The " commerce " of shipping has a long and illustrious history, dotted with unsavory incidents, cheating, out right theft to name a few. Shipping like any other venture came up with a form of " codes " to outwit their rival shipping companies, codes that allowed them to do business openly with out to much skull duggery. Codes also allowed them to send messages to other vessels within their shipping company about, loads, destinations, fuel, weather etc. So lets take an voyage and test the codes. Our ship here the " Chicago Tribune " has arrived in the Port of Toronto so he signal using a code that would be " DAISY is now in the kitchen." the key word here being " daisy " telling them that they have arrived. The next segment of the coding would be loading so a code might read " The JUDGE has a arrived. " which means that loading has started. When complete the next code would be, " The JUICE was good." meaning that loading was done. Now comes the destination for the ship & the code would read, " The ELFIN is in the woods." again ELFIN meaning the cargo was destined for Port of Midland, Ontario. Once in the port of call a new code would be sent saying, " Things here are JAZZY." jazzy meaning they have arrived and are unloading. Once done the message would be sent saying, " The JUNK is put out," meaning that they have unloaded the cargo and departed. The next orders issued the ship could be for any commodity so the code might read," Go jump the FENCE." which means to the Capt. & crew to proceed to Detroit and takes on a load of salt.On that particular passage you may have sent a signal about weather in & near Detroit saying " How is the IDIOT." meaning that in that part of the lakes there is a very strong east wind blowing. Upon arrival at Detroit and the strong east wind, you arrive in port and are now loading salt a message will be sent saying, " Here I am NAKED." which means that we require 20,000 gallons of fuel. Once loaded a message will be sent giving the next cargo & destination and could read, " Another new EVENT." which means you load up with grain for winter storage. These were simple codes used in the everyday workings of shipping on the great lakes and they worked well.......thanks for the peek