2. Persons, firms, socie- Date of reply. Whether the time has ties, etc., applied to for observations. arrived for establishing a system whereby the signals in the International Code Book may be made by night as well as by day? [Inclosure G.] Note showing proposed alteration at pages xv and xvi of the signal book. [Extract from the report of a committee of 1855.] * "First, its comprehensiveness and distinctness, the combination of the signs expressing the nature of the signal made-[two flags or symbols in a hoist always meaning either danger or urgency]—and the signals throughout being arranged in a consecutive series, so that any individual signal, whether a word or a sentence, may readily be found; secondly, that the flags and pennants are so arranged as by their position to characterize the signals made; thus, "and thirdly, that the arrangement of the code is such as to hold out to foreigners the same advantages that it affords to our own marine." This committee [of 1888] have slightly departed from the recommendations contained in the last part of the above report as follows, viz: Instead of the words† in brackets, as above, this committee have adopted the following words: [Two flags in one hoist mean attention and demand, compass, and urgent or important signals, which are now classed into three groups, according to the sign which is uppermost, as follows, viz: A two-sign signal with The burgee uppermost represents A pennant uppermost represents A square flag uppermost represents. Attention or demand. SUPPLEMENTARY INCLOSURE TO INTERIM REPORT. Since the publication of Parliamentary Paper, No. C. 5695, the following additional replies to the letter dated January 20, 1888 (Inclosure F), have been received. 2. Persons, firms, socie- Date of reply. Whether the time has ties, etc., applied to for observations. arrived for establish. ing a system whereby the signals in the International Code book may be made by night as well as by day? Submit the opinions of their marine superintendents and commanders. Knows of no special de- | No serious danger, as sire for such a system. The only safe system would be the Morse. Night signals should be Flash signals best as adopted. colored lights are easily mistaken. they would not be much used. If the system adopted was Morse flashing signals there need not be any restriction. Pronounced signals, as 6. Is it desirable to establish some special warning signals to indicate danger to passing vessels. If so, what should they be, and by what means should they be made? Very difficult to make special night danger signals. Experts alone would understand the Morse system, and colored lights are generally objectionable through risk of confusion with side lights, but a small number of danger signals might be made with red and white lights. Night signals should be adopt- Does not know what system |