RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR FREEBOARD. 145 
clear as it might have been. Straight sheer means an increase in moulded depth amid- 
ships to get the same draught. I have not seen the figures for this particular vessel, 
but judge the midship depth is at least 12 inches more on this account. This helps the 
section modulus, and, with the amidship pump room, will take care of the somewhat 
marked concentration of the cargo amidships This is a freeboard point and needs no 
apology for being referred to in this discussion. 
Gentlemen, I want to take this opportunity to thank you for the honor you have 
recently conferred on me by electing me to the Council and to assure you that I will 
serve you to the best of my ability. 
Mr. ALBERT SAUNDERS, Member:—There is one point which I would like to have 
Mr. Arnott cover. We all know that the danger point in ships is not always the deep 
loading. To what extent has consideration been given to the light load line? 
Mr. Hueco P. Frear, Member of Council:—I have just entered the room and labor 
under the disadvantage of not having read the whole of this interesting paper or heard the 
previous discussion. The paper is principally historical, and Mr. Arnott very appro- 
priately includes in Appendix I the Act “‘to establish load lines for certain vessels iden- 
tified as H. R. 3621.” This act, primarily to establish load lines for ocean foreign-going 
cargo vessels of 500 gross tons or over, readily passed the House and is now before the 
Senate Committee. Serious opposition, however, developed which prevented the passage 
of the act by the Senate at the last session. This opposition came principally from the 
owners of schooners, the smaller types of coasting vessels and even the owners of tugboats 
and vessels navigating inland waters only, which latter type in all probability would be 
exempt, as it was feared some of these vessels might be adversely affected. 
As Mr. Arnott states, subcommittees have been formed to investigate special types 
of vessels in the coasting trades covering the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, Pacific coast and 
Great Lakes districts. The latest British load-line committee was appointed by the 
Board of Trade to advise it as to the attitude which should be adopted by the British 
representative at the proposed international conference on load line. After a thorough 
investigation by this committee of all casualties over a period of years it reported that 
in no case could any of these losses be attributed to insufficient freeboard. Our own 
subcommittees following the same procedure in the case of coasting vessels have investi- 
gated all casualties for a period of years and also report that no case has been found where 
the loss can be assigned to lack of freeboard. 
Investigations are now being made to determine what effect the so-called ‘‘ Blue Book’”’ 
load line would have on typical coasting vessels. As far as the work has proceeded 
the indications are that few, if any, of these coasting steamers would be adversely affected 
and that the majority would perhaps be allowed a greater draught than they are now 
operated at, on account of their high side and the limited depth of water in some of the 
harbors. Further investigation, however, may be necessary to determine if there are 
exceptions to this preliminary conclusion. It is believed that when the coastwise owners 
become better acquainted with actual facts and conditions relating to the questions as 
affecting their vessels, all opposition will be withdrawn. 
The advantages of a uniform load line for ocean-going cargo steamers is better under- 
stood and appreciated by owners and operators. Practically all maritime countries 
except the United States have either adopted the British Board of Trade Freeboard 
