The Fishery Question. 55 



from headland to headland, could be con- 

 sidered a bay in the premises. An opinion, 

 illustrating *' the rational principles of Inter- 

 national Law," followed in the Anglo-French 

 treaty of 1867,^^ but not as yet accepted by 

 the Dominion of Canada. At the root of 

 the Provincial demonstrations lay the desire of 

 forcing the United States into concessions of 

 reciprocity. By adopting free trade England 

 had curtailed her demand for the natural 

 products of the British American provinces. 

 Participation in the United States market, on 

 favorable terms, thus became a primary object 

 to the Canadians, and in 1847 the Canadian 

 Parliament petitioned the Queen for reciproc- 

 ity with the United States. England had fol- 

 lowed the aggressive policy of the provinces 

 with reluctance. She had followed, neverthe- 

 less. Until free trade triumphed, it was not her 

 commercial policy to seek reciprocity. When 

 the principle was adopted, a measure of free 

 trade with the United States mieht be ob- 

 tained through Canada. The zeal of the 

 provinces almost defeated their end, under 

 the impression that the tribulations of the 

 American fisherman miorht be exhibited to his 

 Government, as a reason for conferring a priv- 



