PROTECTION OF DEEP SEA FISHERIES. 419 



act alleged is not of a serious character, but has neverthe- 

 less caused damage to any fisherman, the commanders of 

 cruisers shall be at liberty, should the parties concerned 

 agree to it, to arbitrate between them and fix the com- 

 pensation to be paid. Where one of the parties is not in 

 a position to settle the matter at once, the commanders 

 shall cause .the parties concerned to sign in duplicate a 

 formal document specifying the compensation to be paid. 

 One copy of this document shall remain on board the 

 cruiser, and the other shall be handed to the master of the 

 boat to which the compensation is due, in order that he 

 may, if necessary, be able to make use of it before the courts 

 of the county to which the debtor belongs." This word 

 " debtor " here leaves the question open as to who is to be 

 considered the debtor in international cases, whether it is 

 the master who has signed the agreement as to damage 

 to be paid for, or the owner, mortgagee or vessel. The 

 remarks made on this convention are sufficient to show 

 many weak points which it would be better to amend before 

 the convention is ratified. It is evident that when this was 

 being framed there was not a sub-committee of practical 

 men, composing representatives of the various nations 

 interested, to advise the plenipotentiaries, who cannot be 

 expected to be practical fishermen, on the practical points. 

 If this had been the case the convention would have been 

 the same in spirit, but of much more practical value, and 

 much more creditable to our Government as the lead- 

 ing maritime power. If ratified in its present form it is 

 calculated to lead to international disputes which are not 

 desirable after such an amount of time has been expended 

 with a view to avoid them. 



The next point for consideration is the draft of clauses Draft clauses 

 relating to fishing vessels and their crews proposed to be 



2 E 2 



