662 THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE SEA 



the closing line in some cases considerably exceeding one 

 hundred nautical miles from point to point, and extending for 

 more than seventy miles beyond a three-mile limit. All liv- 

 ing animals in the sea are considered as objects of sea-fishing, 

 with the exception of those which reproduce on the land, as 

 birds, seals (lobos), and fish-otters. Within the declared limits 

 the exercise of sea-fishing is free, provided that the regulations 

 are adhered to. The one referring to trawling prohibits that 

 method of fishing by sailing-boats within three miles of the 

 shore, but allows such boats to trawl outside that distance if 

 the meshes of the nets have an aperture not less than 16 

 centimetres (6 inches) ; steam trawling, on the other hand, is 

 prohibited within five miles of the shore. Commercial fishing 

 is forbidden within the great extent of water referred to unless 

 by vessels entered on the official list (matricula nacional), and 

 foreigners are thus excluded. A novel feature, but one in 

 complete harmony with the results of modern fishery investi- 

 gations, is the reservation of the right to close any area within 

 the limit claimed, so that such area or areas may act as reserves 

 to replenish neighbouring grounds and increase the multipli- 

 cation of the fish. The right to establish close-times is also 

 reserved, and the sale of undersized fish is prohibited unless 

 for certain specified purposes. 



Special regulations are made for sealing. Concessions for 

 this purpose will be granted for a term of five years on various 

 parts of the coast under certain conditions, and it is enacted 

 that for a distance of twenty miles from the coast in such 

 places the right of taking seals is confined to those who have 

 obtained the concession. Penalties for the infraction of the 

 laws are provided, fines varying from five to five hundred 

 pesetas, and offenders may be imprisoned for a period of from 

 one to sixty days. 



Later regulations issued by the Minister of Agriculture, 

 applying to that part of the coast between the Rio de la 

 Plata and the Rio Negro, provide that all those engaged or 

 who desire to engage in sea fishing there, must first receive 

 official permission to do so. Within a zone of twelve miles 

 from low-water mark, trawling by steamers is prohibited, but 

 trawling by sailing -boats, and fishing with various kinds of 

 lines and with drift-nets, are allowed; and all vessels em- 

 ployed must fly the national flag, and have their crews partly 



