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the opportunity of giving to the subject, have strengthened to 
4 the point of complete conviction my previous impression of its 
* vital importance to the interest of the colony, and have left me 
‘no reason to doubt that the disallowance of the measure, with- 
* out the adoption of some other equally efficacious to secure the 
same end, will be nothing less than a calamity. 
[ Bs 3. For it is only by residence here that it is possible to 
‘appreciate to the full how completely the prosperity of the 
* colony depends on its fisheries, and how inevitable is the ruin 
“and misery of the greater part of its population unless the 
‘causes are removed that tend to render this industry con- 
' tinuously unprofitable. 
“14. Dried cod-fish, the production of which may be said to 
* constitute the main support of our population, is to the extent 
‘ of probably two-thirds of the consumption of the world, obtained 
‘from the seas in the immediate neighbourhood of this colony, 
either on the coasts of the island and its dependency, Labrador, 
* or over the extensive marine plateau known as the ‘ Banks of 
« « Newfoundland.’ Of late years the coast fishery has much 
« declined in actual extent, and still more in relative importance ; ; 
‘while, on the other hand, that of the Banks has, from various 
* causes, advanced with rapid strides. 
15. As the Banks of Newfoundland are outside the limits of 
our territorial waters, people of other nationalities besides the 
British, especially French and Americans, are engaged in the 
fishery there ; and it is the great increase of their numbers in 
‘recent years, and the enormously increased quantity of fish 
* thus obtained, which is regarded as the principal cause of the 
* diminished prices which are so seriously affecting this colony. 
* 16. As the immediate neighbourhood of the coast of New~ 
© foundland enables its people to cure even the fish caught on 
hw Banks so as to produce a better quality, and at a smaller 
* cost, than is possible for foreigners, the above evil might be 
Menected and allowed to cure itself, if the competition were 
" otherwise on even terms, as the production would in all 
“probability fall off until it had reached the point where it 
* became remunerative for all concerned. But the competition 
‘is not on even terms in other respects, and the advantages 
Bp granted to the foreign fishermen by their respective Govern- 
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