TWENTIETH MEETING. 35 



Mr. Browning enumerated particulars wherein the French had 

 exceeded their treaty privileges, e.g., (1) in parcelling out the shoi-e, 



(2) exercising jurisdiction over British subjects, (3) prohibiting 

 Biitish sea fishing and prescribing conditions for it, (4) preventing 

 the British fi'oni the river fishery and lobster fishery along shore. 

 No magistrates were appointed in this disti'ict till 1878 : no grants 

 of lands or licenses for search for mines, till 1881 ; nor can the 

 mines chiefly coal and copper, be worked, because the French forbid 

 the use of the sea-board for shipping and other purposes. 



Two conventions have been lately drawn to set at rest the ques- 

 tions raised — one in 1857, and the other in 1886, both of which were 

 rejected by Newfoundland, the last on these among other grounds : — 

 (1) The portions set aside for the exclusive use of France as "places," 

 are the best harbours or fishing grounds. (2) The ignoring of New- 

 foundland magistrates and the appointment of a naval board of two 

 commanders in the English or French navy for the decision of dis- 

 putes either of whom could act in the absence of the other. New- 

 foundland has no confidence in the French navy or its commandei-s. 



(3) Chiefly because it guaranteed to the French the right to take and 

 purchase bait within English bounds. That nation has lately raised 

 its bounties on the exportation of fish so as to equal the value of the 

 article, and is by this means, underselling Newfoundland in the neutral 

 markets of Spain and Italy. The convention rejected, the Island 

 Legislature passed a bait law by which she seeks to counteract the 

 force of the French bounties and preserve the bait fishes for her own 

 use. According to the latest accounts, the law is working well, is 

 enforced by a special cruiser, and is receiving the active support of 

 tlje Home Government. Mr. Browning looks for the settlement of 

 these difiiculties, not to any change in the attitude of Newfoundland 

 but in that of France. Her object in bountying these fisheries, the 

 development or providing of material for a navy, is not attained ; the 

 experience of two centuries and the advice of her naval commanders 

 ai'e against it, while the perpetuation of the fishery i-egulations is 

 detrimental to the best interests of all parties, English and French, 

 and is against the trend of civilization on both sides of the Atlantic. 



