Report of the Committee on Colour- Vision. 353 



Question— Is not that something- like Kiihne's theory ? — No ; he 

 took a different view, the objection to which was that there are 

 no rods in the yellow spot ; but according- to the theory I have 

 advanced it would be essential that there should be no rods 

 at the yellow spot. 



Evidence of Capt. Angove. 



The Chairman. You are, I believe, the Captain Superintendent 

 of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company ? — 

 Yes, the Marine Superintendent. 



You are probably aware that this Committee is investigating 

 the question of colour-blindness, and the precautions taken by 

 steam-shipping companies and railway companies against accident 

 from this cause ; we are therefore anxious to hear what is the 

 practice of your company with regard to examining officers ? — 

 One of the Managing Directors and myself first examine applicants 

 with regard to objects at different distances from the windows, 

 then the Company's Medical Adviser examines them with coloured 

 wools and for distance sight. They have to arrange and name 

 the different colours. The vision for distance is tested by placing 

 the candidate at the regulation distance from ophthalmic large 

 test types, and the near vision by corresponding small type. It 

 is required that both eyes should be equal to the average of 

 good sight. We find, I am sorry to say, a great number who 

 are not up to the standard, and often have to reject candidates in 

 consequence. 



Question — That is the procedure for candidates for the posts 

 of officers? — Yes, but there is also a Board of Trade examination 

 before coming- to us which they have to pass in getting their 

 certificates for various grades of officers. 



Question — Do you take pupils in your Company ? — No, not now ; 

 in former years we had two training ships, but they have been 

 discontinued, so that every officer must now hold the Board of 

 Trade certificate, which includes colour-vision. We often find 

 candidates deficient, and reject a great number for defective 

 sight. 



Question — Then that points to the Board of Trade examination 

 being unsatisfactory ? — Yes, I do not think their examination is 

 sufficiently rigid. 



Question — Would you in your examinations reject candidates 

 both for colour- vision and form ? — Yes ; and we give equal 

 attention to weakness of sight with regard to seeing at long 

 distances. 



Question — Do you give rejected candidates a second oppor- 

 tunity ? — No, but some go to an oculist's on their own account, 

 and we get a special report from him. The weakness may be only 

 of a temporary nature. I attribute a great number of cases 

 to over-smoking with young men. We have traced several 



