The thwarts and side benches should be kept as low as practicable, and the bottom boards should be so fitted that the height of the thwarts above them will not exceed 2 feet 9 inches. A. J. D. JANUARY 27, 1912. (Mr. A. J. Daniel, acting principal Ship Surveyor to the Board of Trade.) * * * * * It should be stated that the new committee on bulkheads mentioned in the paragraphs of this letter which deals with rule 12 has now been formed. Subsequently Sir Walter Howell wrote and sent three letters to the Advisory Committee which were as follows: BOARD OF TRADE, MARINE DEPARTMENT, 7 WHITEHALL GARDENS, _London, S. W., April 20, 1912_. SIR: With reference to previous correspondence between the department and your committee respecting the revision of the statutory rules for life-saving appliances on British ships, and particularly to the letter from this department of April 16, I am directed by the board of trade to state that as an entirely new situation has been created by the recent disaster to the steamship _Titanic_ they assume that the committee, in reconsidering the matter in connection with the suggestions already put before them by the board will have full regard to this new situation, and the facts of the disaster so far as ascertained. As you are doubtless aware, suggestions have been made in the House of Commons and elsewhere to the effect that, in view of the loss of the _Titanic_, action should be taken by the board of trade in regard to certain questions other than those expressly dealt with in the life-saving appliances rules, e.g., in regard to (1) steamship routes in the North Atlantic; (2) the speed of steamers where there may be dangers to navigation; and (3) the provision and use of searchlights on large passenger steamers; and the board would be glad to know the committee's views in regard to these, and any other suggestions which may have come to their knowledge, intended to diminish the risk, or to mitigate the effects of accidents to passenger vessels at sea. I am, etc., WALTER J. HOWELL. The SECRETARY, _Merchant Shipping Advisory Committee_. * * * * * BOARD OF TRADE, MARINE DEPARTMENT, _7 Whitehall Gardens, London, S. W., April 24, 1912_.