338 Report of the Committee on Colour- Vision. 



for him to pass such a test once ; he should be re-tested every 

 ten years at least. Not many men come to me wearing glasse?. 

 They consider it rather infra dig., and glasses would interfere 

 with the discharge of their duty, being- affected by rain, &c. 



Question — What is your opinion on the practical importance of 

 the question of colour-sight in the Navy and Mercantile Marine, 

 and as to any facts which have come under your notice, that tend 

 to show it is an occasional cause of disaster ? — I have no statistics 

 or cases on record, but it seems to go without saying that, if a 

 man cannot describe colours, it may lead to disaster, and there 

 may have been many disasters that could be traced altogether 

 to it, although we cannot prove it. The importance of the 

 question cannot be over-estimated. I know of no instances of 

 collision or shipwreck where the colour-vision of the persons 

 psssibly in fault has been tested in legal or other enquiries, but I 

 know an instance of a man who was chief officer of a steamship 

 and had been in the Company many years, and was promoted 

 to the command of a large vessel, and then asked to g*et his 

 certificate for colours. He tried at London and Liverpool and 

 failed at both, and then realized the fact that he was hopelessly 

 colour-blind. If the Company had not asked as to his colour- 

 vision he would probably be at sea at the present time. That 

 man had passed the Board of Trade examination in navigation 

 and seamanship, but not for colour- vision. Another man I know 

 of, who has failed in colours six or seven times, I have seen in 

 command of a vessel with the Board of Trade highest certificate 

 as an extra master, but he is unable to distinguish colours. He 

 passed his examination for navigation, but his certificate is en- 

 dorsed " colour-blind." The Board of Trade cannot forbid the 

 employment of such a man. It is very unsatisfactory that a man 

 who has failed to pass the colour test should command a vessel, 

 and I should recommend legislation to alter this, as that is the 

 only way it can be stopped. I think that beyond being able to 

 distinguish red and green lights when they are together, a man 

 should know the green, even if he could not see the red light, 

 and many of these colour-blind people would be able to dis- 

 tinguish between red and green if they saw both together, 

 especially if crammed up beforehand. The diminution of the 

 inability to recognise green becomes of great importance. There 

 are only two roads to go, and you must be either right or wrong. 

 I sometimes find candidates call our green light white. 



Question — Supposing they could distinguish on board ship a 

 green light, by its appearing to them white, and the other red, 

 would that be sufficient? — No, because they might mistake a 

 steamer for a fishing boat. It is essential to be able to distinguish 

 green as accurately as possible, and at as great a distance as 

 possible, and if this power is diminished to a certain extent, 

 danger may be apprehended. 



Question — There is often no time for deliberation in forming a 

 judgment ? — No. Often the light cannot be seen until the vessel is 



