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July, 1917 and committee through all the available force and equipment of the coast and geodetic survey and the lighthouse and navigation bureaus.” ~ Lights on Wrecks The following notice and instructions to mariners has been issued by Lieut. Col. H. Burgess, engineer officer in charge of the St. Marys river improve- ments: The lighthouse bureau. has marked with two red spar buoys, carrying red lights at night, the channel back of Pipe island opposite and above the wrecks of the steamers PrENTECostT MITCHELL and SAxona. The wrecks lie about 1,500 feet south by west of Pipe island light, with stacks and spars showing above water, and are marked at night by lights main- tained by the owners. The available channel wrecks and the Pipe island bank, meas- ured at right angles to the sailing line, has a clear width of only about 500 feet, of which width about 400 feet is on the easterly side “and 100 feet is on the westerly side of the chart vessel course. Masters are warned that vessels must not meet or pass each other in the im- mediate vicinity of the wrecks. The coast-guard service has designated the small tug Minta K as a special patrol vessel to oversee the passage of vessels in accordance with the St. Marys River rules. The patrol tug displays by day a U. S. coast guard flag and by night a vertical hoist of a red light above a white light. Masters are requested to co- operate with the patrol tug in keeping the channel clear, and are notified that failure to comply with signals from that vessel will be punishable by the penalty prescribed by law. Analyzes Pilotage Laws The first concise and comprehensive analysis of the pilotage laws of this country has just been issued by the bureau of foreign and domestic com- merce, of the department of commerce. Various aspects of the pilotage systems in force in the several states have from time to time been the subject of much discussion, which has given rise to numerous bills in congress . looking toward the extension of federal legisla- tion on pilotage. Extended hearings have been held on this subject, but there has never been a complete analysis of the laws of the several states. The purpose of this report is to supply such an analysis and to present it in comparative form, so that a knowledge of the essential points may be gained readily and comparisons be easily made. ‘Phe report is based chiefly upon the laws of the several states and upon the administrative regulations that have been issued by the local pilotage authorities between the. THE MARINE REVIEW in the different jurisdictions. In. addi- tion, the author of the report, Special Agent Grosvenor M. Jones, visited a number of the larger ports and dis- cussed with pilotage authorities, pilots, and business and insurance men many practical matters connected with the subject. The report is entitled “Pilotage in the United States”, Special Agents Series No. 136. It may be purchased for 15 cents from the superintendent of docu- ments, Washington. Drop Lighthouse Bills The two bills introduced by Senator Nelson of Minnesota, affecting keepers of lighthouses and employes of the Lakes Not Affected The associate editor of THE Marine Review at Washington, D. C.,on June 11, wired that “the Great Lakes are not affected in any way with regard to the government’s plans for training officers. Schools to be established are for the pur- pose of giving education in naviga- tion to those with limited experi- ence who are needed for ships now being built and to be built under the direction of the shipping board. Training is preliminary to examina- tion by steamboat-inspection service. Executive committee, board of su- pervising inspectors, steamboat-in- spection service, is now meeting with a view of making certain changes with reference to the ex- perience necessary before securing an officer’s license. The committee, on June 9, adopted a _ resolution striking out until further notice those sections of rules and regula- tions applying to lakes, bays and sounds, except the Great Lakes, and notifying local inspectors that here- after in issuing licenses to officers they may exercise the judgment and discretion vested in them by law without regard to experience now required by rules and regulations. When the candidate applies for ex- amination, the inspectors will deter- mine whether or not he has had sufficient experience.” bureau of lighthouses and _ lighthouse service, will probably be sidetracked at this session of congress. Both measures passed the senate at the previous ses- sion of congress, but were not acted upon by the house. Both will have to go through both branches of congress before they become laws. They are expected to pass at the next session of congress. The reason given for the plan not to bring them up at the pres- ent session is that congress will deal exclusively with war legislation. Those engaged in the lighthouse service main- tain that these measures are in them- selves war bills. One bill provides that all officers and employes of the bureau of lighthouses and the lighthouse service who shall local - 239 have reached the age of 65 years, after having been 30 years in the active service of the government, may, at their option, be retired. Those who have reached the age of 70 years shall be compulsorily retired. It is provided that the annual compensation of those retired shall be one-fortieth of the last annual pay received for each year of active service in the government, not to exceed in any case thirty-fortieths of the last annual pay received. Further provision is made that such retirement pay shall not include any amount on account of subsistence or other allow- ances. The other bill authorizes the secre- tary of commerce to regulate the salaries of keepers of lighthouses “in such man- ner as he deems just and proper, but the whole sum allowed for such salaries shall not exceed an average of $700 to each keeper.” May Lake Levels The United States lake survey reports the stages of the Great Lakes for the month of May, 1917, as follows: Feet above mean sea level Lakes, April May BUDEMON iwc cconate tree wes 602.28 602.38 Michigan-Huron ..,....... 580.78 581.14 Sts Clair nie eo ee 575.21 576.07 Brie a nace tee 972257. 572.93 Ontario ese var 246.24 246.51 Lake Superior is 0.10 foot higher than last month, 0.42 foot higher than a year ago, 0.47 foot above the average stage of May of the last 10 years, 0.67 foot below the high stage of May, 1861, and 1.56 feet above the low stage of May, 1911. During the last 10 years the May level has averaged 0.3 foot higher than the April level and 0.4 one lower than the June level. Lakes Michigan-Huron are 0.36 foot higher than last month, 0.70 foot higher than a year ago, 0.65 foot above the average stage of May of the last 10 years, 2.38 feet below the high stage of May, 1886, and 1.58 feet above the low stage of May, 1896. During the last 10 years the May level has averaged 0.3 foot higher than the April level and 0.3 foot lower than the June level. Lake Erie is 0.36 foot higher than last month, 0.07 foot higher than a year ago, 0.15 foot above the average stage of May of the last 10 years, 1.49 feet below the high stage of May, 1862, and 1.62 feet above the low stage of May, 1901. During the last 10 years the May level has averaged 0.4 foot higher than the April level and 0.1 foot lower than the June level. Lake Ontario is 0.27 foot higher than last month, 0.62 foot lower than a year ago, 0.36 foot below the average stage of May of the last 10 years, 2.44 feet be- low the high stage of May, 1870, and 1.55 feet above the low stage of May, ‘1872,