THE commerce of the world has increased, and is increasing so rapidly, and especially that of this great commercial nation, that the danger of collision between the innumerable ships that are passing and repassing each other, and crossing each the tracks of others in pursuit of their busy way, is becoming more and more imminent. More especially is this the case during the long hours of darkness in the wintry months; and the danger is still further increased from the great speed which is now attained by the fastest steamers and clipper sailing ships, which in many instances quite doubles that of the best of our merchant craft of former times.

The magnitude of this danger will be readily comprehended from the perusal of the following statement of the number of recorded cases of collision with damage off the coasts of this kingdom and in the neighbouring seas during the past few years,—-in addition to which numberless other cases have occurred, of which no record has been obtained:— 1. Total number of cases of collision with damage, and often with loss of life, off our own coasts, during the seven years previous to 1862 . . . . 2,111 2. Average annual number of cases during the above period . . 300 3. The number of cases during the year 1862 338 No other evidence can be necessary to point out the vast importance of the establishment of the best possible system of lights, or other signals of warning, by which the position and course of vessels at sea may be quickly and with certainty ascertained, and thus the chances of collision be proportionably diminished.

Accordingly, the subject has occupied the very serious attention of the Boards of Trade and Admiralty in England, and no doubt will continue to do so.

It will be known to many of our readers, that for several years past all steam vessels, when under way within the limits of British jurisdiction, have been required to carry, during the night, a green light on the starboard bow, a red light on the port bow, and a?white light at the foremast head; also to be guided by certain rules to avoid collisions during daylight. These requirements were subsequently extended to sailing vessels, and the system has been found to work admirably in every respect.

The enlightened Government of the Emperor of the French has also adopted the same rules, which example it is much to be hoped will be followed by every other maritime power, that there may be one universal " rule of the road," which, like the Latin language in the nomenclature of science, shall be intelligible to the great "brotherhood of seamen" of every nation and language who traverse the great ocean highway.

So highly important and interesting is this subject, that we feel we could not more profitably occupy our space than by reprinting in extenso, for the information of our readers, the recent amended " Regulations " issued by the Board of Trade, which have been published by that Board both in the English and French languages, and which came into force on the 1st of June last.

By the help of the coloured diagrams with which the " Regulations" are illustrated, this really simple and beautiful system of communication and warning from ship to ship during the hours of darkness will be intelligible to every one.

Lights.

Lights for steam ships.

Lights for steam tugs.

Lights for sailing ships.

Exceptional lights for small sailing vessels.

PRELIMINARY.

Art. 1. In the following Rules, every steam ship which is under sail and not under steam is to be considered a sailing ship; and every steam ship which is under steam,.whether under sail or not, is to be considered a ship under steam.

ROLES CONCERNING LIGHTS.

Art. 2. The lights mentioned in the following Articles, numbered 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, and no others, shall be carried in all weathers, from sunset to sunrise.

Art. 3. Seagoing steam ships when under -way shall carry: ( z.) At the foremast head, a bright white light, so fixed as to show an uniform and unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of twenty,points of the compass; so fixed as to throw the light ten points on each side of the ship, viz., from right ahead to two points abaft the beam on either side; and of such a character as to be visible on a dark night, with a clear atmosphere, at a distance of at least five miles: (&.) On the starboard side, a green light, so constructed as to show an uniform and unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of ten points of the compass; so fixed as to throw the light from right ahead to two points abaft the beam on the starboard side; and of such a character as to be visible on a dark night, with a clear atmosphere, at a distance of at least two miles: (c.) On the port side, a red light, so constructed as to show an uniform and unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of ten points of the compass; so fixed as to throw the light from right ahead to two points abaft the beam on the port side; and of such a character as to be visible on a dark night, with a clear atmosphere, at a distance of at least two miles: (d.) The said green and red side-lights shall be fitted with in-board screens, projecting at least three feet forward from the light, so as to prevent these lights from being seen across the bow.

Art. 4. Steam ships, when towing other ships, shall carry two bright white mast-head lights vertically, in addition to their side lights, so as to distinguish them from other steam ships. Each of these mast-head lights shall be of the same construction and character as the mast-head lights which other steam-ships are required to carry.

Art. 5. Sailing ships under weigh, or being towed, shall carry the same lights as steam ships under weigh, with the exception of the white mast-head lights, which they shall never carry.

Art. 6. Whenever, as in the case of small vessels during bad weather, the green and red lights cannot be fixed, these lights shall be kept on deck, on their respective sides of the vessel, ready for instant exhibition; and shall, on the approach of or to other vessels, be exhibited on their i-espective sides in Two ships under steam' crossing.

Sailing ship and ship under steam.

Ships under steam to Blacken speed.

Vessels overtaking other vessels.

Art. 14. If two ships under steam are crossing so as to involve risk of collision, the ship which has the other on her own starboard side shall keep out of the way of the other.

Art. 15. If two ships, one of which is a sailing ship and the other a steam ship, are proceeding in such directions as to involve risk of collision, the steam ship shall keep out of the way of the sailing ship.

Art. 16. Every steam ship, when approaching another ship so as to involve risk of collision, shall slacken her speed, or, if necessary, stop and reverse ; and every steam ship shall, when in a fog, go at a moderate speed.

Art. 17. Every vessel overtaking any other vessel shall keep out of the way of the said last-mentioned vessel.

7 the above rules one of two ships is to keep out of the is, and n. way, the other shall keep her course, subject to the qualifications contained in the following Article : — Proviso to save Art. 19. In obeying and construing these Rules, due regard must be had special cases. 1J - & to all dangers of navigation ; and due regard must also be had to any special circumstances which may exist in any particular case rendering a departure from the above Rules necessary in order to avoid immediate danger.

Hy circum"to •Art* 20 No*ing in these rules shall exonerate any ship, or the owner, stances, to or master, or crew thereof, from the consequences of any neglect to carry precautions, lights or signals, or of any neglect to keep a proper look-out, or of the neglect of any precaution which may be required by the ordinary practice of seamen, or by the special circumstances of the case.