410 INTERNATIONAL LAWS FOR THE 



of heavy loss, or several boats which are not his own 

 may be netted by one man, and consequently the nets and 

 bowls will be marked differently from the boat using them. 



Article 1 1 contains an expression which is unknown in 

 fishing terms, it is the "principal floats." It is presumed 

 that either the netshead corks, or bowls, are intended, but 

 it would have been better if it were clearer, as it would 

 puzzle any practical fisherman. 



Article 14 orders that "no fishing boat shall anchor 

 between sunset and sunrise on grounds were drift-fishing is 

 actually going on," this prohibition " shall not, however, 

 apply to anchorings which may take place in consequence 

 of accident or compulsory circumstances." Now, suppose 

 a vessel in a calm anchors because there is not wind enough 

 for her to get where she wants, and no drifters are in sight or 

 near for miles, but during the night a drifter's lights are seen 

 a mile or more distant on either bow, and the vessel at anchor 

 judges that the drifter's nets will go clear of him, but makes 

 an error in so doing, and the poll end portion of the drifter's 

 nets foul him, who will be responsible for the damage ? 

 This is applicable also to a great extent to buoys laid down 

 by telegraph ships. It is a question for argument as to 

 whether it was compulsory for the vessel to anchor, or the 

 telegraph buoy to be laid, and in the event of it being proved 

 that such anchorage was not compulsory, the plea can then 

 be put forward that when such anchorage took place no drift- 

 fishing was actually going on. The words " grounds where 

 drift-net fishing is actually going on " are very indefinite : if 

 construed broadly they mean the whole North Sea, at certain 

 times and places, but if narrowly construed, they are of no 

 value, for no vessel would anchor or telegraph ship lay a 

 buoy where the drifters could be seen already fishing and 

 driving down on them. 



