174 INTEEXATIOXAL TREATIES. 



The consequence has been that the concurrent riglit fell into' 

 abeyance, and for fisliing purposes that portion of the coast was 

 practically closed against the 2>eople to \\hom the soil of the 

 island belonged. 



EXTRAVAGANT CI.AIM8. 



This was not all. The French ]iot only claimed and tried to- 

 enforce an exclusive right to the fishery, but they 2:)referred more 

 extravagant claims to pievent tlie inliabitants of Xewfonndland 

 from occupying the land witliin tlie limits defined liy the trea- 

 ties, whether for agi'icultural, mining or other purposes, thns 

 virtually exercising sovereignty over half the island. It is true 

 they did not jDretend to occupy the land themselves, except for 

 fishery purposes ; but they pursueil only too successfully the 

 " dog in the manger" jJolicy, of jireventing anyone else from 

 doing so. They preferred this claim on the ground that the 

 occu})ation of the land by tlie people of the island would be an 

 infringement of their fishery privileges. Here again the Imjje- 

 rial authorities inflicted a cruel wrong upon the colony by tem- 

 porizing with these unfounded claims, and refusing for a long 

 time to permit the local government to issue land grants in the 

 disputed district, while at the same time they repudiated the 

 French claims and declared the sovereignty of the territory to be 

 vested solely in England. 



BRITISH SKTTLERS INCREASE. 



Meantime, however, in spite of all dilhcultius and discourage- 

 ments a numerous population settled on this shore. Tliey now 

 number nearly 12,000 people. Their condition was for a long 

 period very miserable. They were in the position of squatters, 

 having no title to their property ; were living without the 

 guardianship of law ; hail no roads, scliools, magistrates to pun- 

 ish crimes, or any of the ordinary appliances of civilization^ 

 They became increasingly a source of anxiety to the local govern- 

 ment. At length, in 1881, the representations and remonstrances 

 of the local legislature were listened to ; the local government 

 Avas emj^owered to make grants of land ; but these were made 



