224 MISCELLANEOUS 



bounties, is far more dreaded than the chance of any collision on the 

 coast, which a protective force on the station could prevent. It is 

 also supposed that by this supply of bait the French have been mate- 

 rially assisted in establishing a system of fishing on the great bank, 

 which the English, unaided by bounties, are unable to compete with ; 

 and this belief derives strength from the fact that the Bank fishery, 

 once so flourishing, is now reduced to the employment of only three 

 or four British vessels. Moreover, the benefit to be derived from any 

 exclusive rights obtained on the western coast would be regarded as a 

 remote and uncertain compensation for an immediate disadvantage. 



It cannot, however, be denied, that many of the people on the south- 

 ern coast of this Island, (I allude particularly to those of Placentia 

 and Fortune Bays) who have long enjoyed the advantage of selling 

 bait to the French at St. Pierre, are unwilling to relinquish this privi- 

 lege, and would feel great dissatisfaction at any measure that should 

 deprive them of it ; and if a law were passed for that purpose. I am 

 confident they would violate it as often as opportunity afforded. 



By the Act 3 & 4. W. 4, cap. 59, sec. 2, the produce of the fisheries 

 is allowed to be exported in British ships; therefore I apprehend, that 

 unless prevented by the 26 Geo. 3, cap. 26, sees. 14 and 20. the export 

 of caplin and herring to St. Pierre, subject to the custom-house regu- 

 lations, could not in such ships be deemed illegal. 



Should this conference be followed by any treaty between the two 

 nations, I may be permitted to suggest the expediency of guarding in 

 the strongest manner against any privilege of purchasing caplin on 

 the open sea, or anywhere but at St. Pierre. The export should be 

 subject in all such cases, whether in vessels or boats, to the custom- 

 house regulations, and care should be taken, not only to preserve by 

 proper restrictions a sufficient quantity for the use of our own coast 

 fishery before any exportation is allowed, but also to prevent collision 

 between those British fishermen who take it for their own use and 

 those who take it for exportation. 



In conversation with Captain Fabvre, I think I understood from 

 him that a large portion of their shore-cured fish was sent to the 

 Mediterranean, and that no bounty was given on fish consumed in 

 France. 



I would respectfully suggest to your Excellency, whether, in afford- 

 ing any further advantages to the French than those they now enjoy 

 for the supply of bait, it would be possible to make any stipulations 

 as to the markets to which they should send their fish, or as to the 

 abolition or modification of their bounties. 

 I have, etc. 



(Signed) War. THOMAS. 



(Journal of the House of Assembly of Newfoundland, 1857, pp. 

 185, 186.) 



Sir A. Perrier to the Earl of Malmesbury. 



PARIS, 5th July, 



MY LORD : Monsieur de Bon having this morning received authority 

 from the Minister of Marine to communicate to me his proposal for 

 the settlement of the conflicting rights of British and French fisher- 



