WHITE SEA FISHERIES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1063, 28 February 1911, Page 5

WHITE SEA FISHERIES.

A CONFERENCE PROBABLE.

Dy Telegraph-Press AMoelatlon-CopyrlgUl

; . '.•-./ London, February 26. • With respect to the controversy that followed tho introduction' in the' Russian Duma of a Bill forbidding foreigners' to fish in tho White Sea within, twelve miles of any point of or near any'of the islands, it is stated: here that Russia is willing, to submit to an intorfiational conference tho question of the imit to be observed with regard to territorial waters. ' . • ,

About eighty Hull steam trawlers are engaged.in.fishing tho waters which the Russian Government desires to close to them; Tueso fishing grounds in tboWhito Sea' were discovered by Hull fishermen about four years' ago, and tho majority of tho vessels engaged there have been built for that: special. purpose, ; being much larger than North Sea trawlers and carrying bigger crews—thirteen hands eaoh. The* grounds are off tho coast of Lapland, Svyatoi Noss, and Cape Knnin, between which an imaginary line of ninety miles is drawn guarding tho entrance to the White Sea and the Gnlf of Mcsen. No trawlers fish within three miles of this imaginary line, as theso are rightly regarded as being Russian territorial waters. Tho Russian claim to a twelve miles limit came as a. bombshell to tho Hull fishing trade.. ' ■ ' '. i.■ '.' Tho British trawler Onward Ho, which was arrostcd last year for fishing within twelve miles ot the Russian coast,- is tho largest steam trawler in Great Britain, her imeasurenvents being, length Uift., and beam 23ft. 6in., whilst hor tonnage is 334 tons, and her value .£IO,OOO.