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mine-field and the channel between it and the main Narrows mine-field, and of one beam capable of being traversed to bear on the minor approaches to St. George's Harbour and the Examination Anchorage.

3. Examination and Traffic Regulations.-The Examination Anchorage is suitable, but the Traffic Regulations require revision in respect of the follow- ing points:

(a.) The local port authority should be the Harbour-master.

(b.) It should be clearly defined with whom the responsibility will rest of opening fire in the case of a vessel acting in disregard of the examination vessel.

(c.) British war-ships must be exempted from any restrictions calculated to cause delay. In their case all that is necessary is for them to make the secret or prearranged signal. This must be answered at once.

(d.) The employment of local steamers for the purpose of distant patrolling of the waters of approach of ports was dealt with in Colonial Office Circular of the 28th July, 1892, forwarding the views of the Admiralty on this question. It was therein shown that, unless in exceptional and rare cases, little gain in priority of intelligence can be expected to result from the employment of such vessels. It has not been shown that in the case of Bermuda any exceptional circumstances exist to justify their use.

(e.) The lights of lighthouses must on no account be interfered with without the express sanction of the Naval Commander-in-chief on the station to the alteration having been first obtained. Paragraphs 13 and 14 of the Traffic Regulations should be omitted or re-cast accordingly.

4. It is understood from the remarks of the Senior Naval Officer appended to the Defence Scheme of September 1887 that there is a good channel, used by the local tug-boats, through the reef at North Rock, and that a vessel of light draught, once through the passage, could steer almost direct for Ireland Island. This point seems to deserve further investigation, as it raises the possibility of attack by "carried" torpedo-boats or launches on our war-ships lying in fancied security off the Dockyard. A couple of such boats might be dropped by a cruiser at dawn off the entrance to the passage, pick their way through the passage by daylight, and lie undiscovered in this remote corner of the inner sea till nightfall enabled them to make their attack.

May 7, 1894.

(Signed)

W. PEACOCKE, Secretary,

Colonial Defence Committee.

of 425

PRINTED AT THE FOREIGN OFFICE BY T. HArrison.—8/5/94.

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