420 INTERNATIONAL LAWS FOR THE 



inserted in the Merchant Shipping Bill, 1882. This ema- 

 nated from the Board of Trade in July, 1882, and when it 

 has been discussed, will show what an immense amount of 

 ignorance still pervades the official mind regarding the 

 fisheries. These clauses appear to relate to the three 

 following distinct matters, viz. : 



Firstly. The granting of certificates of competency to the 

 masters and mates of fishing vessels. 



Secondly. The classing of fishing vessels as foreign-going 

 ships within the meaning of certain sections of the 

 Merchant Shipping Act, 1854. 



Thirdly. The enactment of regulations in respect of 

 apprentices and boys under 18 years of age engaged in the 

 sea fishing service. 



Clause C., relating to certificates for masters and mates, 

 comes first for discussion. 



It is difficult to distinguish particular classes of fishing 

 vessels except so far as they may be engaged in a particular 

 kind of fishing. A master who is competent to navigate 

 one class of fishing vessel is competent to navigate any 

 other class of fishing vessel, as far as surface navigation 

 is concerned. Drift-vessels often engage in trawling or 

 lining, and tralwers engage in lining, the same master in 

 most cases continuing in command. Peculiar knowledge 

 may be required by the master of a vessel fishing for a 

 particular kind of fish ; that is to say, the master of a 

 herring drift-boat should know the habits of and grounds 

 where to fish for the herring under various circumstances. 

 The master of a trawler should know the same as regards 

 trawl fish, and of a liner as regards line fish. But the 

 examination under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1854, 

 applies to the knowledge of surface navigation only, and 

 not to the special knowledge required by fishermen. It 



