§ SIR J. STIRLING-MAXWELLI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider the advisability of introducing legislation to define 1107 more accurately the rate of speed at which vessels may proceed in a fog.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. RITCHIE, Croydon)The present rule, which provides that " every vessel shall in a fog, mist, falling snow, or heavy rainstorms, go at a moderate speed, having careful regard to the existing circumstances and conditions," was adopted after very full discussion and consideration at the Washington Maritime Conference in 1889. It is now international; and, as I am not aware that any sufficient reasons have been adduced for altering it, I do not propose to take any steps in that direction.