ART. 68. Steamers are not allowed to proceed at a rate exceeding 75 meters in a minute: (1) When navigating between the fixed post or signs near the locks, bridges, and ferryboats; (2) on passing steamers navigating in a contrary direction. In case of need the canal officers are qualified to order the captains to slacken even the speed designated above. ART. 69. The special regulations will specify for each canal the dimensions allowed to timber floats and the rate of speed at which they may be towed. It is forbidden to navigate the canal with timber floats of larger dimensions, or to tow timber floats at a greater rate of speed than the preceding clause allows, unless with a written permit of the chief engineer. ART. 70. On the completion of a timber float it must immediately leave the canal, or, if the place of its destination is situated on the canal, be towed to that place, where within 48 hours it must be taken to pieces and cleared out of the canal. Except in the case of the insurmountable, timber floats are allowed to stay only at such places as are indicated by the special regulations, and those assigned to them by the canal officers. ART. 71. A timber float of no more than 25 beams may be fastened to a ship, provided one man is on it to steer it. Any other timber float shall be towed separately. When not fastened to a ship any timber float of 25 meters long and less shall have at least two able-bodied men on it for the purpose of steering it. For each 20 meters more of length, or part thereof, one man more shall be present for the purpose of steering it. Timber floats fastened to one another are considered to be one float. ART. 72. The masts or towing poles on timber floats may not be higher than 4 meters above the water. ART. 73. It is forbidden to put more than two horses abreast to the towlines. ART. 74. The largest number of ships to be towed by a steam tug is fixed by special regulations. It is forbidden to tug a larger number of ships than is stipulated in virtue of the first clause of this article. ART. 75. No ships being towed in a canal are allowed to carry any sail. During their navigation all their sails must be lowered or taken in. ART. 76. Ships and timber floats staying at any place must be moored, if possible, to the mooring poles, or posts placed for that purpose. On any ship approaching, if needed, all chains and ropes must be slipped in time and to such an extent that the passage be free. ART. 77. In no canal or harbor may anchors be brought out from any ship unless in the case of heavy currents, when the water is being let through the locks, and in necessary cases. The captains of nonseagoing ships, however, if no mooring poles or posts are found, may use kedge anchors wholly stuck in the ground and near the canal board. ART. 78. Ships shall take in or discharge cargo only at the spots designed for that purpose or assigned by the canal officers. It is forbidden to deposit or discharge any object on the banks of the canal without leave of a waterstaat officer or a canal officer. ART. 79. In loading or discharging any ship no obstruction of the roads or berms may take place. The captains of ships lying close to each other are obliged, for their common convenience, to allow the necessary space, for the use of lighters and for hauling out. ART. 80. The captain of a ship lying at a landing place must allow another ship to lie alongside his ship and to communicate across her with the shore, provided this be not for the purpose of taking in or discharging cargo. ART. 81. Any ship having completed or discharged her cargo shall immediately make room for any other ship wanting to take in or discharge her cargo at the same place. In case of want of room, several ships arriving at the same time, those coming to take in their cargoes have the preference over those coming to discharge. ART. 82. The chief engineer, and in case of need the engineer, is qualified to raise or to lower the level of the canal. TITLE V.-Provisions for the conservation of the canals and whatever belongs thereto. ART. 83. Except in cases of acquired rights, it is forbidden, without leave of the minister (1) to draw off water from any canal or water course belonging to it; and (2) to effect any works in, on, under, or across a canal, its harbors, bermditches, berms, dikes, towpaths, roads, or other grounds belonging to the canal. In deviation herefrom our commissary, however, may sanction the alteration or removal of any stairs, steps, footpath, horse path, railings, or outlet along the canal dike or road, the necessary works in the bermditch included. ART. 84. It is forbidden (1) to obstruct or prevent the use of the works; (2) to throw or drop into a canal or on the grounds belonging to it solid matter unless with a written permit of the chief engineer; (3) to walk or drive across any bridge before it is duly closed and fastened, or to cross the lock doors before they are quite closed; (4) to drive over a bridge otherwise than at a walking pace; (5) to open the barrier before a bridge without leave of the bridgeman; (6) to carry across a bridge a load of which the weight, in the opinion of the bridgeman, might damage the bridge; (7) to enter the ferryboats or take anything into them contrary to the prohibition of the ferryman; (8) to enter any work to which the access is prohibited in a way conspicuous to every one; (9) unless at the positive request of the canal officers, to tilt, turn, open, or close a bridge; to open or shut lock doors, to draw or shut bolts, to raise the flood gates; or perform other duties of the canal officers; (10) to deposit on any of the places of embarkation or discharge any goods not destined to be shipped or discharged, or to let goods lie beyond the time fixed by the canal officers for embarking or removing the same. ART. 85. Except in cases of contract rights, it is forbidden, without leave of the minister, to drive or ride on any grounds not public roads belonging to a canal. This prohibition does not apply to the vehicles of the waterstaat officers or canal officers and to tow horses, as far as relates to towpaths. ART. 86. Unless permission has been granted by contract provisions, it is forbidden, without leave of our commissary, to graze horses or cattle on any of the canal grounds. Unattended cattle found on any of the canal grounds may be removed by the canal officers. TITLE VI.-Provisions respecting dispersed Government works. ART. 87. Respecting the passage and further use of the works mentioned in article 1, third clause, under (b), (c), (d), (e), and (ƒ), the provisions mentioned under Titles II, III, and IV of these regulations respecting the use of locks, bridges, and further works shall apply. To the works named in the first clause, and also to the harbors mentioned in article 1, third clause under (a) the provisions mentioned under Title V, in regard to the maintenance of the locks, bridges, and other works belonging to the canals shall apply. TITLE VII.-Provisions relating to the enforcement of these regulations and the special regulations and penalties. ART. 88. The enforcement of these general regulations and the special regulations is intrusted to the governmental and local police, the waterstaat officers, the officers of the pilotage, of the revenue cruisers (ambulante recherche te water) the superintendence of fisheries, and the canal officers. The officers and officials designated in the first clause are qualified to the actions detailed in article 6 of the law of February 28, 1891 (Gazette No. 69). The reports drawn up by them are forwarded to the legal officer charged with prosecution thereof at the district court (kantongerecht), and copies are sent to the chief engineer. ART. 89. The waterstaat officers and the harbor masters are qualified to the actions detailed in article 3 of the law of February 28, 1891 (Gazette No. 69). ART. 90. The captains are bound to comply with all injunctions given them by the waterstaat officers and the canal officers in behalf of the navigation or of the works. They may appeal from the injunctions of the officers named in the first clause to our commissary, immediate submission, however, to those injunctions being obligatory. ART. 91. Of all damage caused to the works referred to in these regulations and the special regulations, a report is to be drawn up by the waterstaat officer or the canal officer who discovers or is informed thereof. This report shall state the condition of the damaged part before the accident; the circumstances attending it; the probable costs of repairing the damage; the person held responsible for the payment, and the sum he is bound to refund. In fixing this sum the state of the works before the damage caused shall be taken into account. This report shall be forwarded to the chief engineer by intermediary of the engineer, and, if possible, a copy of it shall be served on the captain concerned. In pursuance of article 4 of the law of February, 1891 (Gazette No. 69), appeal may be made to the chief engineer. ART. 92. Infringements of these general regulations, in so far as they are not provided against by the law, are punished as follows: (a) By imprisonment for a period not exceeding 60 days or a fine not exceeding 300 guilders, in case of the infringement of articles 10, first clause, 12, 13, 55 second and third clause, 67 third clause, and 68 first clause, if the infringement is made with respect to a river, canal, or harbor, destined to be navigated by sea ships. (b) By imprisonment for a period not exceeding 30 days or a fine not exceeding 150 guilders in case of (1) the infringement of the stipulations named under (a), if it is made with respect to any water not destined to be navigated by sea ships; (2) the infringement of articles 15 second clause, 25, 27, 48, 51, and 83 (1). (c) By a fine not exceeding 100 guilders, in case of the infringement of articles 7, 8, 10 second clause, 14 second clause, 15 third clause, 19 first clause, 21 second clause, 24, 30, 34 second clause, 42, 43, 47 (1) and (2), 54, 55 first clause, 56, 56 bis. 61, 62, 63 third clause, 63 bis., 69 second clause, 77, 83 (2), 84 (1), and 90 first clause. (d) By a fine not exceeding 75 guilders, in case of the infringement of articles 28, 31, 32, first clause, 46, 49, 57, 58, 59, 60, 66, 70, 71, 81, and 84 (5). 34 15 (e) By a fine of not exceeding 50 guilders, in case of the infringement of articles 4, 5, 6, 9, first clause, 19 second clause, 20, 26, 39 second and fourth clause, 52 first clause, 64, 65, 76, 79, 80, and 84 (2) and (9). (f) By a fine not exceeding 25 guilders, in case of the infringement of article 3 second clause, 11 first clause, 23 first clause, 33, 34 third clause, 36, 39 first and third clause, 44, 50, 52 second clause, 53, 72, 73, 75, 78, 84 (3), (4), (6), (7), (8), and (10), 85 and 86. Infringements of articles 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14 second clause, 15, 19 first and second clause, 20, 21 second clause, 23 first clause, 24, 25, and 26 by timber floats are punished with the penalties fixed hereabove for the infringement of those stipulations. The infringement of the prohibition, issued in virtue of article 23 secona clause, is punished by a fine not exceeding 75 guilders. FINAL STIPULATIONS. ART. 93. The minister is qualified to allow or to order a deviation from the stipulations of the articles 4, 5, 6, 8, 18, 31, 32 third clause, 47, 58, 59, 61, 73, 75, 79, and 84 of these regulations. ART. 94. To ships already navigating at the time these regulations enter into operation, a term of two years is granted for complying with the prescription of article 4 first clause. |