472 INTERNATIONAL LAWS FOR THE 



and re-shipping. A fisherman, not knowing this, shoots 

 his nets in what he believes to be clear sea-room, 

 and finds during the night that they are parted and 

 damaged, or lost, through what he afterwards finds is 

 the buoy or buoys left by the repairing telegraph steamer. 

 Thus far individuals have not attempted to recover 

 damages by a lawsuit against a wealthy company, the law 

 on the subject being very undefined ; so, by " might against 

 right," the telegraph companies have at present the best of 

 it. Latterly, in some instances (this year, 1883), notices 

 have been issued by them that " buoys have been laid " 

 not "are going to be laid" in certain localities, with a 

 view, no doubt, to assist in protecting themselves against 

 actions for damages ; but they carefully avoid dating 

 them, so that the period for which the buoys are to 

 remain cannot be ascertained. Water and gas com- 

 panies have power by Act of Parliament to break open 

 roads and streets to effect necessary repairs, but, on the 

 other hand, they are bound to give proper notice of the 

 time and place ; a similar basis should be taken in framing 

 legislation for the telegraph companies. In some cases 

 the buoys remain for weeks together, simply because they 

 do not choose to carry sufficient new cable with them to 

 lay in the place of what they take up when the weather 

 is fine, but come to harbour to overhaul the old piece taken 

 up, to splice the best of it together, and relay as much of 

 the old as possible. Therefore, to suit the pockets of the 

 companies, fishermen are precluded from fishing in the 

 locality of the buoys during the will and pleasure of 

 the manager or engineer of a telegraph company. This 

 is not right. It is granted that there must be telegraph 

 cables, but, as regards repairs, the companies should be 

 compelled to use every means in their power to effect 



