BUOYS are vessels formed of wood, cork, or some other substance which is specifically lighter than water. They are rf bored so as to float on the water at some certain spot, in order to point out the course or channel that a vessel should follow. Buoys are also used for the purpose of marking the situation of ships' anchors to which they are attached, and thus facilitating the future recovery of the anchor and cable in cases where the latter has been broken, or where it has been cut, in order to provide on emergencies for the safety of the ship, when circumstances do not admit of the anchor being weighed into the vessel. The first description of buoys are denominated public buoys, and the last private buoys. Another kind of buoys are those placed in harbours to mark the situation of mooring chains to which ships frequenting the port are made fast.
Until the reign of Queen Elizabeth all public buoys in this kingdom were under the management of the Lord High Admiral ; but since 1594 they have been under the control of the Trinity House. The amount of reve nue annually collected for the use of buoys by the Trinity House corporation is between 11,0001. and 12,0001. The charge made is according to the tonnage of the vessels fre quenting the ports in or leading to which buoys are placed: the rates vary according to circumstances, and are highest in the port of London, where British and foreign privileged vessels (those belonging to countries with which we have reciprocity treaties') pay one penny per ton ; and foreign vessels not privileged pay two pence per ton.
The buoys which are sometimes used as life-preservers are noticed elsewhere [LIFE Buoys.]