§ MR. WEGUELINsaid, he wished to ask the Vice President of the Board of Trade, Whether any regulations have been promulgated by the Board of Trade to prevent the overloading of Merchant Ships?
§ MR. STEPHEN CAVEsaid, in reply, that no such regulations had been issued by the Board of Trade, who had in fact no power to issue any. It had, however, been proposed to insert a clause in the Merchant Shipping Acts Amendment Bill with the view of enabling a seaman to obtain a speedy survey of a ship in which he refused to sail on the ground of overloading, or other cause. It had also been suggested, and the suggestion seemed reasonable, that in order lo facilitate the obtaining by underwriters of evidence of overloading, the draught of water should be painted in legible figures on the stem and stern of every vessel, and that the officers of the dock or Custom House should take note of the depth she drew as she proceeded to sea. It was impossible to lay down rules on that subject which should apply to all vessels, and it might be questioned whether they did not, even now, err in such matters on the side of over legislation, which must tend to diminish unduly the responsibility of the shipowner.