[longleyI difficulties WITH NEWFOUNDLAND 257 



appears to have been done concerning this proposition for three 

 years. 



The Canadian Government took measures to arrange with the 

 Newfoundland Government regulations touching the issue of licenses 

 under the modus vivendi provided under the Convention of 1888, 

 (which was not ratified by the LInited States Senate, but the modus 

 vivendi provided thereunder has been maintained by the Canadian 

 Government) and a method was agreed upon. Meantime there had 

 been a change of government in Newfoundland, and the Bait Act was 

 proclaimed to be in force April 3, 1890, and on the 15th Mr. Robert 

 Bond, Colonial Secretary, gave formal notice to the Canadian Govern- 

 ment that Canadian fishermen would be required to take out bait 

 licenses and conform in all respects to the provisions of the Bait Act. 

 This was followed by information from all parts of the Maritime 

 Provinces that Canadian fishermen were in a great state of excitement 

 on account of the restrictions recenth- placed upon their vessels by 

 the Newfoundland authorities. 



The Canadian Minister of Marine and Fisheries thereupon 

 telegraphed to the Colonial Secretary of Newfoundland as follows: 



"Information has reached me that by recent legislation Canadian 

 fishing vessels entering your port for bait are subject to a duty of 

 $1.00 per ton for each entrance and restricted to a purchase of one 

 barrel of bait per registered ton. Please wire if correct and kindly 

 send me a copy of the bill." 



To which the following answer was returned b>- wire: 



"The Bait Act passed by legislature last session has been brought 

 in force by Governor's proclamation. All vessels entering our ports 

 for bait are subject to pay a license fee of $1.00 per ton for each 

 entrance and are restricted to one barrel of bait per registered ton. 

 Will mail copy of bill." 



This then was the fulfilment of the explicit assurances of Sir 

 Robert Thorburn and Sir James Winter that "their (Canadian) 

 fishermen will enjoy equal privilege with our own, and that practically 

 there will be no restriction on bait supply of any British subject." 



The Canadian Government took prompt measures to call the 

 attention of the Imperial Government to this x'iolation of the express 

 assurances upon which the Bait Act obtained the Royal assent, 

 but the Colonial Secretary merely wired: "I have received New- 

 foundland proclamation of Bait Act. I do not perceive that it is 

 ultra vires." x^s a matter of fact no change had been made. The 

 act, as assented to, had simply been brought into operation with 

 elaborate regulations. What was found dififtcult was to make the 



Sec. I & II. Sig. 2.S 



