It is very desirable that the observers should be able to convey information to each other by signalling with the flags according to the Morse code, as follows. The dashes represent a movement of the flag from a position in front of the left shoulder to near the ground on the right side and the dots a movement from the left shoulder to the right shoulder. TABLE 3. MORSE ALPHABET. E . A .- R .-. L .-.. W .-- P .--. J .--- I .. U ..- F ..-. S ... V ...- H .... T - N -. K -.- C -.-. Y -.-- D -.. X -..- B -... M -- G --. Q --.- Z --.. O --- The signal to attract attention at starting and to signify the end of the message is .. .. .. continued until it is acknowledged with a similar sign by the other observer; that for a repetition is .. -- .. which is signalled when any part of the message is not understood, otherwise after each word is signalled the receiver waves - to indicate he understands it. Until proficiency is attained, two copies of the alphabet should be kept by each observer for reference, one for dispatching a message arranged in alphabetical order and the other far reading a message arranged as set out above. The white flag should be used when standing against a dark background, and the blue one when on the skyline or against a light background. The conditions in tidal rivers vary somewhat from those occurring on the coast. As the crest of the tidal wave passes the mouth of the river a branch wave is sent up the river. This wave has first to overcome the water flowing down the river, which is acting in opposition to it, and in so doing causes a banking up of the water to such a height that the inclination of the surface is reversed to an extent sufficient to cause a tidal current to run up the river. The momentum acquired by the water passing up-stream carries it to a higher level towards the head of the river than at the mouth, and, similarly, in returning, the water flowing down the river gains sufficient impetus to scoop out the water at the mouth and form a low water below that in the sea adjoining. Owing to a flow of upland water down a river the ebb lasts longer than the flood tide by a period, increasing in length as the distance from the mouth of the river increases; and, similarly to the sea, the current may continue to run down a river after the tide has turned and the level of the water is rising. The momentum of the tide running up the centre of the river is in excess of that along the banks, so that the current changes near the shore before it does in the middle, and, as the sea water is of greater specific gravity than the fresh, weighing 64 lb per cubic foot against 62-1/2 lb, it flows up the bed of the river at the commencement of the tide, while the fresh water on the surface is running in the opposite direction. After a time the salt water becomes diffused in the fresh, so that the density of the water in a river decreases as the distance from the sea increases.