To provide transportation on Canadian vessels between Skagway, Alaska, and other points in Alaska, between Haines, Alaska, and other points in Alaska, and between Hyder, Alaska, and other points in Alaska or the continental United States, either directly or via a foreign port, or for any part of the transportation.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That, until June 30, 1952, notwithstanding the provisions of law of the United States restricting to vessels of the United States the transportation of passengers and merchandise directly or indirectly from any port in the United States to another port of the United States, passengers may be transported on Canadian vessels between Skagway, Alaska, and other points in Alaska, between Haines, Alaska, and other points in Alaska, and between Hyder, Alaska, and other points in Alaska or the continental United States, either directly or via a foreign port, or for any part of the transportation: Provided, That such Canadian vessels may transport merchandise between Hyder, Alaska, and other ports and points herein enumerated.

Approved June 27, 1951.

(622)

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That, notwithstanding the provisions of section 4 of Public Law 3, Eighty-second Congress, approved March 10, 1951, the transfer of two destroyer escorts to France, two destroyer escorts to Denmark, three destroyer escorts to Peru, and two destroyer escorts to Uruguay is authorized under the provisions and limitations contained in the Mutual Defense Assistance Act of 1949, as amended.

SEC. 2. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 4 of Public Law 3, Eighty-second Congress, approved March 10, 1951, the transfer of eight destroyer escorts to Brazil, one destroyer escort to Great Britain, and six destroyer escorts to France is authorized under the provisions and limitations contained in the Mutual Defense Assistance Act of 1949, as amended: Provided, That the destroyer escorts, the transfer of which is authorized by this section, are on the date of approval of this Act in the possession of the Governments named in this section under agreements made pursuant to an Act to promote the defense of the United States, approved March 11, 1941, as amended. Approved September 15, 1951.

To extend the time for use of construction reserve funds established under section 511 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, as amended.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That section 5 of an Act approved August 8, 1947 (Public Law 384, Eightieth Congress), relating to merchant-marine construction reserve funds established under section 511 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, as amended, is hereby amended by striking out "March 31, 1951" and inserting in lieu thereof "March 31, 1952".

Approved October 1, 1951.

Chapter 459 1st Session

H. R. 3436

AN ACT

Authorizing vessels of Canadian registry to transport grain between United
States ports on the Great Lakes during 1951.

All 65 Stat. 371.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That, by reason of Canadian vesemergency conditions in transportation on the Great Lakes, notwith- sels.

standing the provisions of section 27 of the Act of June 5, 1920 (41 Grain transStat. 999), as amended by Act of April 11, 1935 (49 Stat. 154), and by portation. Act of July 2, 1935 (49 Stat. 442), or the provisions of any other Act, 46 U.S.C. or regulation, vessels of Canadian registry, when and to the extent § 883. certified by the Defense Transport Administration as to the need therefor, shall be permitted to transport grain between United States ports on the Great Lakes until December 31, 1951, or until such earlier time as the Congress by concurrent resolution or the President by proclamation may designate.

Approved October 10, 1951.

(624)

To authorize the President to proclaim regulations for preventing collisions

at sea.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President Regulations for is authorized to proclaim the regulations set forth in section 6 of this preventing colAct for preventing collisions involving water-borne craft upon the lisions at sea. high seas, and in all waters connected therewith. Such proclamation, Publication. together with the regulations, shall be published in the Federal 65 Stat. 406. Register, and, after the effective date specified in such proclamation, 65 Stat. 407. such regulations shall have effect as if enacted by statute and shall be followed by all public and private vessels of the United States, and by all aircraft of United States registry to the extent therein made

applicable. Such regulations shall not apply to the harbors, rivers, Nonapplicability. and inland waters of the United States; to the Great Lakes of North America and their connecting and tributary waters as far east as the lower exit of the Lachine Canal in Montreal in the Province of Quebec, Canada; to the Red River of the North and the rivers emptying into the Gulf of Mexico and their tributaries; nor, with respect to aircraft, to any territorial waters of the United States.

SEC. 2. Any requirements of such regulations in respect of the num- Lights disber, position, range of visibility, or arc of visibility of the lights played by vesrequired to be displayed by vessels shall not apply to any vessel of the sels. Navy or of the Coast Guard whenever the Secretary of the Navy or Exemptions. the Secretary of the Treasury, in the case of Coast Guard vessels operating under the Treasury Department, or such official as either may designate, shall find or certify that, by reason of special construction, it is not possible for such vessel or class of vessels to comply with such regulations. The lights of any such exempted vessel or class of vessels, however, shall conform as closely to the requirements of the applicable regulations as the Secretary or such official shall find or

certify to be feasible. Notice of such findings or certification and of Publication of the character and position of the lights prescribed to be displayed on findings, etc. such exempted vessel or class of vessels shall be published in the Federal Register and in the Notice to Mariners and, after the effective date specified in such notice, shall have effect as part of such regulations.

44 Stat. 572.

SEC. 3. Section 7 (a) of the Air Commerce Act of 1926 (U. S. C., 1946 edition, title 49, sec. 177 (a)), is amended to read as follows: "Except as specifically provided in the Act entitled 'An Act to Nonapplicability authorize the President to proclaim regulations for preventing col- to aircraft. lisions at sea', the navigation and shipping laws of the United States, including any definition of 'vessel' or 'vehicle' found therein and including the rules for the prevention of collisions, shall not be construed to apply to seaplanes or other aircraft or to the navigation of vessels in relation to seaplanes or other aircraft."

SEC. 4. Section 610 (a) of the Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938

(U. S. C., 1946 edition, title 49, sec. 560 (a)), is amended by deleting 52 Stat. 1012. the word "and" at the end of paragraph (4); by changing the period

at the end of paragraph (5) to a semicolon and adding the word "and"; and by adding a new paragraph (6) reading as follows:

"(6) For any person to operate a seaplane or other aircraft of United States registry upon the high seas in contravention of the regulations proclaimed by the President pursuant to section 1 of the Act entitled 'An Act to authorize the President to proclaim regulations for preventing collisions at sea'."

Conflicting statutes, etc.

Regulations for

SEC. 5. After such regulations proclaimed under section 1 hereof shall have taken effect, all statutes, regulations, and rules in conflict therewith shall be of no further force and effect. Until such time as such regulations shall have been proclaimed and made effective pursuant to this Act, nothing herein shall in any way limit, supersede, or repeal any regulations for the prevention of collisions, which have heretofore been prescribed by statute, regulation, or rule.

SEC. 6. The regulations authorized to be proclaimed under secPreventing Col-tion 1 hereof are the Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1948, approved by the International Conference on Safety of Life at Sea, 1948, held at London from April 23 to June 10, 1948, as follows:

lisions at Sea,

1948.

65 Stat. 407.

65 Stat. 408.

PART A.-PRELIMINARY AND DEFINITIONS

RULE 1

(a) These Rules shall be followed by all vessels and seaplanes upon the high seas and in all waters connected therewith navigable by seagoing vessels, except as provided in Rule 30. Where, as a result of their special construction, it is not possible for seaplanes to comply fully with the provisions of Rules specifying the carrying of lights and shapes, these provisions shall be followed as closely as circumstances permit..

(b) The Rules concerning lights shall be complied with in all weathers from sunset to sunrise, and during such times no other lights shall be exhibited, except such lights as cannot be mistaken for the prescribed lights or impair their visibility or distinctive character, or interfere with the keeping of a proper look-out.

(c) In the following Rules, except where the context otherwise requires:

(i) the word "vessel" includes every description of water craft, other than a seaplane on the water, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water;

(ii) the word "seaplane" includes a flying boat and any other aircraft designed to manoeuvre on the water;

(iii) the term "power-driven vessel" means any vessel propelled by machinery;

(iv) every power-driven vessel which is under sail and not under power is to be considered a sailing vessel, and every vessel under power, whether under sail or not, is to be considered a power-driven vessel;

(v) a vessel or seaplane on the water is "under way" when she is not at anchor, or made fast to the shore, or aground;

(vi) the term "height above the hull" means height above the uppermost continuous deck;

(vii) the length and breadth of a vessel shall be deemed to be the length and breadth appearing in her certificate of registry:

(viii) the length and span of a seaplane shall be its maximum length and span as shown in its certificate of airworthiness, or as determined by measurement in the absence of such certificate;

(ix) the word "visible,” when applied to lights, means visible on a dark night with a clear atmosphere;

(x) the term "short blast" means a blast of about one second's duration;

(xi) the term "prolonged blast" means a blast of from four to six seconds' duration;

(xii) the word "whistle" means whistle or siren;