HC Deb 03 May 1804 vol 24 cc203-4
MR. CROMBIE (Kincardineshire)

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether by Article 10 of the Regulations for collisions at sea at pre-sent in force fishing boats must carry two lights, of which one must practically be fixed to the mast, and the other at some point on the gunwale: whether he is aware that the smaller single-masted boats when hauling their lines often require to have their mast down, and that, inasmuch as the lines do not come over any particular point of the gunwale, but sometimes over one, sometimes another, and indeed all round, a light fixed anywhere on the gunwale would impede these operations; whether information has reached him that the Regulations are found impracticable by small fishing boats, and in point of fact are not adopted, a hand light being substituted; and whether he will investigate the matter and consider whether Regulations cannot be modified in the case of such boats?

MR. MUNDELLA

I am aware that, difficulty is sometimes experienced by small fishing vessels in observing the Regulations as to lights. The whole question of the lights and signals of fishing vessels is under consideration, but it is undesirable that alteration should be made in the Regulations without International agreement.

* MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)

Did not the International Conference recommend a series of alterations for adoption?

MR. MUNDELLA

Yes; but fishing vessels were not referred to. This question will be referred to the Committee which deals with all these matters.

* MR. GIBSON BOWLES

But did the Committee not recommend an alteration of Clause 9 which concerns fishing vessels?

MR. MUNDELLA

No, Sir; they reported that it was undesirable to make any change in the International Regulations.

MR. JAMES LOWTHER (Kent, Thanet)

Did the Committee make no suggestion as regarded fishing vessels?

MR. MUNDELLA

No, Sir.

* MR. GIBSON BOWLES

Did they not recommend an alteration in Clause 9 which specifically refers to fishing vessels?

MR. MUNDELLA

Clause 9 was not referred to them.

MR. CROMBIE

Will the matter now be referred for consideration?

MR. MUNDELLA

It will be referred, in the first place, to the Committee which has to deal with all these questions, and if they report in favour of a change, then the matter will go before the Foreign Committee.

MR. GIBSON BOWLES

Has not the Committee recommended that before any change is made it should be submitted to the shipping trade for its opinion?

MR. MUNDELLA

Fishing vessels are not included in the shipping trade.

MR. GIBSON BOWLES

They are ships, at any rate.