(c) Vessels and boats, except open boats as defined in sub-division (a), when line-fishing with their lines out and attached to or hauling their lines, and when not at anchor or stationary within the meaning of sub-division (h), shall carry the same lights as vessels fishing with drift-nets. When shooting lines, or fishing with towing lines, they shall carry the lights prescribed for a steam or sailing vessel under way respectively. Within the Mediterranean Sea and in the seas bordering the coasts of Japan and Korea sailing fishing vessels of less than 20 tons gross tonnage shall not be obliged to carry the lower of these two lights; should they, however, not carry it, they shall show in the same position (in the direction of the lines) a white light, visible at a distance of not less than one sea mile, on the approach of or to other vessels. (d) Vessels, when engaged in trawling, by which is meant the dragging of an apparatus along the bottom of the sea— 1. If steam-vessels, shall carry in the same position as the white light mentioned in Article 2 (a), a tricoloured lantern so constructed and fixed as to show a white light from right ahead to two points on each bow, and a green light and a red light over an arc of the horizon from two points on each bow to two points abaft the beam on the starboard and port sides respectively; and not less than 6 nor more than 12 feet below the tricoloured lantern a white light in a lantern, so constructed as to show a clear uniform and unbroken light all round the horizon. 2. If sailing vessels, shall carry a white light in a lantern so constructed as to show a clear uniform and unbroken light all round the horizon, and shall also, on the approach of or to other vessels, show where it can best be seen a white flare-up light or torch in sufficient time to prevent collision. All lights mentioned in sub-division (d) 1 and 2 shall be visible at a distance of at least 2 miles. (e) Oyster dredgers and other vessels fishing with dredge nets shall carry and show the same lights as trawlers. (f) Fishing vessels and fishing boats may at any time use a flare-up light in addition to the lights which they are by this Article required to carry and show, and they may also use working lights. (g) Every fishing vessel and every fishing boat under 150 feet in length, when at anchor, shall exhibit a white light visible all round the horizon at a distance of at least one mile. Every fishing vessel of 150 feet in length or upwards, when at anchor, shall exhibit a white light visible all round the horizon at a distance of at least one mile, and shall exhibit a second light as provided for vessels of such length by Article 11. Should any such vessel, whether under 150 feet in length, or of 150 feet in length, or upwards, be attached to a net or other fishing gear, she shall on the approach of other vessels show an additional white light at least 3 feet below the anchor light, and at a horizontal distance of at least 5 feet away from it in the direction of the net or gear. (h) If a vessel or boat when fishing becomes stationary in consequence of her gear getting fast to a rock or other obstruction, she shall in daytime haul down the day-signal required by sub-division (k); at night show the light or lights prescribed for a vessel at anchor; and during fog, mist, falling snow, or heavy rain-storms make the signal prescribed for a vessel at anchor. (See sub-division (d), and the last paragraph, of Article 15.) (2) In fog, mist, falling snow or heavy rain-storms, driftnet vessels attached to their nets, and vessels when trawling, dredging, or fishing with any kind of drag-net, and vessels line-fishing with their lines out, shall, if of 20 tons gross tonnage or upwards, respectively, at intervals of not more than one minute make a blast: if steam vessels, with the whistle or syren; and if sailing vessels with a fog-horn; each blast to be followed by ringing the bell. Fishing vessels and boats of less than 20 tons gross tonnage shall not be obliged to give the above-mentioned signals; but if they do not, they shall make some other efficient sound signal at intervals of not more than one minute. (k) All vessels or boats fishing with nets or lines or trawls, when under way, shall in daytime indicate their occupation to an approaching vessel by displaying a basket or other efficient signal where it can best be seen. If vessels or boats at anchor have their gear out, they shall, on the approach of other vessels, show the same signal on the side on which those vessels can pass. The vessels required by this Article to carry or show the lights herein before specified shall not be obliged to carry the lights prescribed by Article 4 (a), and the last paragraph of Article 11. By Section 419 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, it is enacted that wilful infringement of the above regulations by the master or owner is accounted a misdemeanour (punishable by fine or imprisonment); and, if damage occur in consequence, the ship will be deemed at fault, unless circumstances made a departure from the regulations necessary. By Section 422, in case of collision the master or person in charge must, so far as he can do so without danger to his own vessel or persons on board her, render such assistance to the other vessel as may be practicable, and stay by her until no further assistance is required. Failure to do so, without reasonable cause, will cause such master or person to be held responsible, and guilty of a misdemeanour. LIGHTS FOR STEAM PILOT-VESSELS. Order in Council of 18th August, 1892.-Re Article 8. A Steam Pilot-vessel exclusively employed for the service of Pilots licensed or certified by any Pilotage Authority or the Committee of any Pilotage District in the United Kingdom, when engaged on her station on Pilotage duty and in British waters and not at anchor, shall, in addition to the lights required for all Pilot boats, carry at a distance of eight feet below her white masthead light a red light visible all round the horizon, and of such a character as to be visible on a dark night with a clear atmosphere at a distance of at least two miles, and also the coloured side lights required to be carried by vessels when under way. When engaged on her station on Pilotage duty and in British waters and at anchor she shall carry, in addition to the lights required for all Pilot boats, the red light above mentioned, but not the coloured side lights. When not engaged on her station on Pilotage duty she shall carry the same lights as other steam vessels. STEERING ORDERS ON GERMAN AND DUTCH SHIPS. STARBOARD or PORT. The following is important to Shipmasters : For over twelve months the minds of nautical men have been disturbed by the enactment of a German ordinance which related in brief that, From April 1, 1904. only such steering orders shall be employed as indicate the position of the rudderblade, and not that of the tiller. From April 1, 1905, onwards, the words' starboard' and 'port' are to be used exclusively, with the additions so far as is required which indicate the measure of the direction of the rudder; up to that date the words 'right' and 'left' are also permissible.' The enactment, despite British opposition, came into force on April 1, 1905, and shipmasters have reported to the Mercantile Marine Service Association from time to time of the danger attending the alteration, and in some cases of narrow escapes they had of disaster owing entirely to the local orders of German and Dutch Government pilots. The Association have been in correspondence with the Board of Trade and are now in receipt of the following communication :- Marine Department, Board of Trade, Sir-With reference to the difference which exists between the meaning of the terms used in giving steering orders on board British ships and that of the words now used in the vessels of certain other Maritime Powers, I am directed by the Board of Trade to state that their attention has been called to the serious risk of misunderstanding which may arise when British ships are in charge of foreign pilots who use steering orders in a sense contrary to the meaning they bear in this country. In order to lessen the possibility that casualties may be caused by any misapprehension of this kind, the Board of Trade desire me to point out that, although German and Dutch Government pilots are instructed to carry out the amended steering rule which requires the order "Starboard," when the ship's head is intended to go to starboard, and "Port," i.e., "Backboard," when the ship's head is intended to go to port, they are in no wise authorised to give that rudder-command on board British ships, but are bound to indicate to the officer in charge the direction in which they desire the vessel's head to be put, so that the officer in charge may issue his own command as in use on board British ships.— I am, Sir, your obedient servant, (Signed) WALTER, J. HOWELL, Assistant Secretary. The Secretary, Mer. Mar. Ser. Association, Liverpool. SHIPPING LAW MANUAL, X OWNERSHIP OF SHIPS. THE Owners of British ships must be either— (1.) Natural born British subjects; or, (2.) Naturalised British subjects, or denizens, resident in Her Majesty's dominions ;* or, (3.) Bodies corporate, established under and subject to British law, having their principal place of business in any part of Her Majesty's dominions. Any unqualified person retaining any interest in a British ship is liable to forfeiture of such interest to the Crown. If such interest were transmitted to such person by marriage, death, or bankruptcy of any registered owner, such interest must be sold. The property in a British ship is transferred by bill of sale, in the form given in Schedule 1 of the Act, to be signed by the person who is the registered owner. The new owner makes a declaration of transfer in the proper form, stating that he is entitled to be registered as owner, and to complete the title the bill of sale must then be recorded in the registry of the port to which the ship belongs. If, however, the ship is newly built, and has not been previously registered, the builder may transfer her to any purchaser, who is thereupon entitled to be registered as owner, on producing the builder's certificate, and the declaration before mentioned. * A British subject who has taken the oath of allegiance to a foreign state, can only be qualified as owner of a British ship if he has subsequently taken the oath of allegiance to Her Majesty, and continues, during such ownership, resident in Her Majesty's dominions, or is partner in a British firm. Bills of sale are registered in the order of their presentation to the registrar; and as the registry is the evidence of title to the ship, a bill of sale not registered must give way to a second bill of sale of subsequent date, if the latter is registered first, in which case the other cannot be registered at all. If the ship is lost, or transferred to persons not qualified to own a British ship, the owners are bound, under a penalty of £100, to give information to the registrar at her port of registry, or the British consular officer if abroad, and deliver up the certificate of registry, if not lost or destroyed, in order that the registry may be closed. REGISTRY OF SHIPPING. Every British ship must be registered, excepting— дорог (1.) Ships not exceeding fifteen tons burden, employed in rivers, or in coasting, &c., in the United Kingdom. (2.) Vessels not exceeding thirty tons burden, having no whole or fixed deck, and employed in fishing or coasting on the shores of Newfoundland, and in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. A ship which is not registered cannot be recognised as a British ship, and is not entitled to the protection offered by the British flag. A ship may be detained until the certificate of registry, or evidence sprpid of her nationality, is produced. If a ship not registered as a British ship wrongfully use the British flag (unless for the purpose of escaping an enemy), she is liable to forfeiture to the Crown. If a British ship use the flag of any foreign state, or any flag to which only Her Majesty's ships are entitled, the master, or owner if on board, is liable to a fine of £500. The port of registry may be changed if all the persons interested in the ship apply, by writing, to the registrar of the port where the ship is registered. The register book may be inspected on application to the registrar, or at the London Custom House, for a fee not exceeding 1s. On the death of any registered owner, his executor or administrator araxgonon must make a declaration to have his name inserted on the register; or if the owner become bankrupt, the trustee under the bankruptcy |