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26 THE USE OF OIL TO SMOOTH THE SEA. Oil slowly dropped into the sea has a wonderful effect in preventing it breaking on board. It is common for North Sea fishermen, before beach- ing a boat on an exposed shore, to pull up and down for a few yards, pouring oil on the water, and then row in on the smooth. The principles as to the use of oil are as follows: On free waves, that is, waves in deep 'water, the effect is greatest. In a surf, or waves breaking on a bar where a mass of liquid is in ac- tual motion in shallow water, the ef-. fect of the oil is uncertain; as noth- ing can prevent the larger waves from breaking under such circumstances; but even here it is of some service. The heaviest and thickest oils are most effectual. Refined kerosene is of little use; crude petroleum is ser- viceable when nothing else is ob- tainable; but all animal and vegetable oils have great effect. ° A small quantity of oil suffices, if applied in such a manner as to spread it to windward. It is useful' in a ship or boat, both when running or lying to, or in wear- ing. It is of great use when hoisting a boat up in a seaway. In cold water, the oil, being thick- ened by the lower temperature, and. not being able to spread freely, will have its effect much reduced. will vary with the description of oil used. The best method of application in a ship at sea appears to be: hanging over the side, in such a manner as to be in the water, small canvas bags, capable of holding from one to two gallons of oil, such bags being pricked with a sail needle to fasts leakage of the oil. The position of tees bags should vary with the circumstances. Run- ning before the wind they should be hung on either bow, as far forward as possible, and allowed to tow in the water. With the wind on the quarter the effect seems to be less than in any other position, as the oil goes astern while the waves come up on the quar- ter. ; Lying-to, the weather bow and an- other position further aft seems to be the best places from which to hang the bags, with a sufficient length of line to draw to windward while the ship drifts. : For boarding a wreek,- it is. rec- ommended to pour oil overboard to 'his . - black THe MarINE REVIEW windward of her before going along- side. The effect in this case must greatly depend upon the set of the current, and the circumstance of the depth of water. For a boat riding in bad weather from a sea anchor, it is recommended to fasten the bag to an endless line rove through a block on the sea anchor, by which means the oil is diffused well ahead of the boat, and the bag can be readily hauled on board for refilling, if necessary. When there are no other means of spreading oil, it can be done through the water-closet pipes, either for'ard or aft. Force a lose wad of oakum or waste into the pipe and pour the oil on top of it. After the packing has become soaked the oil will drip through at about the required rate. Instances are known where such a method has saved vessels from being swamped running before a heavy sea that would break inboard. WEATHER SIGNAL FLAGS. TEMPERATURE FLAGS. The regular flag signals are: No. 1--A white square. No. 2--A blue square. No. 3--A square, upper half white, lower blue. No. 4--A black triangular flag. No. 5--A white square with a black square in center. Their meanings are: No. 1, alone, indicates fair weather, stationary temperature. No. 2, alone, indicates rain or snow, stationary temperature. No. 3, alone, indicates local rain or snow, stationary temperature. No. 1, with No. 4 above it, indicates fair weather, warmer. No. 1, with No. 4 below it, indi- cates fair weather, colder. No. 2, with No. 4 above it, 'indi- cates rain or snow, warmer. No. 2, with No. 4 below it, indicates rain or snow, colder. No. 3, with No. 4 above it, indi- cates local rain or snow, warmer. No. 3, with No. 4 below it; 'indi- cates local rain or snow, colder. No. 1, with No. 5, indicates fair weather, cold wave. No. 2, with No. 5, indicates wet weather, cold wave. STORM SIGNALS. For storms and_ hurricane 'signals, three flags are used: A red pennant. A white pennant. A square red flag with square in the center. Storm warning--A red flag with a center indicates a storm of a black cane, Either pennant on the bottom means south; if red, southe if ~white, southwesterly. When the pennants are displayed alone they represent "Information -- Signals," that is, there will be cer ™ marked violence is expected. The pennants displayed with -- flags indicate the direction of wind; red, easterly (from north to south) ; white, westerly, from sot west to north). The pennant ab the flag indicates that the wind expected to blow from the norther quadrants; below, from the souther] quadrants. By night a red light indicates eas erly winds, and a white light abo a red light, westerly winds. Hurricane warning--Two red flag with black centers, displayed 6 above the other, indicates the e: pected approach of a tropical hurr or one of those extremely 5 vere and dangerous storms which 0 casionally move across the lakes and northern Atlantic coast. eS Here is a good way to learn, and one that will always help you to remember the storm signals. - Red pennant, easterly. White pennant, westerly. i Either pennant on top always -- means north; if red, northeasterly; if white, northwesterly. tain changes in the coming weather -- conditions that no displaying of these flags could intelligently indicate it, so a that recourse must be had to the -- printed report itself; and this is what the "Information signal" calls atten- -- tion to. If the white pennant is dis- -- played it deals with westerly weather; if the red, easterly weather. _WEATHER INDICATIONS. Clear Weather prophesies are, sky at sunset; dawn; rosy gray morning sky; low delicate clouds; dew; fog. Wet Weather is foretold by an Indian- a ted morning sky; pale-yellow sky; small, inky-looking clouds. Much Wind is indicated by a red = morning sky; hard-edged, oily-looking clouds; gloomy blue sky; copper-colored 3 sky. Moderate Winds, also possibly calms < are to be expected with soft-looking or 2 delicate clouds; quiet tints or colors; dew and fog. Weather symbols are shown by small ~ italic letters b (blue sky), c (detached clouds), d (drizzling rain), f (foggy), g (gloomy), h (hail), 1 (lightning), m (misty), 0 (overcast), pb (passing -show- ers), g (squally), r (rainy), s (snow), # (thunder), mu (ugly, threatening), _U (visibility), zw (wet, dew).