STATUTES, PROCLAMATIONS, RULES, ORDERS, ETC. 947 



from Cape Bonavista to Cape Saint John., situated on the eastern 

 coast of Newfoundland^ in fifty degrees north latitude, and His 

 Majesty the King of Great Britain consented, on his part, that the 

 fishery assigned to the subjects of His Most Christian Majesty, be- 

 ginning at the said Gape Saint John, passing to the north, and 

 descending by the western coast of the Island of Newfoundland, 

 should extend to the place called Cape Rage, situate in forty-seven 

 degrees and fifty minutes latitude : the French fishermen should en- 

 joy the fishery which was assigned to them by the said article, as 

 they had the right to enjoy that which was assigned to them by 

 the treaty of Utrecht: And whereas, by a declaration delivered by 

 His Majesty's Ambassador Extraordinary to His Most Christian 

 Majesty, bearing date also on the said third day of September one 

 thousand seven hundred and eighty-three, His Majesty engaged not 

 only to ensure the execution of the last mentioned treaty with his 

 known good faith and punctuality, but to give all possible efficacy 

 to such principles as may prevent dispute; and, that the fishermen 

 of the two nations may not give cause for daily quarrels, was pleased 

 to engage that he would take the most positive measures for prevent- 

 ing his subjects from interrupting in any manner, by their compe- 

 tition, the fishing of the French, during the temporary exercise 

 thereof which is granted to them upon the coasts of the Island of 

 Newfoundland, and that he would, for that purpose, cause the per- 

 manent settlements which should be formed there to be removed ; and 

 that he would give orders that the French fishermen should not be 

 incommoded in the cutting of wood necessary for the repair of their 

 scaffolds, huts, and fishing boats; and that the thirteenth article of 

 the treaty of Utrecht, and the method of carrying on the fishery 

 which had at all times been acknowledged, should be the plan upon 

 which the fishery should be carried on there, and that it should not 

 be deviated from by either party, the French fishermen building only 

 their scaffolds, confining themselves to the repair of their fishing 

 vessels, and not wintering there; the subjects of His Britannic Maj- 

 esty, on their part, not molesting in any manner the French fishermen 

 during their fishing nor injuring their scaffolds during their absence: 

 And whereas it is expedient, in conformity to the definitive treaty of 

 peace and the declaration aforesaid, that His Majesty's subjects 

 should be prevented from interrupting in any manner, by their com- 

 petition, the aforesaid fishery of the subjects of His Most Christian 

 Majesty, during the temporary exercise thereof which is granted to 

 them on the coast of Newfoundland; and that all permanent estab- 

 lishments on that part of the coast allotted to the French fishermen 

 should be removed; and that such fishermen should be in no man- 

 ner molested, contrary to the tenor of the said treaty, and the good 

 faith thereof: in order, therefore, that His Majesty may be the bet- 

 ter enabled to carry the said several treaties and declarations into 

 faithful and punctual execution, and to make such regulations as 

 may be expedient, respecting the fishery in the manner herein after 

 mentioned," 



Be it enacted by the King's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with 

 the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and 

 Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority 

 of the same, that it shall and may be lawful for His Majesty, 

 his heirs and successors, by advice of council, from time to time, -to 



