close of the Crimean war (treaty of Paris, 1856), which, along with other rules that have revolutionized naval warfare, declared that “blockades in order to be binding must be effective.”  This means that they must be maintained by a force actually stationed on the blockaded coast, strong enough to make it decidedly dangerous to attempt to run through.  The temporary absence of some of the ships, however, either in pursuit of an enemy or on account of a violent storm, would not invalidate the blockade, and ships seeking to take advantage of such an opening would be liable to the full penalty if caught.

And now a few words about “prizes”—­a particularly interesting and timely theme, for during the very first week of the war our fleet captured no fewer than fifteen of them.

In time of war properly commissioned ships are entitled to capture not only the armed vessels but also the helpless merchantmen of the enemy.  It does seem a good deal like piracy, but it has been the universal practice from time immemorial.  These captured vessels are taken to some convenient port of the captor’s own country that the courts may pass judgment on them, and if there has been no mistake made in the seizure they are forthwith condemned as “lawful prize.”  Then they are sold, and “prize money” is awarded the captors in proportion to the value of the prize.  The cargo is treated in the same way, unless it happens to belong to a neutral, in which case it is free; though the owner must put up with the inconvenience and delay resulting from the seizure, since he deliberately took that risk when he placed his goods in a hostile craft.  Formerly his property was sometimes confiscated under these circumstances, but the treaty of Paris, already mentioned, put a stop to that.  Formerly, too, the goods of enemies could be taken from neutral ships and confiscated in the same manner as contraband of war, but the treaty of Paris made an end of that also.

Another excellent rule adopted on that notable occasion abolished privateering.  Privateers were armed ships belonging to private citizens who had obtained from their own government a commission (letter of marque) which authorized them to make prize of the enemy’s merchant vessels and appropriate the proceeds.  The abolition of privateering was a long step in the right direction, for the privateer’s motive was mainly plunder, and the whole business was really close kin to piracy.  Neither the United States nor Spain signed the original agreement, but both have acceded to it now—­Spain, evidently, very much against her will, for her citizens thirsted for the rich booty of our commerce, a fact which makes supremely ridiculous her crazy ravings against our legitimate captures as “American piracy.”

Distribution of prize money.

The prize money adjudged to captors is distributed in the following proportions: 

1.  The commander of a fleet or squadron, one-twentieth part of all prize money awarded to any vessel or vessels under his immediate command.