1 6 The Fishery Question, . 



disasters upon the continent of Europe. 

 They had five hundred sail in the Fishery. 

 They were well armed ; had distanced their 

 competitors ; were the first in the European 

 markets, and sold their fish at the larger 

 profit. They were actually in peaceable pos- 

 session of every important station on New- 

 foundland before the end of the war. 



The Massachusetts fishermen, on the other 

 hand, swept the coast of Nova Scotia, twice 

 attempted the seizure of Port Royal, and fur- 

 nished two complete regiments and the trans- 

 portation to Nicholson, when he captured 

 that town in 1710. 



The terms of the treaty of Utrecht at the 

 close of this war, in 1713, were, as regards 

 America, in the nature of a commercial ar- 

 rangement.3' By the thirteenth article, New- 

 foundland, with the French stronghold of 

 Placentia, was given to England. The 

 French were to be allowed to dry and cure on 

 the coast from Bona Vista, around by the 

 north to Cape Riche, a range inferior to their 

 previous stations on the south. They were 

 not to fortify or to be engaged on the coast, 

 except during the fishing season. England 

 was to have Nova Scotia, Acadia, ''accord- 



