3086 THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. [No. 74

Signals upon the instructions and illustrations given at the commencement of Parts I and II of the Signal-book. The information there given will be found sufficient to indicate all the characteristics of the code.

By the form of the hoist, an observer can at sight understand the nature of any signal he sees flying; the examination should, therefore, tend to elicit a clear knowledge of all the distinctive features of the code.

With this object in view, the Examiners should question the candidates as to the distinguishing forms of the respective hoists, which will be indicated according to as a burgee, a pennant, or a square flag is uppermost, and also with regard to the number of flags, and the position of the code flag when used in the hoist; making the 1, 2, 3, and 4 flag signals with the flags supplied for the purpose, and varying the signals made, showing 2 and 3 flag signals, with and without the code flag included, or a geographical or a vocabulary signal, the name of a merchant ship or of a ship of war.

As the two latter signals would not be found in the Signal-book, the candidate should know where to find them and how to look them out.

The candidate should—(a) Be able to read a signal at sight, so far as to name the flags composing the hoist; (b) know the use of the code pennant and of the pennants C and D, “Yes” and “No,” also of the two burgees A and B, and the square flags S and P, and the flags used to indicate cholera, plague, &c., on board, and the quarantine flag; (c) be required to signal some word or words not included in the vocabulary of the code, either by letters or by the spelling table (page 516) or both; (d) have a knowledge of the distant signals, and of their object, and the different modes of signalling therewith; (e) know the special Morse signals indicated by certain letters as given on page 550; (f) have a good knowledge of the distress signals and understand the penalty which may be incurred by their improper use.

The International Code is used on board His Majesty’s ships, and it has been adopted by all the principal maritime Powers for their public as well as merchant ships.

British Signal Manual.—Candidates will be expected to know the meaning of any or all of the single flag signals given therein, and the signification of the Pilot Jack when incorporated in a hoist. They should also be required to make or read from the Pilot Jack table a hoist given by the Examiner. Candidates need not be expected to commit the Pilot Jack table to memory, but there should be no hesitation whatever in making or reading a signal. They should also know how to recognise any of the special signals given at the end of the British Signal Manual.

For the ordinary examination candidates should be required to read Morse letters made slowly and with a reasonable interval, say, 3 to 5 seconds, between each letter by both flashing lamp and flag-waving, and also be able to read letters made either by hand flags or mechanical semaphore with the same interval allowed between the letters. They must also be able to make any given letters by any of these methods. A short sentence may be used for both making and reading.

For the extra master’s certificate and the voluntary examination in signalling the standard of efficiency required is as follows:—

Candidates must be capable of sending and reading signals made by (1) semaphore, at a rate of ten words per minute: (2) Morse, flashing and flag-waving, at a rate of six words per minute (the average length of a word to be calculated at five letters).

The semaphore test will be a spelling message of fifty words.

The Morse, flashing and flag-waving, test will be a test message (see British Signal Manual), followed by a spelling message of twenty-five or thirty words.

The candidate must attain a degree of accuracy of at least 90 per cent. both in making and reading in each method—i.e., flashing, flag-waving, and semaphore.

In the examination in Morse flashing and flag-waving the candidate should be first required to make a test message, followed by a spelling message of twenty-five or thirty words. The Examiner should then make a test message followed by a spelling message of twenty-five or thirty words to be read by the candidate.

The same procedure must be observed in the semaphore examination, except that, as a test message is not given, the candidate will be required to make a spelling message of fifty words and then to read a message of fifty words made by the Examiner. The semaphore messages may be made either by hand flags or mechanical semaphore, or both, at the discretion of the Examiner.

In the Morse flashing and flag-waving examination, marks will be allotted for the test message in the proportion of 50/78 of a mark for each correct letter (see table at back of test-cards), and for the spelling message 2 marks for each correct word or group of figures. The candidate must for a pass gain an aggregate of at least 90 per cent. of the maximum marks in both spelling and test messages.

In the semaphore examination 2 marks will be allotted for each correct word and 90 per cent. of the maximum must be obtained for a pass.

The spelling message is left to the discretion of the Examiner, and may be a passage from any book or newspaper in English. When the passage contains figures, and the candidate does not choose to spell them out, the Examiner should see that the proper signs are made before and after the figures.

The message as read by the candidate should be taken down by another candidate, clerk, or other person according as the Examiner may deem expedient.

Candidates should be thoroughly tested in the various signs and the procedure of calling up, sending and answering a signal, as laid down in the British Signal Manual, and this course should always be strictly adhered to.

Particular attention should be paid by Examiners to the accurate spacing of the Morse signs, and to the intervals between letters and words, both in flashing and flag-waving, and also to the correct making of the semaphore signs. Any attempted increase of speed at the expense of accuracy should be discouraged.

The block-letter test and spelling message as read by the candidate should be forwarded on the Form Exn. 19a, together with the percentage of marks allotted and report on the Form Exn. 19b, to the Principal Examiner, with any remarks the Examiner may have to add with respect to the examination.

Note.—The International Code of Signals, with the signal letters of British ships, is prepared by the Registrar-General of Shipping and Seamen, and may be obtained of the publishers, Messrs. Spottiswoode and Co., 54 Gracechurch Street, London, and the principal booksellers at the various ports: price, 4s. 6d.

The Official Mercantile Navy List and Maritime Directory may be obtained in like manner, price 12s.

The British Signal Manual, which in the next edition will be entitled “The British Signal Manual, authorised for use between His Majesty’s Ships and British Merchant Vessels. British Merchant Vessels and one Another, and certain Signal Stations,” may be obtained, either directly or through any bookseller, from Messrs. Wyman and Sons, Fetter Lane, London, E.C.; price, 1s.