402 INTERNATIONAL LAWS FOR THE 



proper side lights when not at work. They may some- 

 times be seen actually running into port under their fishing 

 or piloting light. These cases ought to demand the special 

 attention of cruisers and port officials, and should be 

 followed by heavy penalties. But it has been asked, Why 

 can pilot cutters carry two mast-head lights when it is 

 argued that smacks cannot do so ? It is answered in this 

 way, that pilot cutters are always free agents, can cruise 

 about or lay to as they like, and are not subject to the quick 

 and sharp motion of a trawler towing her heavy gear along. 

 Trawlers Next for consideration is the effect of the laws as regards 



versus drifters. , 



trawlers and drifters when at work, but it must be brief, as 

 a Convention was signed on the 6th of May 1882 at the 

 Conference at the Hague. This awaits ratification, and will 

 in some points materially alter the present unsatisfactory 

 state of things. Suffice it therefore to say that up to the 

 present time the law has been very onesided, and in favour 

 of the drifters, and ofttimes the owner of a trawler has 

 paid to a drifter for damage done to nets a claim which 

 he did not consider just, rather than go to court with 

 the matter, knowing that the law would be interpreted 

 against him. The law as it now stands says, "Trawl 

 boats shall not commence fishing at a less distance than 

 three miles from any boat fishing with drift nets, or 

 having shot their nets shall not come nearer to such boats 

 than the distance above mentioned." This is immediately 

 after qualified by the following : " 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 so as 

 to interfere with its operations." This being now on the 

 eve of repeal it is not worth while to discuss it further. 

 The law which is proposed in place of it will be dealt 

 with further on. 



