ENGLAND.

SOUTH - EAST COAST. — DOVER STRAIT. — LIGHT - VESSELS ESTABLISHED.—TRAFFIC REGULATIONS.

Former Notice.—No. 4 of 1916; hereby cancelled.

Two light-vessels have been moored in the English Channel off Folkestone, as follows :—

(1.) Position.—At a distance of about 2 miles, south-eastward, from Folkestone Pier head. Lat. 51° 3’ 5” N., long. 1° 13’ 45” E.

Characteristics.—(a.) Light: Character—A flashing green light every thirty seconds. (b.) Fog-signal: Description—A siren giving four blasts in quick succession, of two seconds’ duration each, every minute. (c.) Vessel: Description—Has one mast with two globes as daymark, hull painted green.

(2.) Position.—At a distance of 5 cables, 145° (S. 21° E. mag.) from (1).

Characteristics.—(a.) Light: Character—A flashing white light every ten seconds. (b.) Fog-signal: Description—A horn worked by hand giving two blasts in quick succession every two minutes. (c.) Vessel: Description—Has one mast with one globe as daymark, hull painted red.

Shipping is hereby warned that all traffic in that part of the Straits of Dover which lies between the Varne Shoal and Folkestone must pass between the above-mentioned light-vessels, and that Article 25 of the Collision Regulations must be complied with—that is to say, eastbound traffic must keep to the southern side of the passage, and westbound traffic must keep to the northern side.

Ships disregarding this warning will do so at their own peril.

CAUTION.—Mariners are warned to exercise great caution when approaching the ship’s passage between the light-vessels, as the tidal streams may, at times, set obliquely across the passage. Both light-vessels should be given as wide a berth as the width of the passage and compliance with Article 25 of the Collision Regulations permit.

Variation.—14° W.

Note.—This notice is a repetition of Notice No. 4 of 1916, with additional cautionary note.

SOUTH-EAST COAST.—DOVER CHANNEL.—FOLKESTONE, WRECK SOUTH-WESTWARD OF, DESTROYED.—WRECK-MARKING VESSEL WITHDRAWN.

Former Notice.—No. 1013 of 1915 ; hereby cancelled.

(a.) Wreck destroyed.

Position.—At a distance of about 44 miles, south-westward, from the outer end of Folkestone Pier. Lat. 51° 1’ 5” N., long. 1° 8’ E.

Description.—Wreck of the s.s. “ Newcastle.”

Remarks.—There is now a least depth of 13 fathoms over the remains of the above wreck; this depth is to be placed on the charts and marked “ Foul ground (1915).”

(b.) Wreck-marking Vessel withdrawn.

Position.—At a distance of one cable southward from the above wreck.

SOUTH-EAST COAST.—DOVER STRAIT AND APPROACHES.—THE RIDGE (LE COLBART) LIGHT-VESSEL.—INTENDED ALTERATION IN POSITION.

Former Notice.—No. 696 of 1915.

Date of Alteration.—On, or as soon as possible after, the 15th January, 1916.

New position.—At a distance of 14 miles, northward, from present position. Lat. 50° 49’ 15” N., long. 1° 15’ 30” E.

Description.—A light-vessel exhibiting a flashing white light.

Note.—No further notice will be given.

SOUTH - EAST COAST. — ELBOW LIGHT - BUOY. — AMENDED ALTERATION IN POSITION.

Date of alteration.—On, or as soon as possible after, the 15th January, 1916.

New position.—At a distance of 2 miles, north-eastward, from present position, and not 3 miles as stated in the former notice quoted above. Lat. 51° 23’ 55” N., long. 1° 33’ 54” E.

Description.—A light-buoy, painted in black and white vertical stripes exhibiting an occulting white light.

Remarks.—A black conical buoy with ball top-mark will be established in the present position of the Elbow light-buoy, in lat. 51° 22’ 13” N., long. 1° 32’ 12” E. The positions given are those on Chart No. 1828.

Note.—No further notice will be given.

Charts affected.—No. 1828, The Downs; No. 1607, North Foreland to the Nore; No. 1610, North Foreland to Orfordness; No. 1895, Dungeness to the Thames; No. 1431, Approaches to Dover Strait, Fecamp to North Foreland; No. 1406, Dover and Calais to Orfordness and Scheveningen; No. 2675c, English Channel, eastern sheet; No. 1598, English Channel; No. 2182a, The North Sea, southern sheet.

Publication.—Channel Pilot, Part I, 1908, page 297.

UNITED KINGDOM.

CAUTION WITH REGARD TO EXTINCTION OF LIGHTS AND DISCONTINUANCE OR REMOVAL OF AIDS TO NAVIGATION.

Former Notice.—No. 1627 of 1914.

Caution.—Mariners are hereby warned that it may be necessary to extinguish certain lights and to discontinue or remove any aids to navigation on the coasts of the United Kingdom without further notice.

Note.—This notice is a republication of Notice No. 1627 of 1914.

MAINTENANCE OF BRITISH SHIPPING.

The following notice has been issued by the Right Hon. Walter Runciman, President of the Board of Trade, and Lord Derby, Director-General of Recruiting :—

At the present time the efficient maintenance of our Mercantile Marine is of vital national interest, and captains, officers, engineers, and their crews will be doing as good service for their country by continuing to man British ships as by joining the Army.—17th Nov., 1915.

WALES.

SOUTH COAST. — BRISTOL CHANNEL, RIVER USK. — WEST USK LIGHT AND BELL BUOY.—CORRECTION TO CHART No. 2682.

Correction.—The position of West Usk light and bell buoy is incorrectly shown on some copies of chart No. 2682; the correct position is at a distance of 9 cables, 201° (S. 38° W. mag.), from East Usk Lighthouse, as given in the former notice quoted above, and the chart is to be corrected accordingly. East Usk Lighthouse, lat. 51° 32½’ N., long. 2° 58’ W. Variation.—17° W.

WASHINGTON.

STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA.—NEAH BAY.—COLOUR OF LIGHTS TO BE CHANGED.

About 1st March, 1916, the following changes will be made in the colour of the lights in Neah Bay :—

Neah Bay Gas and Whistle Buoy 2.—Light will be changed from red to white, of 390 candle-power, without other change.

Neah Bay Light.—Colour will be changed from white to red, of 70 candle-power, without other change.

Approx. position : Lat. 48° 22’ 25” N., long. 124° 35’ 21” W.

CANADA.

NOVA SCOTIA.—BAY OF FUNDY.—DIGBY GUT.— FOG-SIGNAL ESTABLISHED.

Position.—On eastern side of entrance to Digby Gut. Lat. 44° 41’ 18” N., long. 65° 45’ 35” W., on Chart No. 2561.

Description.—A bell, rung by machinery, giving one stroke every ten seconds.

Remarks.—The bell stands upon a balcony on the keeper’s dwelling, which is a white rectangular wooden building.

Charts affected.—No. 2561, Gulliver Hole to St. Croix Bay; No. 352, Bay of Fundy, sheet I; No. 353, Bay of Fundy, sheet II; No. 1651, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, &c.; No. 2670, Halifax to the Delaware.

URUGUAY.

RIO DE LA PLATA.—ARCHIMEDES BANK.—LIGHT-BUOY ESTABLISHED.

Position.—Northward of Archimedes Bank. Lat. 35° 8’ 32” S., long. 56° 5’ 45” W.

Description.—A black conical light-buoy exhibiting a flashing white light.

Charts affected.—No. 1749, Monte Video to Buenos Aires; No. 2544, Rio de la Plata; No. 1324, Rio de la Plata to Cape Dos Bahias; No. 2522, Santa Catharina Island to Rio de la Plata.

Publication.—South America Pilot, Part I, 1911, page 378.

ARGENTINA.

RIO DE LA PLATA.—PUERTO LA PLATA.—INTENDED MINING PRACTICE GROUND.

Date of establishment.—Very shortly.

Position.—Centre of mining ground, at a distance of 4 miles, 110° (S. 74° E. mag.), from the entrance between the northern end of the two piers. Lat. 34° 49¼’ S., long. 57° 46¾’ W.

Details.—The area, which will be in the form of a square with sides about 2¾ cables in length, will be marked, at each of its two northern corners by a light-buoy exhibiting a green light, and at each of its two southern corners by a red spherical buoy.

Remarks.—The following note is to be placed in the above vicinity on the charts : “ Mining ground marked by buoys with green lights, and red spherical buoys.”