Title 47 — Telegraphs, Telephones, and RadiotelegraphsRelease 119-73
§25 Fishing vessels; duty to keep nets from cables
Title 47 › Chapter CHAPTER 2— - SUBMARINE CABLES › § 25
Summary
Keep nets and gear at least 1 nautical mile from any vessel laying or repairing a cable, and at least 1/4 nautical mile from buoys that mark a cable being laid or that are broken. If you do not, you commit a misdemeanor and face up to 10 days in jail, a fine up to $250, or both. Vessels that see signals from a telegraph ship get up to 24 hours to comply and must be allowed that time.
Full Legal Text
Title 47, §25
Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
The master of any fishing vessel who shall not keep his implements or nets at a distance of at least one nautical mile from a vessel engaged in laying or repairing a cable; or the master of any fishing vessel who shall not keep his implements or nets at a distance of at least a quarter of a nautical mile from a buoy or buoys intended to mark the position of a cable when being laid or when out of order or broken, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof, shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten days, or to a fine not exceeding $250, or to both such fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court. Fishing vessels, on perceiving or being able to perceive the said signals displayed on a telegraph ship, shall be allowed such time as may be necessary to obey the notice thus given, not exceeding twenty-four hours, during which period no obstacle shall be placed in the way of their operations.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
47 U.S.C. § 25
Title 47 — Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73