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MARINE REVIEW. | | it Semaphore Signals. Through the courtesy of Mr. H. H. A. Jones, purser of the Dominion cruiser Petrel, the Review is "enabled to direct attention to a system of signals made with the arms, and which are in use on the Canadian vessel referred to. Although instruments for carrying sound are now used to considerable advantage ona large number of lake vessels, it is quite probable that conditions would arise when knowledge of this system would prove advantageous. Anyhow, the system is novel and interesting. Following are the signals represent- ing each letter of the alphabet as well as the numerals: The upright | represents the person making the signals; all the other angles, made by the arms, are the letters. The person desiring to signal will stand facing the person to be signalled, first making the sign of the letter J, which is the sign of the alphabet. And it may be well to note that in this letter J the horizontal line represents the left arm. As soon as it is answered, drop the arms and conimence the message, making a slight pause between the letters and a longer oue between words. Care must be taken to keep the disengaged arm close to the: side or behind the back, otherwise, at a long distace, a wrong letter may be taken. Care must also be exercised in keeping the arms perfectly horizontal in those letters requiring it. At short distance, when the arms can be easily seen, no further aid is required to send a message, but when this can not be done, two small flags are. used (red or white), about 12 inches square, made fast to sticks about 18 inches long, leaving enough of the stick to be held in the hands, thus |! | In sending a message of numerals or in answering with numerals, first make the letter U, vhich is the sign of the numerals, and they are as follows: a--1; b--2; c=--3; d=--4; e--8; f--6; g--7; h--8; i=9; k--0. J is omitted, because it is the sign of the alphabet. In making any other number, except 8, 9, 0, say 45, after the sign U make the sign of the numeral 4; leave it up and make the sign of 5, and so on. Attention may also be called to the fact, when learning the letters, that with one or two exceptions, they work in a complete circle from left to right. This will be seen by following the directions of the arms, Mr. Jones says further in reference to these signals: "T regret that I can not at present give you the origin or history of this system of signals, but I shall be only too happy to doso for you if possible. As you state, it is rather a novelty, and as one experi- ments with the system in regard to speed in reading off or sending messages, it becomes quite fascinating. There are also quite a num- ber of points in favor of it. It is extremely simple and easy to learn, and it can be worked either with flags or the arm only, and also at night with common lanterns. I have often wondered, since I have been on the great lakes, that no system has been introduced among the sailors, especially for occasions like the grounding of vessels, vessels: passing belonging to the same company, and other instances where a system like the one mentioned here would be extremely useful. I shall be pleased to assist anyone desirous of learning these signals. With regard to speed, I may add that with constant practice Some of the men under my instruction have, and can read messages at an'average speed of seven seconds per word. Of course, that was atclose range, but it will give you an idea of what can be-done with it." Mr. Coryell's Reply to Mr. Walker. Editor Marine Review:--Leaving out personalities, I am obliged to again criticise adversely the engineering on the steamer North Land, which was utterly at variance with the instructions: given for the Management of the fire-rooms. If these instructions had been only partially carried out, the case would have been relieved of much that 1S now to be deplored, and the fuel consumption largely reduced. "re was no valid reason for this neglect, especially as the general Manager and marine superintendent ordered the engineering depart- _ Ment to observe the printed instructions strictly. In addition to tae neglect in the fire rooms we have to charge also inattention to en- gines and auxiliaries. Taken altogether the waste of steam by ste ady discharges through neglected valves, etc., equalled the amount passed through the cylinders of main engines, I am simply defending the Belleville boilers against incompetent management. The communication in your issue of Oct. 15 defending the engineering on the North Land, is quite in harmony with the practice on board the steamer--shirking instructions and inventing excuses all through the season, but at the same time always giving the assurance that on the current trip work according to instructions would be inaugurated. But these promises were never carried out, and, so far as can be ascertained, not even an effort made to live up to. them, M. Coryell. New York, Oct. 21, 1896. ry heat: More than Half a Century on the Lakes, ¢ Capt. W. H. Rounds, who died at his home in Chicago on Mon- day last, served before the mast on lake vessels fifty-five yearsago. He was seventy-three years of age, and with the exception of a few years spent in California in the early fifties, his whole life has been de- voted to lake interests. Of late years he was best known as representa- tive of the Aetna Insurance Co. He was connected with the marine business of that company on the lakes up to the time of his death. Capt. Rounds was born at Sacketts Harbor in October, 1823. At. fifteen years he shipped as cook on a small schooner, but was forced to return to farming. As he said himself only a short time previous to his death, cook books were not plentiful in those days and his limited experience without one was not sufficient to suit the aesthetic tastes of the skipper who engaged him. He shipped again in 1841, this time before the mast in the schooner Asa Wilcox, and. was later in the schooner Madison. In 1845 he was appointed mate of the Wilcox and in 1846 had charge of her. During the following two years he was mate of the propeller James Wood, and in 1849 he was appointed mas- ter of that vessel. Then he spent three years in California, but he returned to the lakes and for three seasons sailed the propellers Dela- ware and Nile. He also spent a year on the Mississippi, and upon his return again to the lakes in 1858, took command of the propeller Free State, which he sailed for six years. The propeller Fountain City was also commanded by him for three years--1864 to 1866 inclusive -- --after which time he was for thirteen years engaged with the Aetna company. In 1879 he again took up sailing and commanded the propeller Milwaukee for two seasons, 1879 and 1880. Since that time he has been engaged with the Aetna company. Geo. C. Shepard, well-known mechanical engineer of Cleveland, has accepted a position with the Union Iron Works, San Francisco, and leaves for the Pacific coast this week. Mr. Shepard was the first engineer to make exhaustive tests of lake steamers, determining fuel consumption and other important information, which has led to var ious improyemts in the operation of engines. Now that the matter of fuel economy has attained such importance, the value of this work and the data which he collected will be appreciated more than ever, *