CAB11-57-11 — Page 98

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CHAPTER VI (ii).

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108

6. In order to make certain that messages between the examination vessel and the examination battery are clearly understood, the following procedure in calling up and acknowledging is recommended:-

By Day. The military pendant should be kept bent to the halyards. When- ever communication is desired this pendant is to be hoisted close up by the sender, and "J" (alphabetical sign) shown on the semaphore. The receiver is to hoist the military pendant at the dip (half-way up) directly he perceives that a semaphore message is about to be sent him, and close up when he is ready to read. Should a word be missed the pendant is to be dipped; the sender will then repeat the message from the last word read correctly, inclusive. The pendant is to be hauled down on the conclusion

of a message.

By Night. The examination vessel and examination battery will mutually call

one another up by a succession of X's (-

&c.), flashed, &c.). Each

•) will

•).

which are to be answered by a succession of T's (- word is also to be answered by a T. The V E sign conclude each message, which is to be acknowledged by RD (• ·

7. Should a steamer, not a tug, be observed approaching the port having another, apparently disabled, steamer in tow, the character of both vessels should be ascertained.

8. Should the weather be too bad to allow of boarding being carried out, but not sufficiently heavy to prevent the examination steamer being on the examination ground, she should-

If a hostile vessel is seen, make the alarm signal as usual.

If a friendly vessel is clearly identified, signal the fact of her being friendly to

the examination battery.

9. It is hardly possible that, if the weather is too bad to board a vessel, the examination steamer would be able to approach her sufficiently close at night or in a fog to ascertain her nature, and in this case the examination steamer will carry out her duties as in the following paragraph.

10. Should the weather be too bad to allow the examination steamer to remain on the examination ground she will withdraw to such sheltered place as may be determined on to carry out her duties. The place (inside the harbour, or under shelter) selected should be, if possible, under the protection of the guns of the examination battery, or if this should, from the situation of this battery, not be possible, under the protection of another battery selected locally by the military Officer Commanding.

(c.) Special Instructions for the Examination Steamer.

1. The examination steamer will carry out her work as far out in the examination ground as the weather will permit, taking care to keep within signal distance of the examination battery. She should carry out her duties in a fog at a less distance from the battery than would be the case in clear weather. The traffic narrows towards the mouth of a harbour, thus lessening the chance of vessels slipping by the examination steamer undetected in a fog.

2. On a vessel approaching the port, the examination steamer will close her, flying the commercial code signal in the signal book to "stop instantly," and if she is identified, which, if she is one of the vessels usually trading with the port, will readily be done, the examining officer will allow her to proceed with as little delay as possible, and will signal to the examination battery that she is a friendly vessel.

3. If the approaching vessel is not recognized, she will be boarded, and if found correct, the same course will be followed.

4. If, however, there appears to be anything suspicious about her, either from the number or appearance of her crew, the nationality of her master and mates, the nature of the replies given to the examination officer's inquiries, or any other reason, the ship's

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