the letter W to designate west in uniformity with the rules adopted already for publications of meteorological offices.

"Designating distances.-The committee advise that—

"Distances should be expressed in nautical miles and fractions thereof. "The word 'cable' should mean the tenth part of a nautical mile. "

The PRESIDENT. The subject before the Conference for discussion is, "A uniform method of taking bearings, of designating them (whether true or magnetic), and of reporting them." The Chair hears no proposition with reference thereto, and the Secretary will proceed with the next division.

The next division of the report is as follows:

"(b) A UNIFORM METHOD OF REPORTING, INDICATING, AND EXCHANGING INFORMATION BY THE SEVERAL MARITIME NATIONS, TO INCLUDE THE FORM OF NOTICES TO MARINERS.

"1. REPORTING DANGERS TO NAVIGATION, CHANGE OF LIGHTS, ETC.

"Reports of dangers discovered should be made as promptly and accurately as possible, and should be addressed to the proper authorities. This has been pointed out already in the Committee Report upon General Division 10, page 3.

"2. INDICATING DANGERS, CHANGES OF Lights, Etc.

"(a) Several countries refer the longitude given in the publications under consideration to a prime meridian, whose difference from the meridians of Greenwich or Paris, on which most charts in use by mariners are constructed, may be unknown to a sailor. In such a case, though he may have become acquainted with the fact of the discovery of a danger, the establishment of a light-house, etc., he may be unable to enter such information, with sufficient correctness, on his chart.

"The committee, therefore, propose that in all notices which refer to any other prime meridian but that of Greenwich or of Paris, the differ. ence in longitude between such meridians should be inserted.

"(b) The visibility of a light is given in different ways. In some countries the number of miles given refer to the visibility of light in clear weather or in ordinary weather; in others, the visibility refers to a mean state of the atmosphere, i. e., one which may be expected at that particular locality in fifty cases out of one hundred. The committee had not sufficient evidence before them to decide as to the advantages of the two plans for general adoption; they, however, consider it desirable to bring the subject before the Conference in order that the attention of the different maritime powers should be called to it.

"(c) In some 'light lists' the geographical range of a light is given, i. e., the distance resulting from the height of a light above high water, in connection with the curvature of the earth, together with or without the additional distance calculated for an observer supposed to be elevated above the sea at a certain height; in other 'light lists' the actual visibility of a light is given without any regard to the height of the light or the elevation of the observer; in some publications the lesser of the two distances is given, and in other cases both together.

"Each of these methods offers some advantage, and it seems inexpedient, at the present moment, to propose uniformity in this respect.

"It appears advisable, however, to adopt a standard height for the observer wherever the geographical range of a light is given in 'light lists' or in "notices.'

"The committee therefore propose that the height of 5 metres be generally adopted in all countries where the metric system is in use, and that in other countries, where this is not the case, the height taken should be 15 feet of the measure of the country. This height seems to the committee the best suited to the present requirements of navigation. The difference between these measures is of no practical importance.

"(d) The lights of light-houses are classified at present in 'Orders' according to the size of the lantern, or if dioptric, according to the diameter of the apparatus, though in this respect there exists considerable difference.

"Since the introduction of the electric light this classification has become inaccurate, and from a seaman's point of view misleading, for under its rules a third order electric light generally is much more powerful than a first order oil or gas light. Unformity in this respect is desirable, and the committee therefore propose that the several maritime powers interested should be requested to consider the question, in order to establish, if possible, a uniform classification of lights on the basis of the power of the light as seen by the mariner. At the same time it would be desirable to bring about a uniform classification as regards their character.

"3. EXCHANGING INFORMATION BY THE SEVERAL MARITIME NATIONS.

"It has become the custom for the hydrographic offices of the different maritime countries, with few exceptions, to ask for any information regarding their publications, Notices to Mariners,' Light Lists,' "Charts,Sailing Directions,' by direct application to the hydrographic offices of other countries, and to give such information in the same way. "It is not easy to see how this information could be so speedily and conveniently given in any other way. But the committee are not aware that this usage has ever been sanctioned by the proper authorities. They have on this account thought it well to call the attention of the Conference to this fact, and they submit that permission to exchange information regarding these publications direct, without the intervention of the foreign offices, should be granted to all central hydrographic offices in the home countries, as well as those in the provinces, colonies, and dominions, and also to those central offices which administer lighthouses, beacons, and buoys of a country, and which publish such information. A list of the offices referred to in this paragraph which are known to the committee will be found in Appendix B.

"Some maritime powers are without any special hydrographic department. In such cases it would be well to designate some other office, for instance that of harbor-master of their principal ports, who could be addressed if occasion occurs.

"In some countries the 'Notices to Mariners' are published only in newspapers. It would be well if such notices were sent to the different hydrographic offices of the world.

"Contemplated changes in lights and buoys should be brought to public notice, if convenient, before the date on which such change is proposed to be made.

The PRESIDENT. The subject before the Conference for discussion is "A uniform method of reporting, indicating, and exchanging informa

tion by the several maritime nations, to include the form of notices to mariners." The Chair is ready to hear any proposition with reference to this division. The Chair hears none. The Secretary will please read the next division of the report.

Captain MENSING (Germany). Mr. President, the list mentioned in this paragraph of the hydrographic offices in the different countries will be given in as soon as corrected. I may only say that so far we have received no answer from the representatives of Nicaragua or Guatemala, but otherwise we have been able to complete the list of hydrographic offices in all countries. Up to this time we have not received a letter addressed to the committee by the honorable delegate from Venezuela. The list, when corrected, will be printed and added to this report.

The PRESIDENT. The delegate from Germany then proposes to take no action except to append it to the report ?

Captain MENSING (Germany). Mr. President, I only desire to mention it because the report speaks of it as Appendix B, and Appendix B has not yet been attached to the report.

The PRESIDENT. It will be appended to the report as requested. The Secretary will now read division c.

Division c is as follows:

"(c) A UNIFORM METHOD OF DISTRIBUTING THIS INFORMATION.

แ "The information contained in 'Notices to Mariners' is now brought to the knowledge of the sea-faring population by sending copies of the same to the different shipping offices and consulates, and to captains of the navy, and to masters of the merchant fleet. The committee have no evidence before them which points to the fact that the measures taken by each country do not fully satisfy the requirements of those interested."

The PRESIDENT. The subject before the Conference for discussion is paragraph c, under the heading, "A uniform method of distributing this information." The Chair hears no suggestions in regard thereto. Does the delegate from Germany desire that a vote should be taken upon the resolutions numbered 1 to 12, inclusive, as a whole?

Captain MENSING (Germany). Mr. President, I think they are nearly the same as those contained in the text of the report; but they are differently worded, and I think it would be advisable to have them read.

The PRESIDENT. The Secretary will please read the resolutions.
The resolutions are as follows:

"RESOLUTIONS PROPOSED TO THE MARITIME CONFERENCE REGARDING GENERAL DIVISION 11.

"In recapitulation, the Committee recommend the Conference to invite the several maritime powers to consider the following resolutions with a view to establishing uniformity in the subjects treated in 'Notices to Mariners' and 'Light Lists:'

"1. That all bearings should be given from seaward.

"2. That the bearings of cuts of different colored sectors of lights or bearings of lights defining a narrow channel should be expressed in degrees where practicable.

"3. That all bearings expressed in degrees should count from north and south, from 0° to 90°, towards east and west.

"4. That in designating bearings, the letter E shall designate East, and the letter W shall designate West.

"5. That whenever bearings are given, the variation of the compass at the place should be stated.

"6. That distances should be expressed in nautical miles and fractions thereof. The word 'cable' should mean the tenth part of a nautical mile.

"7. That whenever the longitude of a position is given, it should be stated which prime meridian is adopted, and if other than that of Greenwich or Paris, the difference of longitude should also be stated.

"8. That in defining the visibility of a light, it should be stated whether the distance is for 'clear' or 'mean' state of the weather.

"9. That where the geographical range of a light is given, it should be calculated as seen at high water from an observer 15 feet or 5 meters above the sea.

"10. That a uniform classification of lights based on luminous intensity and on the character as seen by the mariner should be adopted. "11. That the central offices that issue 'Notices to Mariners' or 'Light Lists' should be permitted to correspond direct on such subjects.

"12. That from countries where Notices to Mariners' are published only in newspapers, copies of such papers should be sent to the various hydrographic offices."

Mr. HALL (Great Britain). Mr. President, I rise to move the adoption of this report, and in doing so I wish to take the opportunity of saying, on behalf of my colleagues and myself, how very much we are indebted to the gallant delegate from Germany, the chairman of this committee, and the other members of the committee, for the exceedingly able and interesting report which they have given us. I think that no one can read this report without seeing and feeling that it has necessarily been the result of very great labor indeed. The work which has been undertaken by the gallant delegate and his colleagues is one from which many men would have recoiled; but for them it has been a labor of love, and the result, certainly, I am satisfied, will be of the greatest assistance to all the maritime powers of the world.

Captain MENSING (Germany). Mr. President, on behalf of the members of the committee and myself, I would like to state that we feel extremely grateful for the kind words which have been spoken by the distinguished first delegate from Great Britain. As he has stated, we have given our best attention to the report, and we hope that the work which is begun now, and which is but laying foundation stones for the future, may be found to be of lasting benefit.

The PRESIDENT. This last report seems to conclude the labors of the Conference.

Captain SHACKFORD (United States). Mr. President, I would like to say a word about the statement I made yesterday about the buoyage of

the harbor of New York. I made the statement that can buoys were on the starbord hand, going in from seaward. There seemed to be doubt in the minds of some of the members of the Committee on Buoys in regard to that. I have here the sailing directions for New York Bay and harbor. The first channel mentioned here is Gedney's Channel. It says that there are several buoys passed and then it says: Those to be left on the starboard hand are first-class can buoys painted red, and those to be left on the port hand are nun buoys, painted black. Then it goes on to describe a number of different channels. I merely want to say that these are the sailing directions for New York Bay and that the statement which I made yesterday was right.

Captain MENSING (Germany). Mr. President, I would like to state that I never doubted that the statement made by the gallant delegate of the United States was entirely right. What I meant to say was, that in this case the buoyage was in contradiction to the official statement contained in the report on beacons, buoys, and stakes.

Mr. HALL (Great Britain). Mr. President, now that the labors of the Conference are concluded, I would ask your permission to be allowed to move a resolution, which, I can assure you, is not a mere matter of I wish to move a proposition which I am sure will be accepted without a single dissenting voice in this room, for it is a resolution to tender a hearty and cordial vote of thanks to you, Mr. President, for your courteous, impartial, and able conduct in the chair.

Now, Mr. President, I believe that there is not recorded in history any conference at which so many Powers have attended, or at which they have been represented by so many delegates, as that which has been under your direction for the space of nearly three months; and I am certain that in future years we shall all of us look back with pride and satisfaction to the fact that our proceedings have not been marred by a single unpleasant feeling, by a single angry thought or word. I would fain like to say on behalf of my immediate colleagues, the delegates for Great Britain, that we have a very deep sense of the kindness and good feeling which we have received from all of our brother delegates. We shall go away from here feeling that we have made many, many good friends, and with the firm belief and hope that we have not made a single enemy.

When I refer to the good feeling and harmony which have prevailed throughout, I desire to state that it is due not only to the delegates themselves, but it is due in no little degree to the calmn, judicial, and unbiased manner in which you have conducted our proceedings, Mr. President. Therefore, it is with very great pleasure and very great pride that I express, however imperfectly I have done so, our gratification and thanks to you for your conduct in the chair. Mr. President, I would fain say more, but there are occasions when words will not come to the lips of the speaker, and I therefore, move formally that a cordial vote of thanks be tendered by the Conference to its President,