CHAP. I.] MARKS 49 



station, when there is not sun to use the heHostat, and it is 

 not requisite to have a very large mark left for future use. 



A whaler forms a good mark boat, mth her mast stepped Mark 

 and a bamboo lashed to it fitted with tail-block and halhards 

 to hoist a black flag 16 feet square, which can be lowered if the 

 weather renders it necessary. 



A 40-pound anchor and 100-pound sinker lashed round the 

 stock, with J inch chain moorings, will hold satisfactorily. 

 A roller fitted to project over the stem is necessary for 

 weighing. 



On a very flat low shore, where boat sounding has to be Flags, 

 carried out a long distance, flagstaffs with large flags must be 

 set up. Care should be taken in some parts of the world 

 that these flags are not national ones, or anything that can 

 be mistaken for such, as difficulties have frequently occurred 

 through such being hoisted. As the large old flags obtained 

 from dockyards are always of this type, they should be cut up, 

 and resewn with such an arrangement of colours as shall 

 denote nothing. Black flags Avill be generally seen farthest, 

 but the colours of red and white intermingled also show well ; 

 the nature of the background has to be considered. 



A flagstaff 80 feet high may be erected without much diffi- 

 culty by using a stout barling spar as a lower mast, with its 

 heel well sunk in the ground, and secured by long guys. Another 

 barling is then swayed up and lashed as a topmast, to which 

 is added a bamboo with tail-block and halliards attached. 



A bamboo may also be lashed to the topmost branches of a 

 tree, and a flag hoisted on it, showing well above the foliage. 



On coasts lined with bush, hke mangrove swamps, for instance. Canvas, 

 square pieces of canvas, whitewashed and laced to the boughs, 

 will be found to show very well. 



In lacing them on, care must be taken to place them so that 

 they will show as far round on both sides as possible, and always 

 to have the lower part more to the front than the upper, as they 

 will thereby catch more sun. 



Whenever canvas is used, it is well to cut holes in it, sewing 

 them round sufficiently to prevent tearing in the wind. This 

 will make the canvas valueless for fishermen or natives of any 

 kind, to whom, in all parts of the world, a good piece of stuff 

 is a prize. 



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