107 
aent cause of difficulty these new claims, which in the case of 
ss. Murphy and Andrews seem to involve the consideration, 
_ only of fishery rights, but also of territorial rights, which have 
tto been unquestioned. 
The facts set forth before us, which in their material points are not 
1e ple of the dispute, warrant us in the expression of the opinion 
in this particular case, as in others, there has been displayed at 
1es on the part of Imperial authorities, a disposition to make undue 
a ssions in fishery matters to the aggressive claims of the subjects 
Fi France, and to subordinate to politic or diplomatic exigencies the 
doubted rights of British subjects. 
; Pin the case of Messrs. Murphy and Andrews, it is apparent that 
e French have asserted a right to take and can lobsters, and to erect 
on British territory factories or establishments for the purpose of 
ving lobsters. 
F With ‘die devotion to your Majesty, we cannot too strongly affirm 
y P ecasting treaty to take lobsters for commercial purposes in any 
Ti itorial waters of this island, and therefore, d fortiori, we humbly 
mtend that the French are unwarranted in the erection of factories 
r establishments upon our coasts, for the purpose of canning lobsters 
ken in British waters for the purposes of exportation and sale. The 
a 
claims asserted by the French in this behalf with all humility we 
vehemently deny. 
We are constrained to regard with regretful resentment the fact 
a in the case under consideration, the removal of establishments 
rected by British subjects for the purpose of taking and canning 
ers has been enforced by subjects of France, at the instance of the 
ach authorities, a French war-ship assisting and a British war-ship 
ering to ‘support the unwarranted contention of the French. 
y reason of these unwarranted claims, and by this interference 
vith the rights of your Majesty's subjects, much damage and loss have 
ag d, and we have reason to believe that many of your Majesty’s 
bjects have been deprived of a means of subsistence for themselves 
ee manic. We therefore regard with reasonable apprehension 
d alarm the probability of further encroachments upon the rights 
f your Majesty’s subjects being made or attempted to be made by the 
bjects of France, the acquiescence in which encroachments must be 
ous to the interests of our people. 
© With all submission we are constrained to state to your Majesty 
position that the claims of the subjects of France in respect of the 
aking and preserving of lobsters upon our coasts, and also their claims 
in respect of the taking of salmon, which latter claims have also been 
