26 



BULLETIN OF THE 



of life or freight. It was as usual alleged that the fog-signal, a 

 steam siren, at Little Gull Light, was not in operation at the time 

 of the accident, and the Light-House Board, also, as usual, imme- 

 diately ordered an investigation. This was made by the Assistant 

 Inspector of the Light-House District, a naval officer, who reported 

 that after takiug the sworn evidence of the light-keepers at Little 

 Gull and the other light-stations within hearing distance, of other 

 Government officers who were, for the time being, so located that 

 they might have had knowledge of the facts, and of the officers of 

 vessels that were within ear shot, including those of the Galatea, 

 he reached the conclusion that the fog-signal was sounding at the 

 time of the accident ; and that, although the fog-signal was heard 

 at Mystic, fifteen miles distant in another direction, and although 

 it was heard on a steam tug a mile beyond the Galatea ; that it was 

 heard faintly, if at all, on that vessel ; and if heard at all, was so 

 heard as to be misleading, though the Galatea was but one-eighth 

 of a mile from the source of the sound. 



This report is in itself full of interest. It appears that this 

 officer spent several days steaming around Little Gull, while the 

 fog-signal was in full blast, in various kinds of weather, and that 

 he found the aberrations in audition here were as numerous and 

 even more eccentric than those before mentioned as experienced at 

 Beaver Tail. The results of his observations are given in Tables B 

 and C ; and in each case the condition of the atmosphere as to 

 humidity, pressure, temperature and motion are shown, as is also 

 the then tidal condition. 



Table B. 



Fog Signal Tests at Little Gull Island, Long Island Sound, "July n, 1881. 

 Time 10 A.M. Wind, N.N.E., force 2. Barometer, 2g.yj ; Thermom- 

 eter, 61. Weather at cotnmencement, dark, overcast with squalls of Scotch mist 

 from N.N.E. It began to clear at 11:30 A.M. 



