Charles A. Murray to Ernest Inman, March 15, 1875

Sir: In accordance with your desire, conveyed to me in your note regarding fog-signals, I beg to state that I have carefully read the letter from the board of trade, and reply that, as far as my experience goes of the American system, I think it admirably suited to navigation during fogs and in narrow channels. The system, as far as I am aware, consists of three signals, namely, the port and starboard signals, as described iu the letter, and three short blasts, to signify that the vessel is coming toward you and likely to pass close to you; this I would submit as meeting the general requirements, and at the same time remain perfectly simple. The signal consisting of four blasts might, I think, in many cases be mistaken for three, while rendering the system more complicated than is absolutely requisite.

I remain, &c.,