One of the most essential features of a modern port Is, says i clear a: i channels by which it may be approached. Few ports are endowed by Nature with an illimitable stretch of navigable fairway, and, in the majority of cans, restric: ion and' precautions of no inconsiderable perplexity have to be observed. Such is the case more particularly with those porta which lio in estuarine situations or with. in the range of tidal influence. Fluctu tions of combined in many instances with divergencies and vagaries of currents, are a source of continual apprehension to the mariner, who has gene. rally to fall back upon special local Knowledge and assistance ig order to roach his dostinntion. Yet there are circumstances under which auch nasistancs may not be forthcoming, anil from_ this, there sir ability of erding trade centres the fullest possi measure of safe and convenient ae Uniformity of rogula-
Yot it iv fact that, until comparatively recently, the buoying of channels was regarded to a very groat extent as one of almost purely local interest, and it was loft in the hands of district authorities, with little, if any, attempt national' supervision. Each liberty to adopt a system of ests of the community at large, and regulations were compiled in various quarters, oftentimes as conflicting they were involved. Some little time ago there was held a conference, which was attended by representatives of Trinity House, the Admiralty, and other interested parties, and at which a series of regulations were recommended for ral adoption. This attempt at the andardisation of channel marl ith general appro interesting to compare English buoys q with those of French and German design, aa is done in detail in Engineering." In English practice special stress la laid upon the shape of the buoy structure: much more so than in the jstom, where colour is not one whit less essontidl than form. Thi due in no slight measure to the clearer atmospheric conditions which prevail slong the French seaboard. It is true that colours may be and a used as The H.-C. herald and S, C. & C.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.