Mr. Bayard to Mr. Olney.

No. 495.]

Sir: For transmission to your colleague, the Secretary of the Navy, I have the honor to inclose herewith two copies of a Blue Book “Report on the rule of the road at sea,” which was to-day issued from the office of publication.

It must be regretted that a postponement of this important subject has been resolved by the select committee of the House of Commons, by which decision an absence of all fixed understanding internationally is, unhappily, caused.

I have, etc.,

T. F. Bayard.
[Inclosure in No. 495.]

report.

The select committee appointed to consider the objections which have been raised to the adoption by order in council of rule 15 of the revised international regulations for preventing collisions at sea, dealing with sound signals in fog, as suggested by the Washington conference, and considered by the maritime powers (including any objections which may be taken to that rule, having regard to the sound signals prescribed by rule 28), have agreed to the following report:

The committee, in respect of the short time which remains for the consideration of their report during the present session, resolve to report the evidence to the House, and to express an opinion that a committee should be appointed, as soon as practicable, in the next session of Parliament for the purpose of considering the evidence and reporting to the House.