Title 47, Telegraphs, Telephones, and RadiotelegraphsRelease 119-102

§25 Fishing Vessels; Duty to Keep Nets From Cables

Title 47 › CHAPTER 2 — SUBMARINE CABLES › § 25

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

The captain of a fishing boat must keep nets and gear at least one nautical mile away from any vessel laying or repairing a cable, and at least one quarter of a nautical mile away from buoys that mark a cable being laid or a broken cable. If the captain fails to do this, it is a misdemeanor; on conviction the captain may be jailed up to ten days, fined up to $250, or both, as the court decides. If a fishing vessel sees signals shown on a telegraph ship, it is allowed the time needed to obey that notice, up to twenty-four hours, and no one may block its operations during that period.

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

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102