80 BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 
frequent international disputes. The British fisheries declined, and the Dutch 
increased, and eventually the British assailed the Dutch for fishing off the 
British coast, and proclaimed the exclusive fishing rights in the British seas. 
In 1609 King James issued a proclamation forbidding foreigners from fishing 
on any British coasts unless they had first obtained licenses to do so. This 
proclamation was renewed by Charles I in 1636. Time and space will not 
permit of any further reference to the history of territorial limits. The North 
Sea convention of 1882 decided the present 3-mile limit. This international 
law has worked well, although a 4-mile limit would have given greater satisfac- 
tion to some nations. It has to be remembered that the English mile is not a 
standard in all countries. For instance, 4 English miles are equal to a Norwegian 
mile, to a Danish mile, and to a Swedish mile, so that at present the restricted 
waters are a portion of a mile in each of those countries, and in their case the 
distance is taken as one minute of adegree. Both Norway and Sweden would have 
become parties to the convention had the 4-mile limit been accepted, and there 
are other reasons favorable to that distance. In the first place such a limit 
would have been as easily ascertainable as the 3-mile limit; it would have given 
an additional mile round the land for the development of the fry, which are 
generally found in shallow water, and it would secure to the local fisherman 
another mile of fishing water. This 4-mile limit would also have served the 
purpose of customs limitations for contraband, for boarding by cruisers, etc. 
A governing power on the high seas is absolutely essential, and such a tribunal 
should be international. The North Sea convention will serve as a criterion. 
If the limits could be extended so as to apply to all nations the result 
would be very beneficial. The lettering and numbering of fishing vessels which 
is insisted upon has proved a very wise precaution, and fishing vessels are 
given their due exemption from pilotage, and the rules of the road regarding 
them are defined. The letters and numbers served the purpose with the sailing 
vessels, when they were painted on the sails as well as on the hull of the vessel. 
Now that the steam trawler predominates, the numbers and letters are placed 
on the bows, and in some cases on the funnels. 
The number of steam trawlers to the end of 1907, published by the Board 
of Agriculture and Fisheries, July, 1908, is as follows: 
Beloitim. 22522 ie 2 ee ee ee ee ee ee Ce ee ee 23 
Detimarks 2-2 252255 os cee eee nae Lae ae eee ee ees 5 
Frances. 5 2c 8 eos ee ee ie eee ae arene 224 
Genmany S20 e es ee Sa ee ee ie ee eo 239 
Netherlands 9 2835 ek 2 ee eee eee 81 
NOT WAY Se Soest ae 20 
Portugal =o - = sooSs seas en seed ca ae ane Oe ee eee er 13 
SPaltirs soa teas a Ses ee ae ae ee 18 
Swedenh.c2 52. ee ese a a ee ee I eS II 
Wiopland and \Walessa ee 2 ee ee eee Ly Sly 
Scotland... .cehatee te a ee eae ee ee 292 
Iteland: ojo tok StS 2k Sates AEN a Se ee eee eee 6 
Gotale=e 
