352 INTERNATIONAL LAWS FOR THE 



next the depredations by the Belgian devil. Lowestoft has 

 three grievances, viz., the Belgian devil, desertions, and ap- 

 prentices. It may here be explained why Lowestoft vessels 

 have suffered more than any others from the Belgian devil. 

 It is because the Belgian trawlers work principally on the 

 same ground as the Lowestoft drifters, occasionally getting 

 as far north as where the Yarmouth drifters are at work. 

 This instrument, which has been the subject of a special 

 Government enquiry, takes the form of a grapnel, but instead 

 of the flukes being round they are flat and as sharp as the 

 edge of a knife. This is hung over the trawler's bows, and 

 cuts to pieces any gear with which it may come in contact. 

 As a drift-boat is frequently two miles from the poll or 

 outer end of her nets these trawlers can do this on dark 

 nights with impunity, as they take care not to show any 

 lights. The instrument appears to have originated at 

 Barking, which used to be the head centre of the North Sea 

 fisheries, and was always carried. Sometimes a kind of 

 saw was fastened to the vessel's stem for the same purpose, 

 but happily this has been condemned and abolished for many 

 years past by all English fishermen. These few examples of 

 present grievances serve to illustrate how one district may 

 suffer either from want of or from over legislation on a certain 

 point which makes not the least difference to any other. 

 Classification For the purpose of continuing this subject seriatim it will 



of subject r - , f, , 



be well to give now a practical explanation of the fisheries 

 and how they are carried on under the present law, in the 

 following order : 



1. The building, rigging, outfit, and insurance of the 

 vessel. 



2. The shipping of the crew, apprentices, wages or share, 

 provisioning, and equipment for sea. 



3. The mode of life at sea, manner of working single 



