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taking such measures as will render the possibility of a 
‘ continuation of these fisheries. Any delay would be prejudicial 
to our Navy, of which the most important source of recruiting 
fis the marine de commerce (commercial navy), or fishermen 
bankers, &c., &c.” 
THE FRENCH RETALIATE, 
1 Smarting under the effects of the Newfoundland Bait Act, 
ie French cast about for some source of bait supply not under 
the control of the colony, and this source they found to a small 
and unsatisfactory degree upon those parts of the coasts of 
Yewfoundland over which they have treaty rights. But those 
parts of the coast are ice-bound at the commencement of the 
isk ing season, and are so distant from the scene of French 
or erations upon the Banks that to resort to them causes their 
ishing vessels much delay and expense. Attempts have there- 
0 re been made by the French to so establish persons upon the 
asts aforesaid that they could obtain and carry bait for use by 
the bankers. A speech recently made in the French Chamber of 
D eputies contained an intimation of this fact, which shows why 
French have so recently and so strenuously put forward 
ims to take and can lobsters upon the coasts of Newfoundland. 
_ They do not wish the privilege of canning lobsters so much 
for its own intrinsic value as an adjunct to the catching of bait 
fi oid and as a weapon wherewith to prevent the otherwise 
ertain destruction of their Bank fishery by the operations 
of f the Newfoundland Bait Act. “If,” say the French, “we can 
* combine lobster-packing with the industry of supplying bait to 
_ “our bankers, they may hope to get over the effects of the 
“Newfoundland Bait Act. And if we cannot profitably com- 
; bine lobster-canning and bait-supplying, we can, at least, worry 
* the people of Newfoundland into concessions to us in reference 
* to bait.” 
_ The question, then, as to the right of the British and French 
respectively to take and can lobsters is not alone important 
oe se of the value of that industry, but is of surpassing im- 
' portance to Newfoundland especially, because in its solution is 
b ound up to a large measure the success of her policy as regards 
the supply of bait, and therefore, also, the question of the pros- 
P srous existence of her people within her borders. If the right 
