§ MR. C. WILSONI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the Government will consider the necessity of placing steam trawlers under the same rules as sailing trawlers, so far as relieving them from the obligation to get out of the way of any steamer or sailing vessel coming up on the starboard side when the steam trawler has its gear down, as their inability to comply with this rule is likely to result in collisions and loss of life?
§ *SIR M. HICKS BEACHSome time ago I appointed a Committee to consider the alterations in the regulations for preventing collisions at sea, recommended by the Washington Maritime Conference. This Committee (which was presided over by my hon. and learned Friend the Member for the Chesterton Division) did not make any distinct recommendation with regard to steam trawlers. Copies of the Report of the Committee have been sent to the Foreign Maritime Governments, and (when their remarks have been received) it will be necessary to again call the Committee together, and the subject to which the hon. Member refers shall then be submitted to it.