IXTEKXATIOXAL TREATIE.S. 175 



subject to the treaty rights of the Freiu'li ; magistrates were ap- 

 pointed ; custom liouses erected, and provision made ibr the 

 representation of tlie residents, \vlio were to send two memljers 

 to the Ljcal parliament. This was a consideraljle step in advance. 

 Law and order were e.-^tahlished ; tlie reijiou became an integral 

 part of Newfoundhind ; and the Government was empowered to 

 exercise territorial jurisdiction over tlie whole, subject of course 

 to existing treaty riglits. The boon should liave been giauled 

 fifty years before. 



PERILS OF THK SITIATIOX. 



The vexed question, however, of concurrent or exclusive fishing 

 rights remains, and is as far as over from settlement. The French 

 endeavour to enforce their claims to an exclusive fishery as j^^-'i'ti- 

 naciously as ever ; and the peace of the two nations is constantly 

 in i^eril in consequence of these conilicting views regarding the 

 2)ro visions of the treaties. England, and her subjects in the 

 Colony, maintain that they have a concurrent right to these 

 fisheries, provided they do not " interrupt" the operations of the 

 French fishermen. The Crown lawyers of England have de- 

 clared that there is nothing in the treaties to prevent British 

 subjects from taking fish at any places not actually occupied liy 

 French fishermen, and provided they do not disturb Frenchmen 

 in tlieir bona fide fishing operaticms. 



VIEAVS OF IJKITISH STATES3IEN. 



The ablest British statesmen of former times, sucli as Lord 

 Palmerston in his famous despatch of July lOtli, 1838, have re- 

 fused to acknowledge that the treaties convej-ed any exclusive 

 right to the French, and declared that had such been the inten- 

 tion terms far more definite and exact would ha-\e lieen used. 

 In 1886 the French Govej'nment once more put forward their 

 claims to exclusive rights, threatening to coniiscatc tlie gear of 

 any who were foun<l fishing on that part of the coast ; to disre- 

 gard the jurisdiction of local magistrates ; to prevent the working 

 of mines, and to protect Frencli fishermen in taking salmon and 

 lobsters as well as cod. To these preposterous claims and threats 



