242 CANADIAN NIGHTS 



island. She also, practically speaking, owns half 

 the interior of the island. What is the exact 

 nature of the rights which she is entitled to exercise 

 over the foreshore has never yet been determined. 

 It was retained for fishery purposes. The French 

 cannot erect permanent buildings of any kind, but 

 they may set up temporary huts and drying 

 stages, and everything necessary for the accom- 

 modation of their men during the fishing season. 

 So much is clearly understood. But whether the 

 French rights are exclusive ; or whether the 

 English may also make use of the shore for fishing 

 purposes ; or if not, then whether they are also 

 precluded from permanently settling and cultivat- 

 ing land, or working minerals on the French shore, 

 are doubtful points ; but they will have to be 

 decided some day, for the state of things which 

 now exists, though it might have been thought 

 little of when Newfoundland was a mere store- 

 house for salt, and a drying-place for the nets of 

 fishermen who paid it an annual visit, will become 

 unbearable as the island develops and is settled up. 

 It is not the fisheries alone that are concerned. 

 If you make a man absolute master of the door, 

 it is obvious that he practically controls the room 

 within ; and as the natural and only outlet for 



