents, and consular agents, and none others.

Fifth. "Diplomatic officer" shall be deemed to include ambassadors, envoys extraordinary, ministers plenipotentiary, ministers resident, commissioners, chargés d'affaires, agents, and secretaries of legation, and none others.

[By section 4130 R. S. as amended, the word "minister" is understood to mean the person invested with, and

Title 18, chap. 2.

Protests.

Apr. 14, 1792, s. 2, v. 1, p. 255.

Lists and returns of seamen, vessels, etc.

4580, under Mer

exercising the principal diplomatic functions. The word "consul" is understood to mean any person invested by the United States with, and exercising the functions of Consul-General, Vice-Consul-General, Consul or Vice Consul.]

SEC. 1707. Consuls and vice-consuls shall have the right, in the ports or places to which they are severally appointed, of receiving the protests or declarations which captains, masters, crews, passengers, or merchants, who are citizens of the United States, may respectively choose to make there; and also such as any foreigner may choose to make before them relative to the personal interest of any citizen of the United States. Copies of such acts duly authenticated by consuls or vice-consuls, under the seal of their consulates, respectively, shall be received in evidence equally with their originals in all courts in the United States.

SEC. 1708. Every consular officer shall keep a detailed list of all seamen and mariners shipped and discharged by Aug. 18, 1856, s. him, specifying their names and the names of the vessels 27, v. 11, p. 62. See secs. 4561, on which they are shipped and from which they are dischant Service. charged, and the payments, if any, made on account of each so discharged; also of the number of the vessels arrived and departed, the amounts of their registered tonnage, and the number of their seamen and mariners, and of those who are protected, and whether citizens of the United States or not, and as nearly as possible the nature and value of their cargoes, and where produced, and shall make returns of the same, with their accounts and other returns, to the Secretary of the Treasury.

Estates of decedents.

SEC. 1709. It shall be the duty of consuls and vice-consuls,

Apr. 14, 1792, s. Where the laws of the country permit: 2, v. 1, p. 255.

Notification of

death.

Idem.

First. To take possession of the personal estate left by any citizen of the United States, other than seamen belonging to any vessel, who shall die within their consulate, leaving there no legal representative, partner in trade, or trustee by him appointed to take care of his effects.

Second. To inventory the same with the assistance of two merchants of the United States, or, for want of them, of any others at their choice.

Third. To collect the debts due the deceased in the country where he died, and pay the debts due from his estate which he shall have there contracted.

Fourth. To sell at auction, after reasonable public notice, such part of the estate as shall be of a perishable nature, and such further part, if any, as shall be necessary, for the payment of his debts, and, at the expiration of one year, from his decease, the residue.

Fifth. To transmit the balance of the estate to the Treasury of the United States, to be holden in trust for the legal claimant; except that if at any time before such transmission the legal representative of the deceased shall appear and demand his effects in their hands they shall deliver them up, being paid their fees, and shall cease their proceedings.

SEC. 1710. For the information of the representative of the deceased, the consul or vice-consul, in the settlement