No steam vessel or other power craft while lying in the harbor or along the wharves or docks of the same shall work its engines; provided, that owners, masters, or other persons in charge of boats fitting out and desirous of working and testing their engines shall, before working or testing any such engine, station some person in such a place or position as will enable him to signal the engineer to stop such engine. Such engine shall be kept from working until all approaching vessels, craft, or floats shall have passed the wheel of said boat or boats by a distance of 200 feet. These provisions shall not apply to cases of fire.
(Prior code § 38-27)