CHAP. II] ADMIRALTY JURISDICTION 1353
of the Constitution Act, 1889, which was confirmed by the
lmperial Act of 1890 (53 & 54 Vict. ¢. 26), is not sufficient to
transfer these droits. In the case of the other Dominions
it is doubtful whether there is any legislation sufficient to
transfer the droits—for the transfer of such droits was not
included in the Act of 1852 (15 & 16 Viet. c. 39), which
authorized transfer of other royal revenues; but the whole
Juestion is one merely of historical interest, for in point of
fact the droits are not remitted to the Imperial Treasury,
and the New Zealand Shipping and Seamen's Act, 1908, and
the Commonwealth Navigation Bill alike purport to vest in
the Dominions and the Commonwealth respectively the
proceeds of all droits.
In one set of cases with regard to merchant shipping
legislation appeals do not lie to the Privy Council, but
appeals lie from inquiries as to shipwrecks, &ec., to the High
Court in England under s. 478 of the Merchant Shipping Act,
1894, but no appeal is permitted from any order or finding
on an inquiry into a casualty affecting the shipping
registered in a British possession or from a decision affect-
ing the certificate of a master, mate, or engineer, if it has
not been granted in the United Kingdom or in. another
British possession. Rules regulating such appeals can be
made by the Lord Chancellor. and have then Imperial
validity.
In addition to the Admiralty jurisdiction conferred by
the Act of 1890, a certain extended jurisdiction is conferred
upon Colonial Courts by ss. 686 and 687 of the Merchant
Shipping Act, 1894, re-enacting earlier legislation, which is
as folawe
686. (1) Where any person, being a British subject, is
sharged with having committed any offence on board any
British ship on the high seas or in any foreign port or
harbour or on board any foreign ship to which he does
not belong. or. not being a British subject. is charged
! In the Commonwealth, under the Navigation Bill, this appeal a
to be intended to disappear as regards coasting and registered vessels ; ef.
Canada Act. 1908. o. 85.
