59 
ve no right either to take or can lobsters upon the said 
it is absurd and vexatious, to the last degree, that 
egulations concerning the taking must be submitted to the 
Que en in Council, in order to protect French rights; and, 
‘on the other hand, if the French-have any right at all to 
t ake and can lobsters, or if, not having any such right, they are 
pe mitted to exercise one, the application of regulations to the 
British which the French would not observe would only result 
in preserving the lobster industry for the profitable prosecution 
‘of it by the French. If aright to take lobsters be conceded to 
i ne French, no effective regulations can be made without their 
msent; and even if no right be conceded to them, the power 
of regulating the taking may be rendered useless by some inter- 
rence which the regulations may be construed to operate with 
the French cod fishery. 
CuHaptTer IV. 
BOUNTIES AND BAIT. 
UPS AND DOWNS OF FRENCH FISHERY. 
It has already been shown in this pamphlet that for many 
_ years the fishing operations of the French upon the coasts of 
_ Newfoundland upon which they have treaty rights have steadily 
_ decreased in extent and importance, and that they are at present 
_ reduced to merely shadowy proportions. It is a prevalent and 
mischievous impression, and one which the British press unin- 
| _ tentionally perpetuates, that the French nation sets great store 
“upon its treaty rights upon the coasts aforesaid, because the 
" fishery there affords a nursery or training ground of sailors to 
_™man its fleet of war-ships. Nothing could be further from the 
| _ truth. French fishing vessels do not now frequent these coasts 
in any considerable numbers, and consequently the French Navy 
i is not in any degree benefited by the existence of the treaty 
rights. ‘The only French fishery now largely carried on in 
western waters is the Bank fishery, engaged in by vessels which 
/eome from France each year, and by others fitted out from 
a 
