WADE, Second Officer Steamship Celtic to Mes, March 23, 1875

Gentlemen: In compliance with the wish expressed in your letter of the 23d instant, I beg to give the following as my opinion of the code of fog-signals proposed by the board of trade.

With regard to the compulsory part, I think steamers and sailing-vessels ought to blow a blast every one minute instead of every three minutes, as at present; also, that sailing-vessels be supplied with efficient fog-horns, as we are frequently dangerously close to them before we hear their horns.

In reference to the non-compulsory signals, one, two, and four are good, but the three short blasts (“take care”) are likely to confuse the officer in charge, as in all cases a prudent officer, when he heard another vessel’s fog-horn, would ease his ship, and as her head would still be in the same direction, I think it would be better for three blasts to denote “I am keeping my course.”

In any case, if the signals are to be used, (and I think they would tend to lessen the risk of collision,) they ought to be compulsory.

I am, &c.,