The Wrangell sentinel., 1939-02-24
DIMOND OUTLINES DISASTROUS
EFFECT NEW Law SMALL BOATS

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WASHINGTON. D. c. - Hear
ings lasting two days were COM
meneed on February Z before the
House Committee on Merchant
Marine and Fisheries to consider
legislation that would exempt oper-
ators of small boats from the re-
quirements set up by international
treaty arrived at by the Interna-
tional Labor Conference and rati-
fled by the United States Senate on
June Is, 1898.
That part of the treaty under
study, known as Draft Convention
No. So, provides that on and after
October %, 1899, all vessels to
which the Convention applies-and
according to the Convention it "ap-
plies to all vessels registered in a
territory in which it is in force
engaged in maritime navigation"
except ships of war, government
vessels, and primitive wooden ships
such as scows and junks"-must
carry licensed navigating officers
and licensed engineers.
Dhows and Junks
The only provisions allowing pos
sibility of relief from the require
ments of the Convention are the two
incorporated in the Convention it
self-namely, abandonment of the
use of modern boats and reyersion to
the use of "dhoWs", generally de-
fined as "coasting vessels of the In
dian Ocean having one mast and a
latten sail" or "junks" similarly de-
fined as Large Chinese vessels hav-
ing lug-sails", or, secondly, obtain
ing exception by national laws or
regulations with respect to exemp-
ton of vessels of less than 200 gross
registered tons.
Attacking the problem along the
last mentioned line the Committee
considered &c bills that have been
introduced to provide exemption
from the crew competency require
ments of the Convention. It was
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before the Committee generally that
the Convention could only be inter
preted to apply to all registered
boats when they leave the inland
waters of this country. One of those
who testified pointed out that this
would mean that even small
pleasure craft or fishing boat that
would go outside the imaginary line
marking the edge TO territorial wa
ters on a trip that would take more
than 16 hours must carry 8 licensed
navigating officers and 8 licensed
engineers, even though the boat
might be only properly equipped for
two men.
Capital and Labor United
Testimony at the hearing indicat-
ed that rich man and poor man, cap
ital and labor, were in this instance
united aginst the extreme applica-
ton of this convention of the
treaty. Representatives of organ
lied labor who were present gener-
ally voiced their approval of legis-
lation to exempt the small boats
along the same lines requested by
representatives of million dollar
yacht clubs and associations.
In his statement as sponsor of one
of the bills that would exempt yes
sells under 200 gross registered tons
from the crew competency require
ments of Draft Convention No. SO,
and as a member of the Committee
ON Merchants Marine anr Fisheries,
Delegate Dimond outlined the disas-
trous effect the Convention, as at
present construed, would have on
the Alaska fishing industry. 1t is
expected that further hearings will
be held before the Committee re-
ports DOT the bill decided upon as
most desirable.
an TN nAY. NM A 7