§ MR. PLIMSOLLasked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether he is aware that on the 30th ult. there were twenty-nine vessels in the West India Docks, none of which had a load-line painted upon them; that on the 31st ult. there were in the East India Docks forty-three vessels, only eight of which (seven iron and one wood vessel) had a load-line painted upon them; and, what measures he is prepared to take to secure a better observance of the Act passed last Session on this subject?
§ SIR CHARLES ADDERLEYI am not aware how many vessels may be lying in any dock with or without a load-line. Probably there are a good many timber ships in the India Docks which are not proceeding to sea, and will not proceed till the spring, and many of them may have no mark on them at present. The Act orders the load line to be marked before entering a ship outwards upon any voyage, and to be retained till her return. The mark may vary with the voyage, and would not be put on a long time before, and if a ship is lying up and cleaning the last mark would very likely be effaced in dock, and it is the express intention of the Act that it may be altered for every voyage. As to what measure may be necessary to secure a better observance of the Act, I can only say that I have every reason from information and my own observation for believing that the Act is very generally and very usefully observed.