Register to is- ury be, and he is hereby, authorized to issue a register to the steam sue to steamer John Martin. APPROVED, April 26, 1864. April 29, 1864. CHAP. LXIX. ·An Act fixing certain Rules and Regulations for preventing Collisions on Rules, &c., for the Water. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United sels-of-war need when, &c. ARTICLE 1. In the following rules every steamship which is under sail, considered sail- and not under steam, is to be considered a sailing-ship; and every steam- what ships under ship which is under steam, whether under sail or not, is to be considered ARTICLE 2. The lights mentioned in the following articles, and no LIGHTS FOR STEAMSHIPS. ARTICLE 3. All steam-vessels when under way shall carry Lights for (a) At the foremast head, a bright white light, so fixed as to show an steamships; uniform and unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of twenty points of the compass, so fixed as to throw the light ten points on each side of the ship, viz: from right ahead to two points abaft the beam on either side, and of such a character as to be visible on a dark night, with a clear atmosphere, at a distance of at least five miles. (b) On the starboard side, a green light, so constructed as to throw an uniform and unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of ten points of the compass, so fixed as to throw the light from right ahead to two points abaft the beam on the starboard side, and of such a character as to be visible on a dark night, with a clear atmosphere, at a distance of at least two miles. (e) On the port side, a red light, so constructed as to show an uniform unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of ten points of the compass, so fixed as to throw the light from right ahead to two points abaft the beam on the port side, and of such a character as to be visible on a dark night, with a clear atmosphere, at a distance of at least two miles. (d) The said green and red side lights shall be fitted with inboard screens, projecting at least three feet forward from the light, so as to prevent these lights from being seen across the bow. LIGHTS FOR STEAM-TUGS. ARTICLE 4. Steamships, when towing other ships, shall carry two bright white masthead lights vertically, in addition to their side lights, so as to distinguish them from other steamships. Each of these masthead lights shall be of the same construction and character as the masthead lights which other steamships are required to carry. LIGHTS FOR SAILING-SHIPS. for steam-tugs. ships. ARTICLE 5. Sailing-ships under way or being towed shall carry the for sailingsame lights as steamships under way, with the exception of the white masthead lights, which they shall never carry. EXCEPTIONAL LIGHTS FOR SMALL SAILING-VESSELS. sailing-vessels. ARTICLE 6. Whenever, as in the case of small vessels during bad, Exceptional weather, the green and red lights cannot be fixed, these lights shall be lights for small kept on deck, on their respective sides of the vessel, ready for instant exhibition, and shall, on the approach of or to other vessels, be exhibited on their respective sides in sufficient time to prevent collision, in such manner as to make them most visible, and so that the green light shall not be seen on the port side, nor the red light on the starboard side. To make the use of these portable lights more certain and easy, they shall each be painted outside with the color of the light they respectively contain, and shall be provided with suitable screens. LIGHTS FOR SHIPS AT ANCHOR. ARTICLE 7. Ships, whether steamships or sailing-ships, when at anchor Lights for ships in roadsteads or fairways, shall, between sunset and sunrise, exhibit where at anchor; it can best be seen, but at a height not exceeding twenty feet above the bull, a white light in a globular lantern of eight inches in diameter, and so constructed as to show a clear uniform and unbroken light visible all around the horizon, and at a distance of at least one mile. LIGHTS FOR PILOT-VESSELS. ARTICLE 8. Sailing pilot-vessels shall not carry the lights required for for pilot-ves sels. other sailing-vessels, but shall carry a white light at the masthead, visible all round the horizon, and shall also exhibit a flare-up light every fifteen minutes. boats. LIGHTS FOR FISHING-VESSELS AND BOATS. Lights for fish- ARTICLE 9. Open fishing-boats and other open boats shall not be reing-vessels and quired to carry side lights required for other vessels, but shall, if they do not carry such lights, carry a lantern having a green slide on the one side and a red slide on the other side, and on the approach of or to other vessels, such lantern shall be exhibited in sufficient time to prevent collision, so that the green light shall not be seen on the port side, nor the red light on the starboard side. Fishing-vessels and open boats when at anchor, or attached to their nets and stationary, shall exhibit a bright white light. Fishing-vessels and open boats shall, however, not be prevented from using a flare-up in addition, if considered expedient. Rules for fogsignals.. Steering and sailing rules. Two sailingships meeting; Two sailingships crossing. Two ships under steam meeting; Two ships under steam crossing. Sailing-ship and ship under steam. RULES GOVERNING FOG-SIGNALS. FOG-SIGNALS. ARTICLE 10. Whenever there is a fog, whether by day or night, the fog-signals described below shall be carried and used, and shall be sounded at least every five minutes, viz: (a) Steamships under way shall use a steam-whistle placed before the funnel, not less than eight feet from the deck. (b) Sailing-ships under way shall use a fog-horn. Steamships and sailing-ships when not under way shall use a bell. STEERING AND SAILING RULES. TWO SAILING-SHIPS MEETING. ARTICLE 11. If two sailing-ships are meeting end on, or nearly end on, so as to involve risk of collision, the helms of both shall be put to port, so that each may pass on the port side of the other. TWO SAILING-SHIPS CROSSING. ARTICLE 12. When two sailing-ships are crossing so as to involve risk of collision, then, if they have the wind on different sides, the ship with the wind on the port side shall keep out of the way of the ship with the wind on the starboard side, except in the case in which the ship with the wind on the port side is close-hauled, and the other ship free, in which case the latter ship shall keep out of the way. But if they have the wind on the same side, or if one of them has the wind aft, the ship which is to windward shall keep out of the way of the ship which is to leeward. TWO SHIPS UNDER STEAM MEETING. ARTICLE 13. If two ships under steam are meeting end on, or nearly end on, so as to involve risk of collision, the helms of both shall be put to port, so that each may pass on the port side of the other. TWO SHIPS UNDER STEAM CROSSING. ARTICLE 14. If two ships under steam are crossing so as to involve risk of collision, the ship which has the other on her own starboard side' shall keep out of the way of the other. SAILING-SHIP AND SHIP UNDER STEAM. ARTICLE 15. If two ships, one of which is a sailing-ship and the other a steamship, are proceeding in such directions as to involve risk of collision, the steamship shall keep out of the way of the sailing-ship. SHIPS UNDER STEAM TO SLACKEN SPEED. speed. ARTICLE 16. Every steamship, when approaching another ship, so as to Ships under involve risk of collision, shall slacken her speed, or, if necessary, stop and steam to slacken reverse; and every steamship shall, when in a fog, go at a moderate speed. VESSELS OVERTAKING OTHER VESSELS. ARTICLE 17. Every vessel overtaking any other vessel shall keep out of way of the said last-mentioned vessel. CONSTRUCTION OF ARTICLES 12, 14, 15, And 17. ARTICLE 18. Where, by the above rules, one of two ships is to keep Construction of articles 12, 14 out of the way, the other shall keep her course subject to the qualifica- 15, and 17. tions contained in the following article :· PROVISO TO SAVE SPECIAL CASES. ARTICLE 19. In obeying and construing these rules due regard must Special cases. be had to all dangers of navigation, and due regard must also be had to any special circumstances which may exist in any particular case rendering a departure from the above rules necessary in order to avoid immediate danger. NO SHIP UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES TO NEGLECT PROPER ARTICLE 20. Nothing in these rules shall exonerate any ship, 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 the neglect of any precaution which may be required by the ordinary practice of seamen, or by the special circumstances of the case. APPROVED, April 29, 1864. CHAP. LXX. -An Act to provide for the Collection of Hospital Dues from Vessels of the Proper precau tions to be always observed. April 29, 1864. United States Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in case of the sale or Hospital dues to transfer of any vessel of the United States in a foreign port or water, be collected from the consul, vice-consul, commercial agent, or vice-commercial agent of vessels sold in the United States within whose consulate or district such sale or trans- foreign ports. fer shall have been made, or in whose hands the papers of such vessel shall be, be and he is hereby authorized and required to collect of the master or agent of such vessel, all moneys that shall have become due to the United States under and by virtue of the act entitled "An act for the relief of sick and disabled seamen," approved July sixteenth, seventeen hundred and ninety-eight, and shall remain unpaid at the time of such sale or transfer; and that the said consul, vice-consul, commercial agent, or vice-commercial agent, (as the case may be,) be, and he is hereby, instructed and required to retain possession of the papers of such vessel until such money shall have been paid as herein provided; and in default of which, such sale or transfer shall be void, excepting as against the vendor: Provided, That this act shall not take effect until the expira- When act takes tion of sixty days from and after its passage. APPROVED, April 29, 1864. CHAP. LXXL-An Act to increase the Compensation of Inspectors of Customs in cer tain Ports. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the VOL. XIII. PUB. 6 1798, ch. 77. Vol. i. p. 605. effect. April 29, 1864. tors of customs in certain ports may be increased Pay of inspec- Treasury be, and he hereby is, authorized to increase the compensation of inspectors of customs in such ports as he may think it advisable so to do, and may designate, by adding to the present compensation of said officers a sum not exceeding one dollar per day. But the increase hereby authorized shall not extend beyond July first, eighteen hundred and sixty-five. until July 1, 1865. [Extended to July 1, 1866. Post, p. 460.] April 29, 1864. Sub-division of donation claims in Oregon and Washington. APPROVED, April 29, 1864. CHAP. LXXII. - An Act in Reference to Donation Claims in Oregon and Washington. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That whenever it shall appear that two donation settlers in the state of Oregon or Washington territory shall hold their conterminous improvements in such a manner as may require a half quarter section to be divided into two equal parts by a line north and south or east and west, it shall and may be lawful for the commissioner of the general land-office to issue patents recognizing for each claimant such subdivisions; this enactment to include cases existing at the date of this act, where the claim may be proved and established according to law. APPROVED, April 29, 1864. April 29, 1864. CHAP. LXXIII. An Act for the Relief of Postmasters who have been robbed by confederate Forces or Rebel Guerrillas. Postmasters without fault rillas, &c., of stamps, &c., to be credited with the amount. 1865, ch. 89, § Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in all cases where loyal robbed by guer- postmasters have been robbed by confederate forces or rebel guerrillas, of post-office stamps, stamped envelopes, or of money received and collected for, belonging to, and held for the government of the United States, and where such robbery has not been caused by the default or negligence of the postmaster, the Postmaster-General shall be, and he is hereby, authorized to credit such postmaster, in the settlement of his accounts, with the amount of which he may have been so robbed. And in cases where no such credit has been allowed, and the postmaster has been required to and has accounted for and paid over to the Post-Office is to be refunded. Department the sum or sums of which he may have been so robbed, as aforesaid, the Postmaster-General is authorized to refund the same to such postmaster. 2. Post, p. 505. When money Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United Appropriation States of America in Congress assembled, That there be, and is hereby, for refugee and destitute Indians appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriin the southern ated, for the removal and temporary relief of the refugee and destitute superintendency. Indians in the southern superintendency, viz: for expenses of transpor tation and subsistence by the way to the Indian territory, fifty-two thousand dollars; for temporary subsistence in the Indian country of refugee and destitute Indians, to the close of the present fiscal year, one hundred and fifty-three thousand dollars; for seeds, ploughs, and necessary agricultural implements, to enable them to raise a crop the present season, eighteen thousand dollars. APPROVED, May 3, 1864. |