§ SIR SEYMOUR KINGI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the effect which the adoption by the British Government in their present shape of the proposed Washington Regulations, respecting the Rule of the road at sea, will have on the steam trawlers' trade, owing to the fact that it is impossible for a steam trawler with her fishing gear down to get out of the way of a sailing vessel; whether any representations have been made by the German Government with regard to the 564 expediency of giving to steam trawlers when their gear is down the right of the road in face of sailing vessels; and whether the French Government has expressed its willingness to abide by the decision of the British Government; and whether he will make an early announcement of the Government's intentions in regard to the matter?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. BRYCE, Aberdeen, S.)I believe that it has been stated that the proposed Regulations for preventing collisions at sea will adversely affect steam trawlers at work; but, as a matter of fact, the proposed Regulations make no alteration in the existing Rule of the road at sea so far as steam trawlers are concerned. Representations have been received from the German and French Governments on the subject of the right, of way of trawlers, and it is proposed to deal with the Rules affecting fishing vessels as soon as the negotiations regarding the rest of the Regulations are completed, the Regulations regarding fishing vessels constituting a separate branch of the subject. An announcement of the intentions of the Government will be duly made when a decision has been arrived at.
*MR GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)Does the right hon. Gentleman suggest that a steam trawler with her trawl down, and unable to move unless she slips her trawl-warp, is bound to observe the Rule of the road at sea?
MR. GIBSON BOWLESBut the right hon. Gentleman said she would be subject to the Rule of the road at sea? Is that so?