SEIZURE OF A TRAWLER

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 95, 19 May 1909, Page 3

SEIZURE OF A TRAWLER

■> THE NORTH SEA INCIDENT. , Received 18, 10.50 p.m. London, May IS. Mr. Thomas MacKinnon Wood, replying to Sir George Doughty, stated that tbe German Government was uf opinion that the recent seizure of the trawler General in the North Sea was justified, although the captain was acquitted of a charge of illegal fishing. Germany also claimed that there was no ground for compensation. Mr. Wood added that nothing further was possible in the circumstances and that .there was no ground for arbitration, as Germany had paid lor the damage done to the trawler. The trawler was fined £ls and tire trawl catch confiscated at Flensburg (Germany) on August 27rJi, on a charge of fishing within the three-mile limit. The skipper of the trawler was no positive that he was outside the limit that he went to the expense of briefing a leading German advocate. The commander ot the gunboat had declined to listen to his remonstrances or examine proof that the'skipper was right by ibis bearings and chart, It' was alleged at Grimsby, to which place the trawler be- j longed, that when the arrest was made the vessel was stripped of everything moveable connected with fishing operations, an unparalleled proceeding and one involving the owner in a loss of over £2OO. There was considerable feeling at Grimsby at the time over the occurrence. •