98 THE EVOLUTION OF THE LIGHTSHIP. 



itself is safely riding. He cannot run ashore when standing in to pick up the light, 

 nor does his safety depend upon calculating his distance from the signal. The 

 light showing the true way is more useful than the one merely marking a danger 

 to be avoided. 



The lightship may be a place of refuge for a crew in distress. Small boats 

 from a ship which has met disaster nearby may reach the lightship, when they 

 could by no means live through the surf and reach the shore. In 1892 the French 

 authorities recommended the replacement of certain lightships with gas buoys; 

 certain of these changes were accepted by the sea-faring public without criticism, 

 but against others the strongest protests were received. In the case of the Plateau 

 des Minquiers the committee appointed to take evidence on the protests learned 

 the cause. It was not the inferiority of the gas buoy's light but discontinuance of 

 the shelter afforded by the lightship in certain stresses of weather and tides. 



One of the necessary aids to navigation is the fog signal. The sound of a 

 bell, whistle, or siren coming from a lightship well out from shore necessarily 

 reaches vessels farther out at sea than those proceeding from the land. There are 

 no sound shadows to lessen the effect of the lightship fog signal nor is any part of 

 the sound wasted by being thrown inland. The lightship signal, however, is heard 

 from the land, and guides the ship putting out from harbor, as well as that seek- 

 ing its way in. 



The transmission of submarine bell signals is highly satisfactory from a light- 

 ship. Their range and accuracy of direction give to this form of signalling addi- 

 tional importance every year. Not only do these signals travel faster and farther 

 than in air, but at the depth where the bell is hung their successful transmission is 

 not prevented by the heaviest gale. Practically every ship of importance is now 

 equipped with receiving instruments and enabled to pick up these signals from light- 

 ships when all others fail. 



The lightship with the latest radio equipment is invaluable as a relay station. 

 Its position, at the centers of the lanes of sea travel, enables it to pick up and pass 

 on messages which otherwise would fail to reach their destination. This equip- 

 ment also enables them to flash to life-saving stations notice of vessels in distress. 

 During the winter of 191 2 the most severe storm of years swept along our At- 

 lantic coast. Many wireless shore stations were destroyed. The shipping on the 

 coast sought sheltered harbors, but Lightvessel No. 94 on the Frying Pan Shoal 

 hung on at her moorings, showed her signal lights, and transmitted all messages 

 with absolute regularity. The radio fog signal is now in course of development. 



In many cases the lightship serves as a pilot station. An example is the La 

 Plata indicating the passes south of the river of that name. "Pilots are always to 

 be found on board." 



The lightship has universal application. It can become mobile or fixed at any 

 time as occasion requires ; the moorings now in use make it practically permanent 

 in its given place, while allowing it to be removed without trouble to another 

 anchorage when this becomes desirable. It is available at any time to meet any 



