1865.] and on the Meteorological Department. 529 



diately below the Standard Compass not to be of iron, but to be filled up 

 with wood for a space which may be called the compass platform. This 

 space should not be of less width than a hatchway (4 to 6 feet), and of as 

 great length fore and aft as convenient, but the length not to be less than 

 the width. No transverse iron deckbeams to be under the platform, but if 

 necessary fore-and-aft iron stringers, on which the transverse beams out- 

 side the wooden surface may abut. 



" 9. It would be a desirable arrangement, as far as could be carried out, 

 that no masses of iron, such as boilers, tanks, bulkheads, should be placed 

 immediately below the compass, or within 55 of the vertical line through 

 the centre (the angle being drawn from the compass as centre to the centre 

 of the mass). 



" 10. Where the Standard Compass is placed on a bridge, the foregoing 

 requirements should be, as far as possible, complied with, the bridge should 

 be of wood, and should not have iron stanchions, or rails (especially if 

 covered with brass) within 10 feet." 



The following Rules are applicable to Steering-Compasses. 



" 1. Not to be within half the width of the ship from the stern-post, 

 rudder-head, or screw-well. 



" 2. The spindle of the steering-wheel and the forward support in which 

 it works, not to be of iron. 



" 3. Iron tillers working forward from the rudder-head not to range 

 within six to seven feet of the steering-compass. 



" 4. Not to be near the upper (or lower) end of elongated masses of 

 iron, especially if vertical, such as steam- and stove -funnels, capstan- 

 spindles, &c., and to be as far as possible from any transverse iron bulk- 

 head." 



Special Points for the consideration of the Naval Architect. 



" 1. When arrangements are made for the compasses to be placed in the 

 after part of the ship, building the vessel head north would ensure exagge- 

 rated errors both when upright and heeling. 



" With building-slips in a meridional direction, and with the above 

 arrangements, it would be desirable to build the ship head to the south. 



" 2. Every iron ship after launching, and during the process of first 

 equipment, should as much as possible be kept in a position opposite to 

 that she occupied on the building-slip." 



APPENDIX III. 

 Notes relating to the efficient points of a Compass. 



" 1. The essential qualities of a good compass may be considered to em- 

 brace great sensibility and steadiness, with simplicity of construction. By 



