presumptive right to possession of merchandise ' saved by them
from abandoned wrecks, but their possession of them must be
reported to the collector of customs.
Question. Is it lawful for a vessel to transfer its cargo, or
any part thereof, into another vessel in the open sea within 4
leagues of the coast of the United States?
Answer. No. It is unlawful, except in case of accident, neces-
sity, or distress, which must be proved in the manner prescribed
by law.
Question. What action should you take in any such case com-
ing under your observation?
Answer. I should at once investigate the matter and report
all the facts, together with the names of the vessels involved,
to the collector of customs by the quickest available means.
Question. In what case would the merchandise so transferred
be subject to forfeiture?
Answer. In case the vessel from which it is transferred was
bound to the United States from a foreign port. The vessel
into which it is transferred would also be liable to forfeiture.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR COAST GUARD STATIONS. 183
Question. Where is it unlawful for a vessel to unlade its
cargo ?
Answer. It is unlawful for any vessel -to unlade its cargo, or
any part thereof, elsewhere than at a port of entry or port desig-
nated as a customs station to which it is destined without
special permission from the collector of customs.
Question. Is it lawful for a foreign vessel to transport mer-
chandise or passengers from port to port in the United States?
Answer. No ; but she may proceed from one domestic port to
another for the purpose of unlading her foreign cargo or to take
on cargo for a foreign voyage.
Question, (a) Under what conditions are the equipment and
ship's stores of a wrecked foreign vessel dutiable when brought
into the United States?
( & ) When are they free of duty ?
Answer, (a) The equipment and ship's stores taken from a
foreign vessel wrecked outside the waters of the United States
are dutiable when brought into the United States.
(&) When a foreign vessel is wrecked in the waters of the
United States the equipment and sJiip's stores recovered and
brought into port are free of duty, as are also the materials
and equipment of a foreign vessel condemned and dismantled
in the United States.
Question. Is the importation of opium unlawful?
Answer. The importation of smoking opium or opium pre-
pared for smoking is prohibited. The importation of opium in
any other form or of preparations or derivatives thereof is
prohibited except for medicinal purposes.
Question. What opium should be seized on discovery?
Answer. All smoking opium should be forthwith seized and
also all other forms of opium not shown on the vessel's mani-
fest.
Question. Is it unlawful to import intoxicating liquors into
the United States?
Answer. Yes. The importation into or exportation from the
United States of intoxicating liquors for beverage purposes is
absolutely prohibited.
Question. Under what conditions may win^s and liquors be
imported into the United States?
Answer. Wines and liquors may be imported into the United
States for nonbeverage purposes, if a permit for that purpose
is obtained from the prohibition commissioner.
184 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COAST GUARD STATIONS.
Question. May intoxicating liquors for beverage purposes be
carried on board merchant vessels of the United States as sea
stores; and if so, under what conditions?
Answer. Vessels engaged in the foreign trade rnay not carry
intoxicating liquors for beverage purposes as sea stores.
Question. Are vessels engaged in the coasting trade permitted
to carry intoxicating beverages?
Answer. No ; unless they have a license for the purpose from
the Prohibition Commissioner.
Question. Define the following terms as used in Customs
Regulations of the United States: (a-) Vessel; (&) vessels of
the United States; (c) marine document.
Answer, (a) The word "vessel" includes every description
of water craft or other artificial contrivance used or capable of
being used as means of transportation on water.
(&) The term "vessels of the United States" applies to such
only as are documented either by license or by enrollment or by
certificate of registry.
(c) The term " marine document " relates either to a register,
an enrollment, or a license.
Question, (a) What marine document may be issued to a
vessel of 20 net tons and upward? (b) To 'a vessel of 5 net
tons and less than 20 net tons?
Answer, (a) Vessels of 20 net tons and upwards may be
either registered or enrolled and licensed.
( & ) Vessels of 5 net tons and less than 20 net tons can be
licensed or registered.
Question. What marine document do vessels of the United
States navigating the waters on the northern, northeastern, and
north wesern frontiers otherwise than by sea require?
Answer. They require a special enrollment and license which
permits them to be employed in either the coasting or the. for-
eign trade on such frontiers.
Question. What vessels do not require to be documented?
Answer. Certain classes of boats, lighters, and barges.
Question. What barges, lighters, and other boats must be
documented?
Answer. Barges, lighters, and other boats provided with sail
or internal motive power, whether such power is generally used
or not.
Barges and boats without sail or internal motive power of
their own engaged in trade with Canada, or employed upon the
marine waters of the United States.
INSTRUCTIONS POR COAST GUARD STATIONS. 185
Barges and ''boats without sail or internal motive power of
their own carrying passengers.
Question. What vessels may engage in trade between port and
port of the United States? ;
Answer. Vessels of the United States and certain classes of
barges, lighters, and other boats which are exempt from docu-
mentation.
Question, (a) Where and how must the draft be marked on
every registered vessel of the United States? (&) What indi-
cates the draft to any line?
Answer, (a) The draft of every registered vessel shall be
marked upon the stem and sternpost in English feet or decime-
ters in either Arabic or Roman numerals.
(&) The bottom of each numeral shall indicate the draft to
that line.
Question, (a) Of what two descriptions are marine docu-
ments as regards place of issue? (&) How are they distin-
guished from each other?
Answer, (a) Marine documents are of two- descriptions:
Permanent, granted to vessels belonging to ports at which the
document issues, and temporary, granted to vessels not be-
longing to ports at which the document issues.
(1)) The two classes of documents are distinguished from
each other by plainly writing the word " Permanent " or " Tem-
porary " in the margin of the document immediately above the
number.
Question. For what length of time are marine documents
valid?
Answer. Registers and enrollments are valid for any length
of time until a contingency shall arise requiring their surrender.
Licenses are valid for one year only, but may be renewed or
changed at any time during the year for which they are granted.
No enrollment or license granted to any vessel shall be consid-
ered in force longer than : such vessel is Owned and is of the
description as set forth in the document and is engaged in the
business or employment for which the document was granted.
Question. What vessels of the United States may engage in
the foreign trade by sea?
Answer. Registered vessels.
Question. May registered vessels engage in the domestic
trade?
186 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COAST GUARD STATIONS.
Answer. Registered vessels may engage in the domestic trade
under the requirements of entering at the custom house at every
port of arrival, if laden with excess of certain commodities.
Question. What vessels may engage in the coasting trade or
fisheries ?
Answer. Vessels of 20 net tons or more enrolled and having a
license in force, and vessels of 5 net tons and less than 20 net
tons not enrolled but having a license in force.
Question. By whom must marine documents be signed?
Answer. They must be signed and sealed by the collector and
countersigned by the naval officer of the port or by the surveyor.
Certificates of registry must also bear the seal of the Depart-
ment of Commerce and be signed by the Commissioner of Navi-
gation.
Question. Must a vessel's tonnnage be given in her marine
documents?
Answer. Yes. Her gross and net or registered tonnage must
be given.
Question. Where and how must a vessel's name and home
port be marked on her?
Answer. The name of every documented vessel, " yachts ex-
cepted," shall be marked in full upon each bow and upon the
stern, and the home port shall also be marked in full upon the
stern. The name shall be painted or carved or gilded in Roman
letters in a light color on a dark ground or in a dark color on
a light ground. The letters shall not be less than 4 inches high.
Question. Where else than on the bow and stern must the
name of every steam vessel be marked?
Answer. Every steam vessel must also have her name con-
spicuously placed in distinct plain letters not less than 6 inches
high on each outer side of the pilot house, if it has such, and
in case the vessel has side-wheels, also on the outer side of
each wheelhouse.
Question. W T here must the name be placed on vessels called
" double enders " ?
Answer. On the parts corresponding to the bow and stern.
Question. Where must the name and home port be placed on
documented yachts?
Answer. On some conspicuous part of their hulls.
Question. What is a vessel's home port?
Answer. A vessel's home port is that port established by law
at or nearest to which the owner, or if there be more than one
FOR COAST GUARD STATIONS. m
owner, at which the husband or managing owner usually
resides.
Question. Must every documented vessel have an official
number, and of what does it consist?
Answer. Yes. For all seagoing vessels of 100 tons or over
it consists of numerals and letters, and for all other vessels, of
numerals only, but signal letters may also be assigned to vessels
of less than 100 tons when special application is made therefor.
Question. When a vessel shows her official number, does she
display the letters or the numerals assigned to her?
Answer. She displays her signal letters only.
Question. How many letters form the signal letters of a mer-
chant vessel of the United States, and where may the same be
found?
Answer. Four letters. They may be found in the List of Mer-
chant Vessels of the United States.
Question. What part of the vessel's official number is marked
on the main beam?
Answer. The numerals assigned her, preceded by the abbre-
viation " No."
Question. Upon which beam must it be marked?
Answer. Upon the face of the beam under the forward side
of the main hatch of seagoing and lake vessels and on the face
of the beam under the afterside of the starboard forward hatch
of western river steamers. On river steamers of the coast which
carry passengers both above and below the main deck, where
there is no hatch to the main deck, the markings should be
painted upon one of the deck beams in a conspicuous place, as
near as possible to the middle of the vessel.
Question. W T hat else must be carved or permanently marked
on the main beam?
Answer. The vessel's net tonnage.
Question. What vessels of the United States must be in-
spected by the local inspectors of steam vessels?
Answer, (a) Vessels other than motor boats propelled in
whole or in part by steam and vessels of above 15 gross tons
carrying freight or passengers for hire and propelled by gas,
fluid, naphtha, or electric motors.
(&) Sailing vessels of over 700 gross tons carrying passengers
for hire ; seagoing barges of over 100 gross tons, and all other
vessels of over 100 tons carrying passengers for hire.
Question., What is the law regarding the carrying of powder
on steam vessels carrying passengers?
188 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COAST GUARD STATIONS.
Answer. No steam vessel employed in the carriage of passen-
gers shall carry gunpowder without having conspicuously posted
on board such vessel a certificate issued by the local inspectors
authorizing the carriage of such gunpowdeV.
Question; Must the master of every vessel of the United
States be a citizen thereof ?
Answer. Yes.
Question. Must the officers of every vessel of the United
States be citizens thereof?
Answer. In general, all officers who shall have charge of a
watch, including pilots, shall be citizens of the United States.
Question. What exceptions are there to the general law re-
quiring watch officers of vessels of the United States to be citi-
zens thereof?
Answer. Where on a foreign voyage or on a voyage from an
Atlantic to a Pacific port of the United States, such vessel, is
for any reason, deprived of the services of an officer below the
grade of master, his place or a vacancy caused by the promo-
tion of another officer to such place may be supplied by a per-
son not a citizen of the United States until the first return of
such vessel to her home port.
Question. Whom, in addition to the master, mates, and pilots,
does the word " officers " include on vessels propelled wholly
or in part by steam?
Answer. The chief engineer and each assistant engineer in
charge of a watch.
Question. What officers of steam vessels of the United States
must be licensed?
Answer. All masters, chief mates, second and third mates if
in charge of a watch, engineers, and pilots.
Question. Of other vessels?
Answer. The masters of sail vessels of over TOO gross tons
and of all other vessels or barges of over 100 gross tons burden
carrying passengers for hire. Chief mates of these vessels may
be licensed on application, provided they pass the required
examination, but no penalty accrues for failure of such vessel
to carry a licensed mate.
Question. Must a licensed officer display Ms license on the
vessel upon which he is employed?
Answer. Yes. Within 48 hours after going on board for duty,
a licensed officer must display his certificate of license, which
shall be framed under glass, in some conspicuous place on such
. .
INSTRUCTIONS FOR COAST GUARD STATIONS. 189
vessel where it can be seen by passengers and others at all
times.
Question. How can you tell how many licensed officers any
steam merchant vessel or ocean-going vessel of the United
States carrying passengers should have?
Answer. The number of licensed officers she should carry, as
well. as the number of men in her crew, is given on the vessel's
certificate of inspection.
. Question. What is a certificate of inspection?
Answer. It is a document issued a vessel certifying that the
laws relating to the construction and equipment of such vessel
have been complied with.
Question. Must the certificate of inspection be displayed on
board inspected vessels?
Answer. Yes ; it must be displayed in a conspicuous place in
the vessel where it is most likely to be observed by passengers
ancl others and be kept there at all times.
Question. What is the difference between an officer's license
and the license issued to a vessel?
Answer. An officer's license is a document issued by a board
of local inspectors of steam vessels authorizing the person to
whom it is granted to perform certain duties as an officer on
vessels of the United States ; a license issued to a vessel is a
marine document .granted by a collector of customs authorizing
the employment of the vessel in the coasting trade or fisheries.
. Question. How does a register and enrollment identify a
vessel ?
Answer. By her name, home port, build, dimensions, tonnage,
and rig, and by her master's name and the name of her owner,
and if more than one owner, by the names of all and the portion
owned by each, and especially by her official number.
Question. How does a license identify ra vessel?
Answer. By her official number, name, rig, and tonnage, and
by her master's name and the name of her husband, or manag-
ing owner.
Question. Must the enrollment and license of a vessel of 20
net tons and over be separate documents?
Answer. No ; they may be consolidated into one document.
Question. Can a vessel enrolled and licensed for trade on the
northern, northeastern, or northwestern frontiers engage in
j trade elsewhere than on those frontier waters?
Answer. No. On leaving the inland waters on the frontiers to
engage in trade on the seaboard, she must surrender her frontier
190 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COAST GUARD STATIONS.
papers and take out coasting papers, and if bound on a foreign
voyage partly by sea she must take out in lieu of her frontier
papers a certificate of registry.
Question. Can a marine document be used for any other vessel
than for the one for which it is granted?
Answer. No. It can be used solely for the vessel for which
it is granted and shall not be sold, lent, or otherwise disposed of
to any person whatever.
Question. When must permanert marine documents be sur-
rendered?
Answer. Permanent marine documents are to be surrendered
when a vessel is sold in whole or in part ; when a vessel has been
lost or taken by an enemy, or otherwise prevented from return-
ing to the port to which she belongs ; when a vessel is burned
or broken up ; when a vessel is altered in form or burden by
being lengthened, shortened, or built upon, or from one denomi-
nation to another by the mode or method of rigging or fitting;
on a change from one employment to another; on the death,
removal, or resignation of one of the chief officers of an incor-
porated company owning any vessel and whose name appeared
on the documents of such vessel ; on a change of residence of
the managing owner from one port to another within the same
customs district without change in ownership ; and the exemp-
tion from documentation of vessels under the act of April 18,
1874.
Question. When must temporary marine documents be sur-
rendered?
Answer. Temporary marine documents are to be surrendered
to the collector at the port where the vessel belongs within 10
days after her arrival, and in all cases in which the surrender
of the permanent documents is required.
Question. What is meant by the term " arrival " at the port
where the vessel belongs?
Answer. By the term " arrival " is to be understood the
voluntary arrival of the vessel at her home port to which she
was destined in the regular course of her employment. If, for
instance, a vessel is forced by stress of weather into her home
port while on her voyage for another port of destination, or
stops there on such voyage to take in provisions or water or
take on passengers, or baggage, such not being her usual em-
ployment, it is not an ''arrival" within the meaning of the
taw, and tjie master is not obliged in consequence thereof to
INSTRUCTIONS FOR COAST GUARD STATIONS. 191
surrender her temporary document and take out a permanent
document.
Question. Can the name of a documented vessel be changed
except as prescribed by law?
Answer. No ; under penalty of forfeiture.
Question. Is it lawful for an officer of the customs to inspect
the marine documents of a vessel?
Answer. It is lawful at all times for any officer of the cus-
toms to inspect the marine documents of any vessel, and if the
master on board of any vessel shall not exhibit the same when
required by such officer, he will be liable to a fine of $100.
The papers of a documented vessel, when such vessel is in
commission, should be on board and accessible to the person
in charge, except when such papers are in the custody of the
collector.
Question. What yachts may be licensed, arid what privileges
do licensed yachts have?
Answer. Yachts measuring 16 gross tons or over, used or em-
ployed exclusively as pleasure vessels, may be licensed to proceed
from port to port within the United States, without entering or
clearing, and to foreign ports without clearing at the custom
house.
Question. May they transport merchandise or passengers for
hire? <ci no
Answer. No; they can not engage in any trade, nor in any
way violate the revenue laws of the United States, under pen-
alty of seizure and forfeiture.
Question. Must the master or other person in command of a
yacht exhibit her marine documents on demand of any officer
of the customs?
Answer. Yes; and he must submit to such examination as
the officer may see fit to make for the due protection of the
public revenues.
Question. Are foreign steam tugs permitted to tow docu-
mented vessels of the United States from one port or place in
the same to another?
Answer. No ; unless the towing is in whole or in part within
or upon foreign waters.
BUOYS.
Question. In coming from seaward, what color buoys
the starboard or right-hand side of the channel?
Answer. Red.
192 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COAST GUARD STATIONS.
Question. What color buoys mark the port or left-hand side?
Answer. Black.
Question. How are dangers and obstructions marked?
Answer. By buoys with black and red horizontal stripes.
Question. On which hand should these buoys be left?
Answer. They may be left on either hand.
Question. How are buoys that indicate the fairway marked?
Answer. With black and white vertical stripes. These buoys
should be passed close-to.
Question. How are sunken wrecks marked?
Answer. By red and black buoys, horizontal stripes. These
buoys are the same as obstruction buoys.
Question. What color are quarantine buoys?
Answer. Yellow.
Question. What are white buoys used for?
Answer. As they have no special meaning, they are often used
for special purposes not connected with navigation.
Question. .How are the starboard and port channel buoys
numbered?
Answer. The numbers begin from the seaward end of the
channel. Black buoys have odd numbers. lied buoys have even
numbers.
Question. Why are perches or balls or cages sometimes placed
on buoys?
Answer. Such buoys are at turning points. The color and the
number indicate on which side they shall be passed.
Question. What types of buoys are in common use?
Answer. Nun, can, and spar.
Question. What is the shape of a nun buoy?
Answer. Conical.
Question. Of a can buoy?
Answer. Cylindrical.
SIGNALS.
MEANING OF FLAGS, PENNANTS, AND SIGNS.
Alphabet flags.
Question. What is the name and the dot and dash equivalent
of flag A?
Answer. "Affirmative" ( ), written "Affirm."
Question. Replying to a signal, what does it indicate?
Answer. Assent, consent, permission granted, ov " Yes."
INSTRUCTIONS FOR COAST GUARD STATIONS. 193
Question. What is the name and the dot and dash equivalent
of flag B?
Answer. "Boy" ( ).
Question. How is it used as explosive flag?
Answer. It is hoisted at foretruck when handling ammuni-
tion, fuel oil, or gasoline in large quantities; also displayed in
the bows of all boats and lighters transporting same. At night
a red light shall be displayed at the foretruck when handling
ammunition, fuel oil, or gasoline in large quantities.
Question. What is the name and the dot and dash equivalent
of pennant C?
Answer. " Cast " ( ) .
Question. What is the name and the dot and dash equivalent
of pennant D?
Answer. " Dog " ( ).
Question. What is the name and the dot and dash equivalent
of pennant E?
Answer. "Easy" ()
Question. What is the name and the dot and dash equivalent
of pennant F?
Answer. " Fox " ( ) .
Question. What is the name and the dot and dash equivalent
of pennant G?
Answer. " George " ( ) .
Question. For what is it used as a call?
Answer. For Government shore signal stations, etc.
Question. What is the name and the dot and dash equivalent
of flag H?
Answer. " Have " ()
Question. What is the name and the dot and dash equivalent
of flag I?
Answer. "Interrogatory" ( ), written "Int." The
dot and dash equivalent of the International flag " I," when used
as a signal flag meaning " Interrogatory," must not be confused
with the Morse equivalent of I ( ) when used as a letter.
Question. What is the name and the dot and dash equivalent
of flag J?
Answer. " Jig " ( ) .
Question. What is the name and the dot and dash equivalent
of flag K?
Answer. " King " ( ).
3407921 13
194 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COAST GUARD STATIONS.
Question. What is the name and the dot and dash equivalent
of flag L?
Answer. " Love " ( ) .
Question. What is the name and the dot and dash equivalent
of flag M?
Answer. "Mike" ( ).
Question. What does it mean at the main truck of ships and
in the bow of boats?
Answer. It means that the ship** and boats so flying it are
carrying mail.
Question. What is the name and the dot arid dash equivalent