§ MR. BENTINCKsaid, he wished to ask the President of the Board of Trade, Whether any penalty attaches to Vessels not carrying the proper Lights prescribed by the Merchant Seamen's Act; and, if Vessels infringing those regulations are subject to penalties, what those penalties are, and what is the proper course to take for recovering them?
§ MR. MILNER GIBSONsaid, in reply, that by the Merchant Shipping Act a wilful non-observance of the regulations as to Lights constituted a misdemeanour, and the offending parties might be indicted and punished by fine or imprisonment. But it was considered that this was not so convenient a way of enforcing those regulations as a more summary procedure. There was also another penalty which might be enforced against persons who had failed to comply with the regulations. The owners of ships not carrying regulation Lights, in case of collision were considered to be in default, and therefore liable to damages for the injury occasioned by their neglect.
§ MR. BENTINCKsaid, he wished further to ask, whether, in reference to the matter, the right hon. Gentleman intends to 968 take any steps to facilitate the observation of those regulations?
§ MR. MILNER GIBSONsaid, that the subject was under consideration.