114 
Secretary of State to Governor, 12th February, 1890. 
It is absolutely necessary that an answer respecting the modus 
vivendt should be given to the French Government immediately, 
Reply must be given by the day after to-morrow. 
Governor to Secretary of State, 12th February, 1890, 
1 only received your telegram of 8th inst. late on Saturday night, 
and submitted it to a special meeting of Executive Council on Monday. 
I find that no law exists prohibiting the erection of lobster factories, 
and it is stated that several are now in course of construction. I 
have telegraphed for information, and after a meeting of Council will 
again telegraph to your Lordship to-morrow. 
Governor to Secretary of State, 13th February, 1890. 
My Ministers strongly contest the French claims to lobster fishing, 
but desire to meet the wishes of Her Majesty’s Government as to a 
modus vivendi for this season only. They desire that the proposed date 
may be extended to the Ist January last, otherwise great hardship must 
ensue, as a large amount of money has been invested in erecting new 
factories. 
4 
Governor to Secretary of State, 15th February, 1890, — 
I had been told before I sent my last telegram to your Lordship 
that about nine new factories were commenced. But I have learned 
since then that more are begun or contemplated. There is great diffi- 
culty in obtaining information, so I cannot give definite numbers, but 
should estimate about twenty, though how far they have progressed I 
cannot say. | 
Governor to Secretary of State, 5th March, 1890. 
Is it desirable to refer to the modus vivendi with the French | 
Government in my Speech at the opeame of the Legislature on 
7th March ? + 
Secretary of State to Governor, 6th March, 1890. | 
You may mention in your Speech that negotiations are in progress ; 
between the Governments of Great Britain and France for a settlement 
of questions that have arisen with regard to the rights of the subjects 
of the two nations respectively to catch and preserve lobsters on t ut 
part of our coast where the French have a concurrent right of fishery, 
and it is hoped that a provisional arrangement for the present ices | 
may be arrived at, and ultimately a final solution of the difficulty. 
