The rate of tides and currents is given in knots and fractions of knots. The rise of the tide is given in feet.
The qualities of the lights displayed on lighthouses and light-ships are shown as follows on the chart:—Lt. F., light fixed; Lt. Fl., light flashing; Lt. Rev., light revolving. The intervals between flashes; the durations of revolutions; the colour of lights; the radius at which a light is visible in ordinary weather from a ship's deck; the different bearings between which a light becomes visible, or is obscured, or shows a different colour, etc., are also indicated on the chart.
The following abbreviations, among others, are employed to show the distinguishing marks and colours of buoys and beacons, etc.:—B., black; R., red; W., white; H. S., horizontally striped; V. S., vertically striped; Cheq., chequered; B. R., black and red.
SOUNDING
A Lead and Line for sounding are indispensable on every yacht. For a small cruiser the deep-sea-lead, weighing 28 pounds, is of course unnecessary; the hand lead of 14 pounds, is sufficient; and even a lighter lead, say of five pounds, will as a rule be found the most convenient for coasting purposes.
The line generally used with the hand lead is
