BETWEEN GEEAT BRITAIN AND FRANCE. 49 



XVI. No boat fishing with drift nets shall shoot its nets so near to 

 any other boat which has already shot its nets on the fishing ground, 

 as to interfere with its operations. 



XVII. No decked boat fishing with drift nets shall shoot its nets 

 at a less distance than a quarter of a mile from any undecked boat 

 which is already engaged in fishing. 



XVIII. If the spot where fishing is going on should be so near to 

 the fishery limits of one of the two countries that the boats of the 

 other country would, by observing the regulations prescribed by 

 Articles XV. XVI, and XVII preceding, be prevented from taking 

 part in the fishery, such boats shall be at liberty to shoot their nets 

 at a less distance than that so prescribed ; but in such case the fisher- 

 men shall be responsible for any damage or losses which may be 

 caused by the drifting of their boats. 



XIX. Nets shall not be set or anchored in any place where drift 

 net fishing is actually going on. 



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XXIII. The execution of the regulations concerning lights and 

 signals, licenses, muster rolls, and official papers, the lettering and 

 numbering of boats and implements of fishing, is placed, with respect 

 to the fishermen of each of the two nations, under the exclusive 

 superintendence of the cruizers and agents of their own nations. 



Nevertheless, the commanders of the cruizers of one of the two 

 nations shall acquaint the commanders of the cruizers of the other 

 nation with any infractions of the above-mentioned regulations com- 

 mitted by the fishermen of such other nation which may come to 

 their knowledge. 



XXIV. All infractions of the regulations concerning the placing 

 of boats on the fishing ground, the distances to be observed be- 

 tween them, the prohibition of oyster fishing during a portion of the 

 year, and concerning every other operation connected with the act of 

 fishing, and more particularly concerning circumstances likely to 

 cause damage, shall be taken cognizance of by the cruizers of either 

 nation, whichever may be the nation to which the fishermen guilty of 

 such infractions may belong. 



XXV. The commanders of cruizers of either country shall exer- 

 cise their judgment as to the causes of any infractions brought to 

 their knowledge, or as to damage arising from any cause whatever, 

 committed by British or French fishing boats in the seas beyond 

 the fishery limits which have been fixed for the two countries; they 

 may detain the offending boats and take them into the port nearest 

 the scene of the occurrence, in order that the infraction or damage 

 may be there duly established, as well by comparing the declarations 

 and counter-declarations of the parties interested, as by the testi- 

 mony of those who were present. 



XXVI. When the offence shall not be such as to require exem- 

 plary punishment, but shall nevertheless have caused damage to any 

 fisherman, the commanders of the cruizers shall be at liberty, should 

 the circumstances admit of it, to arbitrate at sea between the parties 

 concerned. On refusal of the offenders to defer to their arbitration, 

 the said commanders shall take both them and their boats into the 

 nearest port to be dealt with as stated in the preceding Article. 



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