France.—The lighthouse board of France is known as the Commission des Phares, dating from 1792 and remodelled in 1811, and is under the direction of the minister of public works. It consists of four engineers, two naval officers and one member of the Institute, one inspector-general of marine engineers, and one hydrographic engineer. The chief executive officers are an Inspecteur Général des Ponts et Chaussées, who is director of the board, and another engineer of the same corps, who is engineer-in-chief and secretary. The board has control of about 750 lights, including those of Corsica, Algeria, &c. A similar system has been established in Spain.
Table VI.—Electric Lighthouse Apparatus.
| Name. | Characteristic. | Period. | Duration of Flash. | Candle-power (Service Intensity). | Focal Distance of Lens. | Ratio of Angular Breadth of Panel to Whole Circle. | Current. | Voltage. | Carbons. | Electric Generators. | Lamps. | Engins. | Elevation above High Water. | Year Established. | Remarks. |
| Secs. | Secs. | Standard Candles. | mm. | Amps. | mm. | Feet. | |||||||||
United Kingdom— | |||||||||||||||
Souter Point | Single flash | 30 | 5 | Candle-power not officially determined. | 500 | 1 : 8 | .. | 40 | 17 | Holmes machines, alternating (400 revs.) | Serrin | Steam | 150 | 1871 | Fixed light apparatus, with revolving vertical condensing lenses in eight panels. |
South Foreland | Single flash | 2.5 | .35 | 700 | 1 : 16 | .. | 40 | 26 | do. | Serrin | Steam | 374 | 1904 | Lens elements only; 97° vertical angle. (This apparatus was in use at St Catherine’s, 1888 to 1904, and replaced the two fixed electric lights established in 1872.) | |
Lizard | Single flash | 3 | .13 | 700 | 1 : 4 | 145 for 50 mm. carbons | 40 | 50 and 60 fluted | De Meritens alternators (600 revs.) | Modified Berjot-Serrin | Oil engines | 230 | 1903 | Mercury rotation; vertical angle, 139°. Replaced the two fixed electric lights erected in 1878. | |
St Catherine’s | Single flash | 5 | .21 | 700 | 1 : 4 | 145 for 50 mm. carbons | 40 | 50 and 60 fluted | do. | do. | 2 Steam, each 50 h.p. | 136 | 1904 | Mercury rotation; vertical angle, 139°. | |
Isle of May | 4 flash | 30 | .4 | 700 (Fixed apparatus) | 1 : 8 | 220 | 40 | 40 | do. | Berjot-Serrin | Steam | 240 | 1886 | Fixed light apparatus, with revolving vertical condensing lenses. | |
France— | |||||||||||||||
Dunkerque | 2 flash | 10 | .2 to .4 | 3,500,000 to 6,500,000 | 300 | 1 : 12 | 30 and 60 | 45 | 14 and 18 | 2 De Meritens alternators, each of 5.5 k.w. (550 revs.) | Improved Serrin | 2 Semi-portable steam, each 30 i.h.p. | 193 | 1902 | Twelve panels in groups of two. (This apparatus was in use at Barfleur, 1893 to 1902.) |
Calais | 4 flash | 15 | .75 | 900,000 | 300 | 1 : 24 | 60 | 45 | 18 | do. | French Service pattern (1902) | do. | 190 | 1883 | Fixed light apparatus, with revolving vertical condensing prisms. |
Cap Gris-nez | Single flash | 5 | .10 to .14 | 15,000,000 to 30,000,000 | 300 | 1 : 4 | 60 to 120 | 45 | 18 and 28 | do. | do. | Steam | 233 | 1899 | Twin optic, mercury rotation. (This light superseded a triple-flashing electric light, with intermediate red flash, of the Calais type, established in 1885. The first installation of the electric light at this station was in 1869.) |
La Canche | 2 flash | 10 | .10 to .14 | 15,000,000 to 30,000,000 | 300 | 1 : 4 | 30 to 60 | 45 | 14 and 18 | do. | do. | do. | 174 | 1900 | Twin optic, mercury rotation. (This light superseded a fixed electric light established in 1884.) |
Cap de la Hève | Single flash | 5 | .10 to .14 | 10,000,000 to 20,000,000 | 300 | 1 : 4 | 60 to 120 | 45 | 18 and 28 | De Meritens alternators (550 revs.) | Improved Serrin | do. | 397 | 1893 | Mercury rotation. (The first installation of electric light at this lighthouse was in 1863.) |
Créac’h d’Ouessant | 2 flash | 10 | .10 to .14 | 15,000,000 to 30,000,000 | 300 | 1 : 4 | 60 to 120 | 45 | 18 and 28 | 2 De Meritens alternators, each of 5.5 k.w. (550 revs.) | French Service pattern (1902) | do. | 225 | 1901 | Twin optic, mercury rotation. (This light superseded a double-flashing electric light, similar to that now at Dunkerque, established in 1888.) |
Penmarc’h | Single flash | 5 | .10 to .14 | 15,000,000 to 30,000,000 | 300 | 1 : 4 | 30 and 60 | 45 | 14 and 18 | Two-phase Labour alternators (810 to 820 revs.) | do. | do. | 197 | 1897 | Twin optic, mercury rotation. |
Planier | Single flash | 5 | .10 to .14 | 15,000,000 to 30,000,000 | 300 | 1 : 4 | 30 to 60 | 45 | 14 to 18 | De Meritens alternators (550 revs.) | do. | do. | 207 | 1902 | Twin optic, mercury rotation. (This light superseded an electric light established in 1881, showing a group of three white flashes separated by one red flash of the Calais type.) |
Italy— | |||||||||||||||
Tino | 3 flash | 30 | 1.25 | Undetermined. | 700 | 1 : 24 | 50 110 200 | 50 | 15 25 35 | do. (830 revs.) | Berjot-Serrin | do. | 384 | 1885 | Eight panels of three lenses each, no mirror. |
America— | |||||||||||||||
Navesink | Single flash | 5 | .08 | About 60,000,000 | 700 | Nearly 1 : 2 | Max. 100 | 50 | 23 | Alternating dynamos (800 revs.) | Modified Serrin (Ciolina) | Oil, each 25 h.p. | 246 | 1898 | Mercury rotation. Bivalve of 165°. |
Australia— | |||||||||||||||
Macquarie | Single flash | 60 | 8 | 5,000,000 | 920 | 1 : 16 | 55 110 | 50 | 15 25 | De Meritens alternators (600 revs.) | Serrin | Gas | 345 | 1883 | 16-panel revolving apparatus, with 180° fixed mirror. |
Table VII.—Typical Non-Electric Lighthouse Apparatus.
| Name. | Locality. | Characteristic. | Period. | Duration of Flashes. | Candle-Power in Standard Candles (Service Intensity). | Focal Distance of Lens. | Ratio of Angular Breadth of Panel to Whole Circle. | Illuminant. | Burner. | Service Candle-power of Burner. | Height above High Water. | Year Established.* | Remarks. |
| Secs. | Secs. | mm. | Feet. | ||||||||||
| Casquets | Channel Islands | 3 flash | 30 | 1.5 | 185,000 | 920 | 1 : 9 | Incandescent petroleum vapour | “Matthews” 3-50 mm. dia. mantles | 3300 | 120 | 1877 | Dioptric holophote, 126½° vertical angle; 3 sides of 3 panels in each. |
| Eddystone | South Devon | 2 flash | 30 | 1.5 | 292,000 | 920 | 1 : 12 | do. | do. | 3300 | 133 | 1882 | Biform apparatus, lens elements only, 92° vertical angle; 6 sides of 2 panels each. |
| Bishop Rock | Scilly Isles | 2 flash | 60 | 4.0 | 622,000 | 1330 | 1 : 10 | do. | do. | 3300 | 134 | 1886 | Biform apparatus, lens elements only, 80° vertical angle; 5 sides of 2 panels each. |
| Spurn Point | Yorkshire | Single flash | 20 | 1.5 | 519,000 | 1330 | 1 : 6 | do. | do. | 3300 | 120 | 1895 | Lens elements only, 80° vertical angle. |
| Lundy Island | Bristol Channel | 2 flash | 20 | .33 | 374,000 | 920 | Nearly 1 : 4 | do. | do. | 3300 | 165 | 1897 | Mercury rotation, 4-panel bivalve. |
| Pendeen | Cornwall | 4 flash | 15 | .25 | 190,000 | 920 | 1 : 8 | do. | do. | 3300 | 195 | 1900 | 80° vertical angle lens, 2 sides of 4 panels each, mercury rotation. |
| Roker Pier | Sunderland | Single flash | 5 | .10 | 175,000 | 500 | Nearly 1 : 2 | do. | “Chance” 55 mm. dia. mantle | 1200 | 83 | 1903 | Mercury rotation; univalve 164° in azimuth, with 164° dioptric mirror in rear. |
| Bell Rock | Near Firth of Tay | Red and white flashes alternately every 30 secs. | 60 | .50 | 392,000 | 920 and 1330 | White about 1 : 9 red about 1 : 2.2 | do. | “Chance” 55 mm. dia. mantle | 1200 | 93 | 1902 | Combined hyper-radial and first-order light with back prisms in white and mirrors in red. Revolves in 60 secs. |
| Kinnaird’s Head | Aberdeenshire | Single flash | 15 | .50 | 881,000 | 920 and 1330 | 1 : 2.2 | do. | do. | 2150 | 120 | 1903 | Composite apparatus; panels of 1330 mm. and 920 mm. focal distance; 2 faces. |
| Tarbet Ness | Dornoch Firth | 6 flash | 30 | .50 | 89,000 | 700 | 1 : 12 | do. | “Chance” 55 mm. dia. mantle | 1200 | 175 | 1892 | 6 panels (lens) of 30° with 180° mirror. |
| Sule Skerry | West of Orkneys | 3 flash | 30 | 1.0 | 378,000 | 1330 | 1 : 9 | do. | “Chance” 85 mm. dia. mantle | 2150 | 113 | 1895 | Equiangular lenses. |
| Pladda | South end of Arran Island | 3 flash | 30 | .50 | 597,000 | 1330 | 1 : 6 | do. | do. | 2150 | 130 | 1901 | 3 equiangular lens panels with mirror in rear; side panels eccentric. |
| Tory Island | Co. Donegal | 3 flash | 60 | 3.0 | 17,000 to 326,000 | 1330 | 1 : 6 | Coal Gas | Wigham, 108 jets (maximum) | 2300 (max.) | 130 | 1887 | Triform apparatus, vertical angle of lenses 65°; 6 sides, one revolution in 6 minutes. The single flash from lens is divided by eclipsing burner into 3 flashes. |
| Fastnet | Co. Cork | Single flash | 5 | .17 | 750,000 | 920 | 1 : 4 | Incandescent petroleum vapour | Irish pattern 50 mm. mantle | 1200 | 160 | 1904 | Biform apparatus; 4 panels of 90° vertical angle and 90° in azimuth; mercury rotation. |
| Kinsale | do. | 2 flash | 10 | .25 | 460,000 | 920 | 1 : 6 | do. | do. | 1200 | 236 | 1907 | Biform apparatus, 3 sides each of 2 panels; vertical angle 96°; mercury rotation. |
| Howth Bailey | Dublin Bay | Single flash | 30 | 1.0 | 950,000 | 920 | 13 : 32 | do. | Irish pattern 3-50 mm. dia. mantles | 3300 | 134 | 1902 | Bivalve apparatus; panels of 147° in azimuth and 122° vertical angle; mercury rotation. |
| Chassiron | Bay of Biscay | Single flash | 10 | 1.0 | 70,000 | 920 | 1 : 8 | Oil | 6 wick | 480 | 164 | 1891 | The old first-order apparatus has been utilized in all cases. |
| .50 | 180,000 | 920 | 1 : 8 | Incandescent oil gas | 30 mm. dia. mantle | 400 | 164 | 1895 | |||||
| .70 | 360,000 | 920 | 1 : 8 | Incandescent acetylene | 55 mm. dia. mantle | 1300 | 164 | 1902 | |||||
| Cap d’Antifer | English Channel | Single flash | 20 | 1.0 | 400,000 | 1330 | 1 : 6 | Incandescent petroleum vapour | French pattern 85 mm. mantle | 2150 | 394 | 1894 | Mercury rotation, hyper-radial apparatus with reflecting prisms. This is the only apparatus of this focal distance on the French coast. |
| Île de Batz | Finistère | 4 flash | 25 | .37 | 200,000 | 920 | 1 : 8 | do. | do. | 2150 | 223 | 1900 | Group-flashing apparatus; 4 panels of 45°, with 180° mirror in rear; mercury rotation. |
| Ar’men | do. | 3 flash | 20 | .38 | 200,000 | 700 | 1 : 5 | do. | do. | 2150 | 94 | 1897 | Mercury rotation; 3 panels, mirror in rear. |
| Villefranche | Mediterranean | Single flash | 5 | .38 | 250,000 | 700 | 1 : 4 | do. | do. | 2150 | 229 | 1902 | Mercury rotation. |
| Île Vierge | Finistère | Single flash | 5 | .38 | 500,000 | 700 | 1 : 4 | do. | do. | 2150 | 252 | 1902 | Twin optic; mercury rotation. |
| Kennery Island | Bombay | 2 flash | 10 | .25 | 250,000 | 920 | Nearly 1:4 | do. | 70 mm. dia. mantle | 1400 | 153 | 1902 | Mercury rotation; bivalve apparatus; 2 double-flashing 170° panels. |
| Cape Race | Newfoundland | Single flash | 7.5 | .30 | 1,100,000 | 1330 | 1 : 4 | do. | “Chance” 85 mm. dia. mantle | 2150 | 165 | 1907 | 4 panels, vertical angle 121½°; mercury rotation. |
| Pachena Point | British Columbia | 2 flash | 7.5 | .44 | 220,000 | 920 | 1 : 8 | do. | do. | 2150 | .. | 1908 | Mercury rotation. 4 sides of 2 panels each. |
| Cape Hermes | Cape Colony | Single flash | 3 | .31 | 30,000 | 250 | 1 : 3 | do. | “Chance” 55 mm. dia. mantle | 1200 | 175 | 1904 | 3 panels, vertical angle 150°; mercury rotation. |
| Hood Point | do. | 4 flash | 40 | .58 | 200,000 | 920 | 1 : 8 | do. | “Chance” 85 mm. dia. mantle | 2150 | 180 | 1895 | Mercury rotation; 4 panels of 45° in azimuth and 80° vertical angle, with catadioptric mirror in rear. |
| Cape Naturaliste | West Australia | 2 flash | 10 | .15 | 450,000 | 920 | About 1 : 3 | do. | do. | 2150 | 404 | 1904 | Mercury rotation; 2 lenses of 126½° in azimuth, with mirror of 107°. |
| Point Cloates | do. | Single flash | 5 | .30 | 300,000 | 700 | 1 : 3 | do. | do. | 2150 | 190 | 1909 | Mercury rotation; 3 panels, each 120° in azimuth and 133½° vertical angle. |
| Pecks Ledge | Connecticut, U.S.A. | 2 flash | 30 | .50 | 10,000 | 250 | 1 : 4 | do. | 34 mm. dia. mantle | 300 | 54 | 1906 | Rotated on ball bearings. 2 lenses of 90° each and mirror. |
| Fire Island | New York, U.S.A. | Single flash | 60 | 4.0 | 250,000 | 920 | 1 : 8 | do. | 55 mm. dia. mantle | 1000 | 167 | 1858 | Rotated on roller bearings. |
| Gray’s Harbor | Washington, Pacific Coast, U.S.A. | Alternating red and white flashes | 5 | .20 | White 10,000 red 8,000 | 500 | .. | Oil | 3 wick | 160 | 122 | 1898 | Mercury rotation; one (red) lens of 170° in azimuth, reinforced by two 60° mirrors; one (white) lens of 60° in azimuth. |
| * The dates given are of the establishment of the optical apparatus. In many cases incandescent burners have been installed at later dates. | |||||||||||||
English Colonies.—In Canada the coast lighting is in the hands of the minister of marine, and in most other colonies the public works departments have control of lighthouse matters.
Other Countries.—In Denmark, Austria, Holland, Russia, Sweden, Norway and many other countries the minister of marine has charge of the lighting and buoying of coasts; in Belgium the public works department controls the service.
In the Trinity House Service at shore lighthouse stations there are usually two keepers, at rock stations three or four, one being ashore on leave. When there is a fog signal at a station there is usually an additional keeper, and at electric light stations a mechanical engineer is also employed as principal keeper. The crews of light-vessels as a rule consist of 11 men, three of them and the master or mate going on shore in rotation.