BRITISH, COLONIAL AND OTHER CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. 221 



sea with which that neglected portion of Newfoundland is known to 

 abound, and thereby to enlarge and increase the revenue of the 

 colony these are some of the most prominent of the considerations 

 which forcibly present themselves to my mind in reference to the 

 subject which j r ou are appointed to discuss. 



4. I have understood that the French fishermen would attach a 

 high degree of value to the privilege of following the codfish, which 

 at certain seasons of the year strike across from Quirpon, (the north- 

 eastern point of Newfoundland) to the Island of Belle Isle, situated 

 in the straits of that name, but so much nearer to the coasts of 

 Labrador than to any part of Newfoundland as to be beyond the 

 present French limits. Those limits I should agree to extend so as 

 to include Belle Isle, and should regard their withdrawal from the 

 part of the coast to which I have alluded, viz., from Cape Ray to 

 Bonne Bay, (both inclusive,) as cheaply purchased by such a sur- 

 render on our part. Capt. Le Fabvre may not, however, regard this 

 as a sufficient equivalent. In such a case I should consider some re- 

 laxation in the laws regulating the supply of bait from the British 

 coasts and harbours opposite to St. Pierre's, for a limited period, 

 and under well-considered restrictions, as more free from objection 

 than would be the admission of the French or of any foreign power 

 to any right of taking and drying fish on any part of the " coast of 

 Labrador," though they are virtually, though indirectly, in the en- 

 joyment of that advantage at the present moment. 



Finally. It may be proper to remark, that, although it may be 

 perfectly true that England has nothing to complain of as regards 

 the provisions of the existing treaties in respect to the question of 

 bait, and might at once declare that, as far as that question is con- 

 cerned, she has only rigorously to enforce her rights ; yet it is neces- 

 sary to be borne in recollection that such an open and long-continued 

 infringement has been permitted on her part of the engagement by 

 which the King of England bound himself and his successors in the 

 declaration annexed in the Treaty of 1783 to prevent settlement by 

 British subjects, or to cause the removal of such as had or might 

 attempt to settle themselves on those parts of the coast of Newfound- 

 land within which the French possess by that treaty the right of 

 taking and drying fish; that it might be very inexpedient and unwise 

 for us to stand upon our extreme rights in respect to this question, 

 as such a proceeding might only have the effect of inducing our 

 opponents to assert those which they undoubtedly possess under the 

 declaration above referred to, as well as of opposing in limine an 

 unnecessary obstacle in the way of the amicable consideration of any 

 proposition which Captain Le Fabvre may have to bring forward in 

 relation to the west coast. 



With these observations, it only remains for me to request that you 

 will put yourself into immediate communication with Captain Le 

 Fabvre, keeping me constantly informed of your proceedings, and 

 referring to me at all times when you may be desirous of receiving 

 my advice or further instructions, of which you are to consider as 

 one that this memorandum, with the whole of the documents which 

 accompany it, are to be returned to me, with your report. 



J. HARVEY. 



The Hon. W. THOMAS, 



Member of H. M. Executive Council of Newfoundland. 



