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Qq- THE MARINE RETORD. RULES FOR NAVIGATING ST. MARY’S RIVER. The following rules are those which have been rec- ommended. to the Treasury Department by the Ship Masters’ Association and others who were requested to formulate regulations for the navigation of the St. Mary’s River, under the survellance of a revenue patrol boat; in accordance with the suggestions made at the last annual meeting of the Lake Carriers’ Association, which was followed up with personal work on the part of those interested in the most careful navigetion of the lakes. Capts. W. S. Mack, Edward Morton, A. J. Greenlee, and C. B. Mallory made a personal visit to Washington this week, and were given assurances that the regulations which they proposed would be adopted by the Revenue Service, which has charge of the matter. . SPEED LIMIT, BOUND UP. Rule 1.—Steamers passing through the dredged chan- nel from the can buoy on Mud:Lake to the float lights at the north end of the 20-foot channel going into Hay Lake shall not run at a.speed faster than seven miles an hour, (passing the land), and upon the approach of an- other steamer,from an opposite direction, it shall be the duty of each steamer to check when at a distance of half a mile from each ‘other to a slower speed, till each has passed the other. From the crib lights at the south end of the 20-foot channel through the Little Rapids cut at the north end of Hay.Lake, to the government pier -at Sault Ste. -Marie, a speed of seven miles an hour only shall be maintained, except that as before, when meeting another steamer coming from the opposite direction, each shall check when at a distance of half a mile from the others until, both have passed each other. Exception: is ‘also made for the provision hereinafter made, about. slow- -going craft in what is known as Little. Mud. Lake, and from the can buoy to Everens’ Point, The spéed of-seven miles an hour sball be the limit-of speed° from the upper end of St. Mary’s Falls Canal piers to a point abreast of Big Point, one mile west of. Vidal ‘shoal buoy. . ' _ SPEED LIMIT, BOUND DOWN. Rule 2 2. From Big Point, oné mile west of Vidal shoal buoy, . all. steamers: bound down must. slow down to a speed not exceeding seven miles an hour until reaching the: caval piers. “After” getting under way from Sault Ste.. Marie, the limit or maximum speed of seven miles an:hour. shall be maintained only till the crib lights “at the ‘south énd of the 20-foot channel through Little Rap- - ids cut in the north end of Hay Lake is reached; but, as before noted, when steamers or other craft are meeting, both shall check down to a slower speed until they have passed each other. ‘The seven-mile speed rule shall apply again from the float lights at the north entrance to the dredged ehannel, lower end of Hay Lake, to the can suey in Mud Lake.. a . ‘REGULATIONS OTHER THAN SPEED, UP- BOUND. Rule 3.—In ascending the St. Mary’s River no steamer shall approach another steamer, bound up, nearer than one-hilf mile, while between the can buoy in Mud Lake and the northern float dights in the north end of the 20- fovt channel at the southern end of Hay Lake. This rule ‘shall apply: also between the crib lights at the south end of the 20-foot channel, going through the Little Rapids cut, north end of Hay Lake, and the government dock. at Sault'Ste. Marie, and again from the canal piers at the west end to Big Point, one mile west of Vidal shoal, This rule shall be strictly enforced except in cases where a very slow tow is going up—so slow as to be unable to keep up the speed limit in such cases at these places—namely from the can buoy in Mud Lake to Everens’ Point, and_also between the black buoy No. 13, and the northern float lights going into the 20-foot channel at Harwood’s Point. (This is commonly called Little‘Mud Lake.) A slow tow must, on being given ‘the signal usual in such cases from the overtaking boat, answer said signal and“immediately lie over as far as possible to let the overtaking boat pass. The overtaking boat must also check and pass slowly, and it shall be obligatory on the passing boat to pass at least 500 feet from the boat or boats that are’ béing passed. In Hay Lake the faster boats may pass slower ones, but they must not pass either a'steamer or consort any closer: than..500 feet, and the slower boats must give the fastet ones all the opportunity they can to allow the faster boats to pass in safety. Should the slower boat cut across or crowd the passing boat, this shall be con- sidered an act liable to a fine. REGULATIONS. OTHER THAN SPEED, BOUND DOWN. Rule 4.—No steamer descending the St. Mary’s tiver from what is known as Big Point, one mile west from Vidal shoal buoy, to the west end of St. Mary’s Falls Canal piers, shall approach nearer than one-half mile to _ another steamer. After getting under way from Sault Ste. Marie, no steamer shall approach closer to another steamer bound down than one-half mile until the crib lights at the south end of the 20-feet channel through Little Rapids cut, at the north end of Hay Lake, is reached. And from the float lights at the north end of the 20-foot channel at the lower end of Hay Lake to the can buoy in Mud Lake, no steamer shall approach another going inthe same direction nearer than one- half mile. But in Hay Lake steamers may pass slower- going craft, either a single steamer or tow, by strictly following. the rule that they must not pass any closer than 500 feet from the slower boats. GENERAL REGULATIONS. Rule 5.—Special attention is called to Rule 24, of the act of Congress, approved February 8, 1895, giving the right of way to the descending vessel in the St. Mar’ys river. Rule 6.—The patrolling vessels of the revenue cutter service shall always have the right of way over all other vessels, as indicated by the sailing eee given by such patrolling vessel. Rule 7.—Three long distinct blasts and two short blasts of the steam whistle, when sounded from a patrolling vessel, will indicate that the vessel to which such signal is given is proceeding atytoo high a rate of, speed, and such vessel must immediately moderate her speed accordingly. Rule 8.—Two long blasts of the steam whist] e, fol- lowed by two short’ blasts, when sounded froma patrol- ling vessel, will indicate that the vessel to which such signal is given must stop immediately and remain sta- tionary, when bound up; when bound: down, as near to a stop as is prudent to safely navigate in the current, until further orders from the patrolling vessel. Rule 9.—Two red lanterns, one over the other, hoisted upon a patrolling vessel at night, will indicate that the vessel to which such signal is given that such vessel must stop, and not proceed further toward the position where such lights are displayed. No vessel nor raft shall anchor in said river between Hverens’ Point and the float lights at the north end of the 20-foot channel leading fromthe Neebish channel to Hay Lake, nor be- tween the crib lights at the entrance of the upper 20-foot cut Little Rapids channel and the crib ligh's at the northern entrance of Hay Tyjake channel, except when in distress or during a fog; and any vessel so anchored must always shift her anchorage when directed by the officer in charge of a patrolling boat to the place desig- nated by such officer. Rule 10.—Vessels navigating the St. Mary’s river nay anchor between Point Detour and Mud Lake turning ‘buoy, and at Sailor’s Encampment, close to the wharves of the saw mill on Hay Lake, between the Neebish and Little Rapids channels, but outside of the channel as indicating by the ranges; but nothing in this rule shall be constructed to prohibit any vessel from lying along- side any wharf in said river. Rule 11.—Rafts being towed in the St. Mary’s river will be required to use what is termed the ‘‘old channel.’’ From Harwood Point to Mud Lake turning buoy they will move at the time designated by the officer in charge of the patrolling vessel. When lying by they must be anchored out of the channel. Rute 12:—In navigating the St. Mary’s river, in all cases where the foregoing rules are not applicable, the attention of masters and pilots is called to the sailing rules contained in the act of Congress, February 8, 1895. Rle 13.—All vessels navigating the St. Mary’s River, in passing dredges and vessels at work on improvements to the channel, will be required to slacken their speed upon approaching such dredge or other vessel engaged in such improvement, giving the signal of three dis- tinct blasts of the steam whistle. Rule 14 —The pilot of every steamer descending the St. Mary’ s ‘Rive r shall, when abreast of the black “buoy at Rain’s shoal, and before passing around the bend of the river at Sailor’s Encampment, blast. of the steam whistle of ten’ seconds’ duration, whichijshall be answered by a blast of the steam whistle of the same duration by any steamer ascending said river within hearing. The pilot of every steamer ascending said river, not having heard such signals from a descending steamer, shall, when abreast of Everens’ Point, and before passing around the bend of said river at Sailor’s Encampment, give a signal of one blast of the steam whistle of ten seconds’ duration, which shall be answered by a blast of the steamer whis- tle of the same duration by any steamer descending such river within hearing. After such signal of one blast of the steam .whistlé° of ten Seconds shall have been given and answéred, the usual passing signal shall be given. $10,000, to be expended in accordance with ‘modified . give a signal of one AIDS T0 NAVIGATION. © f Sie es ————SS—S—S—S—SSEE=SS THE RIVER AND HARBOR BILL. ; The House passed the river and harbor bill Monday, and it is practically a law. The Senate’ never | cuts down appropriation; although once in awhile that body increases them. A notable feature of the bill was that authorizing contracts for $1,354,000 worth of work on Cleveland harbor, of which $80,000 is made — available upon the enactment of the present bill. This provides for rebuilding the east and west piers, $180,000; dredging 150,000 cubic yards, $30,000; contingent ex- penses, $15,000; total, $225,000. Piers inside ‘Lake Shore Railway bridge, $26,000; dredging 40, 000 cubic yards, $8,000; contingencies, $1,000; total, $35,000. For repair, ing superstructure of breakwater, $597, 300; superin- tendence, etc. (less than 4 per cent), $22,700; total, $620,- - 000. ‘To complete eastern arm of breakwater on present | plans, $494,000. ‘The bill provides, however, for a sur-— vey to determine the advisability of changing the plan of the breakwater so as to abandon the eastern shore, arin and extend the breakwater gers pacaliey with: the shore. ae Another continuous contract is: authorized i in: the case of Buffalo. The clause of the bill relating to this ee a follows: ate Improving harbor at Buffalo: rape oe idee tending breakwater southerly to Stony Point... Pro- vided that contracts may be entered into by the Secre= tary of War for such materials and works as may be: necessary to carry out such extension and the plan of. such improvement as notified in the report of the chief of engineers for the improvement of that harbor for. 1895, such contract to provide that the sand catch pier be extended to the bulkhead line at a cost not exceeding” $35,000 and that the northerly section of said extension to Stony Point and the sand catch pier extension shall, first be constructed, to be paid for as appropriations . may from time to time be made by law in BEG AEST CRATE: not exceeding $2,200,000. Phere is available for work this season, $100, 000; Other Lake Krie improvements are provided for~ ass : follows: Tonawanda River and Niagara River ‘to. le north fine of Tonawanda village, $50, 000; for Niagara : River from Tonawanda to Port Day, continuance, - $15,000; improving harbor at Dunkirk, continuance, plans, provided that the Secretary of War: may enter into. contracts for such materials and work as may be nec- essary to complete the modified project for its improve- ment, to be paid for as its appropriations may from © time to time be made by law, not to exceed in the: age gregate $398,258, exclusive of amounts heretofore ap-- propriated. At Hrie, Pa., the Secretary of War is 2 directed:to cause a re-survey of the harbor out of unex-'— pended money heretofore appropriated for the improy-- £ ment of that barbor. Conneaut gets $40,000, one-half — to be expended on a breakwater; Ashtabula, $50,000, of — which $40,000 is for a breakwater; Fairport, $30,000, of . which $20,000 is for a breakwater; Lorain, $20,000; in addition to authority for a survey with-a view to: im- ~~ proving access to the harbor; Vermillion, $4,000; San- dusky, $40,000, and a survey for a channel to Cedar Point; Huron, $8,000; Port Clinton, $6,000; ‘Toledo; « $150,000, a part of which is to be used in removing” a the shoal in the old channel and extending’ the im-. provement up the Maumee River; Monroe, Mich... $5,000. There is also provision for a survey of Starve *: Island Reef, between Marblehead and South Bass, or Put-in-Bay Island, over which there is only 17 feet of. oe water, and an estimate of the cost removing it to.a depth of 25 feet. The reef is in the South Passage, which is used more and more every year by the Lake” Erie south shore trade, and it is probable that the next ._ river and harbor bill’ will contain a provision for its. removal. ie, On Lake Michigan, Milwaukee improvements are. placed. under a continuous contract involving the ex- . penditure of $168,737.91. For continuing work on the harbor of refuge there, $20,000 was appropriated, and | $7,000 for maintenance of the harbor, of which $5,000 is & to be expended in Fox River below the pier; South Mil-__ waukee, $5,000. For improving the Calumet at Chicago, $75,000 is allowed and for Waukegan, $20,000 is provided, as well as $70,000 for the outer harbor, and $10,000. ~. for the inner harbor at Michigan City. There is. also. provided for Chicago River, $50,000, with authority for. contracts to $650,000. Other improve- ~~ (CONTINUED ON PAGE 9.)