INTERXATTOXAL TREATIES. 171 



TREATIES NOW ANTIQUATED. 



At the time wlieu the French ol'tained tliese treaty priviU-ges,. 

 the population of the whole island ^vas very small, and but few 

 British subjects had settled on this portion of the- coast. It was 

 also believed then that this section of the country was worthless, 

 as far as its soil was concerned, and that it contained nothing 

 valualile. These notions jiroved to be unfounded. As years 

 rolled on it was found that this half of the island, with a co;i>l- 

 line of 790 miles, contained large tracts of fertile land, valuable 

 forests, coal beds and rich mineral deposits. The climate (.if the 

 western coast is also superior to that of the eastern and southern, 

 being free from fogs and the influence of the Arctic Current, so 

 that it is much more favourable for colonization. Circximstances 

 have entirely altered since these ancient treaties were made, and 

 they are no longer applicalile to the condition of the colony. 

 Their abrogation or moditicition is ui'gently needed. 

 TREATY OF UTRECHT. 



These concessions were first made to tlie French by the Treaty 

 of Utrecht, in the year 1713. It stipulated that " The Island of 

 Newfoundland, Avith the adjacent islands, shordd lielong of right 

 wholly to Great Britain ;" that it shall be allowed to the subjects 

 of France "to catcli fish and dry them on land on that part only 

 of the coast" defined in the treaty; and that "it shall not be 

 lawful for the subjects of France to fortify any jilace in tlie said 

 island of Xewfoundland, or to erect any Ituildings there l)esides 

 stages made of boards, and huts necessary and usual for drying 

 of fish, 01' to resort to the saitl island beyon<l the time necessary 

 for fisliing and drying of fish." 



TREATY OF 1703. 



The next treaty dealing witli this matter was that of Paris,. 

 1763. It renewed and confirmed the previous treaty, and added 

 the following article : — "The King of Great Britain cedes the 

 islands of St. Pierre and ]\Ii(pielon, in full right to His Most 

 Christian Majesty, to sor\e as a shelter to Fiench fishermen ; 

 and His Most Christian ^lajesty engages not to fortify the saitl 



