The Fishery Question. 35 



American claims to the Fisheries. The his- 

 tory of the negotiations indicates that the 

 reflection was unjust to Franklin and Jay. 



Sentiment in the United States was not 

 unanimous. Samuel Adams hoped not only 

 for the Fisheries, but for Canada, Nova Scotia 

 and Florida. In March, 1779, Congress 

 voted that the common right of the United 

 States in the fishing grounds should in no 

 case be given up. The month had not passed 

 before the resolution was reconsidered in 

 deference to the French interests. In May, 

 independence was made the sole condition of ^ 

 peace with Great Britain. But the discussion 

 had to be reopened, and through the exer- 

 tions of the New England deputies it was 

 resolved to insist upon the Fisheries. New 

 England declared that her prosperity depend- 

 ed upon the ancient franchises. Sectional 

 feeling developed. A resolution offered 

 in June, that the Newfoundland Fisheries 

 must be guaranteed by France, provoked an 

 acrimonious debate. New England won — 

 but four States threatened to secede. In 

 July the question of the Fishery was reserved 

 for a future treaty of commerce with Great 

 Britain, the proposition to insert it in a/ 



