STATUTES

(Sections of the Revised Statutes of the United States and Acts of Congress Relating to the Navigation of Vessels on the Red River of the North and Rivers Emptying Into the Gulf of Mexico and Their Tributaries)

That sections forty-two hundred and thirty-three, and forty-four hundred and twelve (with the regulations made in pursuance thereof, except the rules and regulations for the government of pilots of steamers navigating the Red River of the North and rivers emptying into the Gulf of Mexico and their tributaries, and except the rules for the Great Lakes and their connecting and tributary waters as far east as Montreal), and forty-four hundred and thirteen of the Revised Statutes of the United States, and chapter two hundred and two of the laws of eighteen hundred and ninety-three, and sections one and three of chapter one hundred and two of the laws of eighteen hundred and ninety-five, and sections five, twelve, and thirteen of the Act approved March third, eighteen hundred and ninety-seven, entitled "An act to amend the laws relating to navigation," and all amendments thereto, are hereby repealed so far as the harbors, rivers, and inland waters aforesaid (except the Great Lakes and their connecting and tributary waters as far east as Montreal and the Red River of the North and rivers emptying into the Gulf of Mexico, and their tributaries) are concerned.

SEC. 4233. The following rules for preventing collisions on the water shall be followed in the navigation of vessels of the Navy and of the mercantile marine of the United States:

STEAM AND SAIL VESSELS

RULE ONE. Every steam vessel which is under sail and not under steam shall be considered a sail vessel; and every steam vessel which is under steam, whether under sail or not, shall be considered a steam vessel. The words steam vessel shall include any vessel propelled by machinery.

LIGHTS

When exhibited

RULE TWO. The lights mentioned in the following rules, and no others, shall be carried in all weathers, between sunset and sunrise.

Ocean, steam sail vessels

RULE THREE. All ocean-going steamers, and steamers carrying sail, shall, when under way, carry

Masthead lights

(A) At the foremast head, a bright white light, of such a character as to be visible on a dark night, with a clear atmosphere, at a distance of at least five miles, and so constructed as to show a uniform and unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of twenty points of the compass, and so fixed as to throw the light ten points on each side of the vessel, namely, from right ahead to two points abaft the beam on either side.

Starboard side light

(B) On the starboard side, a green light, of such a character as to be visible on a dark night, with a clear atmosphere, at a distance of at least two miles, and so constructed as to show a uniform and unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of ten points of the compass, and so fixed as to throw the light from right ahead to two points abaft of the beam on the starboard side.

Port side light

(C) On the port side, a red light, of such a character as to be visible on a dark night, with a clear atmosphere, at a distance of at least two miles, and so constructed as to show a uniform and unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of ten points of the compass, and so fixed as to throw the light from right ahead to two points abaft the beam on the port side.

The green and red lights shall be fitted with inboard screens, projecting at least three feet forward from the lights, so as to prevent them from being seen across the bow.

Towing lights

RULE FOUR. Steam vessels, when towing other vessels, shall carry two bright white masthead lights vertically, in addition to their side lights, so as to distinguish them from other steam vessels. Each of these masthead lights shall be of the same character and construction as the masthead lights prescribed by rule three.1

All steam vessels

RULE FIVE. All steam vessels, other than oceangoing steamers and steamers carrying sail, shall, when under way, carry on the starboard and port sides lights of the same character and construction and in the same position as are prescribed for side lights by rule three, except in the case provided in rule six.

1 Resolutions adopted by the Board of Supervising Inspectors, January 31, 1908, and approved by the Acting Secretary of Commerce on August 20, 1908, recommending lights for towboats:

Resolved, That it is the sense of this board that where towboats navigating rivers whose waters flow into the Gulf of Mexico find it necessary to use a signal light or lights on the stern of their boats, they are advised to use, uniformly, two red lights, one above the other, 8 feet apart, the upper light not to be less than 15 feet above the roof of the upper deck, on the afterpart of the stern of the steamer.