COMMERCIAL CODE OF SIGNALS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1408, 3 June 1865, Page 3

COMMERCIAL CODE OF SIGNALS.

Circular No. 190.—Xov. 1, 1864. Board of Trade. Instructions to Registrars of SmpriNG in British Possessions Abroad, commercial code signals. To be Substituted for Paragraph 10 of the Original Instructions. In consequence of the recent adoption by the French Government of the Commercial Code of Signals for the use of the Imperial and mercantile navies of France, the Board of Trade have had under consideration the necessity of causing to be published, in a cheap and handy form, " A Co ;e List," to contain the names and particulars of those ships only which make their names by and use the Commercial Code Signals. It has been found that under the presentsystem of coupling the signals with the official numbers, and thus appropriating a distinguishing signal to every registered vessel, a large number of signals has not only been wasted, but the bulk and the cost of the present signal book have been greatly increased in consequence of thousands of vessels having had distinguishing signal letters allotted to them which are not and cannot be used. The Board of Trade have therefore considered it advisable — (1.) At once to separate the siguals from the official numbers; (2.) To recall all signals which are not actually in use; and (3.) In future to issue signals only to those vessels which require them. By this plan a number of the signals will be utilized which are now comparatively useless from the causes above stated, and the publishers of the Commercial Code Signal Book will be able to produce a code list at a small charge. In future, registrars of shipping in the British possessions abroad are to discontinue issuing, as a matter of course, the signal letters with the official numbers, and they are only to give the distinguishing signal letters in cases where it has been ascertained by them that the owner desires to have a signal for his ship, and intends to use the Commercial Code flags. It will be seen, from what has been stated above, that the distinguishing signal letters will not necessarily accompany the official numbers, but will henceforth be disconnected. The registrar will therefore issue them seriatim, without reference to the official numbers, giving the first unappropriated signal letters on his list to the first ship for which signal letters are required. Whenever a signal is issued by a registrar, he is to enter the signal letters appropriated in the ship's certificate of registry, and is to forward a notice by the next mail to the Registrar-General of Seamen, London, according to the form of which a specimen is annexed. For the purpose of informing the RegistrarGeneral of Seamen when the new principle of allotting signals is commenced by the registrars of shipping in the British possessions abroad, each registrar will, upon receipt of these instructions, at once forward to the Registrar-General of Seamen, 6, Adelaide Place, London Bridge, a statement of all the signal letters on his list which remain to be appropriated under these regulations. Whenever a registrar requires additional signal letters for ships registered at his port, he should apply to the Registrar-General of Seamen in London for a further list, and this application should be made in sufficient time.

T. H. Farrer, Secretary.

Commercial Codu of Signals for use of all Nations. (Colonial Vessels.) Port of day of 186 . Sir,—l beg to acquaint you that the following commercial code of signals has, since the dispatch of the last mail to England, has been appropriated to the undermentioned British registered ships. Note.—The particulars entered in the various columns must, as far as practicable, agree with the entries in the certificate of registry. . Name and Adjj „• i £ . dress of sole .2 « 2 .2 & registered Si a Owner, or of 2d, u oc. ■ -a . * & Managing o 8 * SSifS Owner when & & i ti,ere are <1 (B Zi o tii '5b § b ts more Owners K O than one.. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, , Registrar of Shipping. To the Registrar-General of Seamen, 6 Adelaideplace, London-bridge, London, E.C.