LIGHTHOUSES AND LIGHT VESSELS.

(taken from IoM Examiner Annual 1897)

The following are the lights under the control of the Northern Lights Commissioners situated on the coasts of the Isle ot Man :-—

Ayre Point, ½mile within point. lat 54 24 56 lon. 4 22 1 ; alternate white and red ; every minute ; visible 16 miles—Principal light-keeper, Wm Charleson.

Extreme of Point of Ayre, fixed white ; visible 10 miles from N ¾ E through W to about E Fog siren gives 3 blasts, high. high. and low, every 3 minutes.

Peel, end of old pier ; 1 fixed red ; visible 3 miles.

Extremity of Peel breakwater, 1 fixed white ; visible 5 miles.

Port Erin, on E shore, 2 fixed red, 43 yards apart ; visible 5 miles. Leading lights in line lead to anchorage.

Chicken Rock, 1 white ; revolution every half minute ; visible 16 miles. Fog explosive every 5 minutes, bell every half minute.— Principal lightkeeper, Thomas Dawson.

Port St. Mary, Pier head 1 fixed white ; visible 9 miles. Also, Hill, on W side of Port 1 fixed red. These two are leading lights.

End of Port St. Mary breakwater 1 fixed green ; visible 3 miles.

Castletown harbour, new pier head ; fixed red ; visible miles

Langness. SE part of point ; flash white, every 5 seconds ; visible 14 miles. Siren sounds for 5 seconds, with intervals af 40 seconds. —Principal lightkeeper, John McQuarrie.

Derbyhaven SW end of breakwater ; 1 fixed white ; visible 2 miles.

Douglas, on Head ; lat. 54 8 35, ion. 4 27 52 ; 1 group flashing white, showing 6 flashes in quick succession during 15 seconds and eclipsed 15 seconds ; visible 14 miles—Principal lghtkeeper, John Grierson.

Breakwater. Douglas 1 fixed red ; visible 6 miles.

Inner Pier, Douglas, 1 fixed white ; visible 6 miles 2½ hours before. and after high water, ball by day.

End of Victoria Pier, Douglas. fixed green , visible 3 miles ; between N by W and WSW.

Laxey, old pier head fixed white ; visible 6 miles ; visible between NNW and the land.

Ramsey, S pier head. 1 fixed red ; visible 4 miles. N pier head, 1 fixed green ; visible 9 miles.

[Ramsey] Iron pier 2 fixed red vertical.

Bahama Bank, light vessel in 11 fathoms, 1¼ miles south-east of SE tail of bank ; lat. 54 19 40, long. 4 12 55 ; 1 group flashing white, twice every half minute ; visible 11 miles Fog siren gives 2 blasts every 2 minutes. Red, one mast with ball. Bahama Bank on sides.

Regarding the Douglas Head Lighthouse the following may be of interest :—The hours for visitors are from 11 am. to 1 p.m. daily (Saturdays and Sundays excepted). The candle power of the light is 22,000.

Inspector of Lighthouses—Primrose, Port St Mary.