422 INTERNATIONAL LAWS FOR THE 



over the masters, that if a master commits any act of 

 negligence or carelessness, or misconducts himself, and the 

 owner of the vessel does not discharge him, the club or 

 clubs in which such vessel is insured will refuse to insure 

 her, or any other vessel in which the offender may be 

 employed as master. This course has the effect of making 

 masters very careful both in their conduct and in matters 

 of fishing and seamanship. Therefore the portion of the 

 clause which would impose Board of Trade enquiries is riot 

 required, unless it were to empower at each port a com- 

 mittee composed of practical men, elected by the various 

 insurance societies, to try cases of casualties and suspend 

 certificates. Each club or society should be allowed to 

 have one representative on the board for every fifty 

 members which it represents. This would only be legalis- 

 ing what is now virtually the system pursued in cases of 

 casualties. 



Clause E. Many of the masters and mates of fishing 

 vessels are illiterate, and although quite able to handle and 

 navigate a fishing vessel, and to feel their way with the lead, 

 which is the fisherman's practice, would be found quite 

 unable to pass an examination, unless such examination 

 were viva voce, or took the form of a practical exhibition of 

 their knowledge of navigating a fishing vessel at sea. As 

 it appears desirable that masters and mates of fishing 

 vessels should have legalised certificates, the period for 

 making a written examination compulsory should be 

 extended to seven years. That would give an opportunity 

 to any who are now boys, and unable to write, to get a 

 certificate, and those now entering the calling would know 

 what was before them. During these seven years, after 

 first having given certificates of servitude to all present 

 masters and mates, holders of servitude certificates should 



