CHAP. XXXV. ILLEGAL TRAFFIC IN BAIT. 225 



onward in the same direction. If, therefore, the French be per- 

 mitted to sweep their hirge seines and spread their bultows 

 round Belle Isle, it cannot be doubted that the effect which we 

 too surely know has by such means- been produced elsewhere on 

 our coast will be reproduced here — both shoals of fish will be 

 intercepted on their way to the Labrador, to the great injury, 

 if not the entire destruction, of our fisheries on that shore. 



The ' taking of bait,' which consists of herring, caplin, 

 and launce, on the coast of the Gulf, is perhaps the most 

 material and important question with regard to the 

 fisheries, for without bait the cod fisheries on the banks 

 and elsewhere in deep water would be comparatively 

 valueless. The French were most anxious to obtain the 

 right to purcliase and fish for herrings and caj^lin to be 

 used as bait on the south coast of Newfoundland, the 

 trafiic in bait being expressly forbidden by law. The 

 value of bait sold in 1856 to the French was estimated 

 by competent authority at not less than 58,000/.* The 

 price which the French give for bait operates as a very 

 seductive temptation towards illicit traffic. In 1856 an 

 average of 2Qs. to 27-5. sterling a barrel was paid by 

 them for herrings sold for bait, while the actual legitimate 

 value of herrings for exportation was at the same time 

 only 6-s. Id. sterling. Hence the premium on the illicit 

 traffic amounted to one pound sterling per barrel of 200 lbs. 

 A reduced supply of bait to the French fishermen is 

 equivalent not merely to a corresponding diminution in 

 their catch of fish, but to a much larger supply on the 

 British American coast, which, after feeding for a certain 

 period on the Great Banks, resort to the coasts in pursuit 



* Governor Parliiig-. 

 VOL. U. q 



