PROTECTION OF DEEP SEA FISHERIES. 385 



Workmen's Act was absurd, as all he possessed belonged 

 to his master. The same applies to suing a fisherman for 

 damages under this Act, as it is impossible for a man with 

 no home or effects, as is generally the case with deserters, 

 to pay even $ damages, which would be a very small 

 amount, considering that sometimes the average catch of 

 the boats would be .50, or even more for one night. The 

 trade, therefore, found themselves in a fix, and helpless, 

 e consequence was, that within a month after the Act 

 came into force, no one being able to understand its real 

 object, the Board of Trade issued a notice endeavouring to 

 explain it. The notice ran as follows : 





NOTICE. 

 Apprentices to Sea Service. 



Merchant Seamen (Payment of Wages and Rating) Act, 



1880. 



" As some misapprehension appears to have arisen with 

 reference to changes made by the Merchant Seamen's 

 Act, 1880, in the law regulating the position of apprentices 

 to the sea service, who may neglect or refuse their duty to 

 their employers, the Board of Trade think it well to give a 

 short explanation in the matter. 



"I. In first place it is an error to suppose that the juris- 

 diction in such disputes is remitted to the county court. 

 A reference to the Employers and Workmen's Act of 1875 

 (which by the present Act is made to apply to seamen and 

 apprentices to the sea service) will show that it remains, as 

 before, with any court of summary jurisdiction, that is, with 

 the magistrates. 



"2. It is true that the imprisonment of apprentices for 

 ' desertion ' or ' neglecting to join,' is now forbidden, but 

 under the 6th section of the Employers and Workmen's 



VOL. I. E 2. 2 c 



