226 MISCELLANEOUS 



recommended by Mr. Thomas, President of the Chamber of Com- 

 merce at St. John's, which have been refused. 



The concessions to France, some or all of which might be granted 

 without detriment to the interests of this country and of the colony, 

 appear to be four : 



1st. A right of Fishery on the Island of Belle Isle, in the Straits. 



2ndly. A right of Fishery on some part of the Coast of Labrador, 

 where it would not materially interfere with British interests. 



3rdly. A further removal of the restrictions on the sale of bait : and 



4thly. The reservation of certain spaces or Islands to the exclusive 

 use of the French during the fishery season (for the purpose of dry- 

 ing fish,) on that Southern portion of the Coast over which they 

 would be called upon to give up their other rights. 



These concessions to be made in return for the French giving up 

 all rights (except those reserved by the 4th concession) over that 

 Southern portion of the District from which the British are at 

 present by Treaty excluded. This portion to commence at least as 

 high as Bonne Bay, and to include that Bay. 



The information now in possession of Her Majesty's Government 

 does not appear to be sufficiently complete to warrant their proposing 

 a settlement of this question on such a basis without further inquiry 

 into the facts. 



Advantage might be taken of the short time Sir G. Le Marchant 

 has to remain in the colony, and instructions sent to this Governor 

 to report fully on all the points upon which further information is 

 necessary. 



This proceeding would not be productive of any unnecessary delay 

 in the negociations with France, as the present fishery season will be 

 over before any decisive measures could be adopted. 



Captain Milne (one of the Lords of the Admiralty) drove the 

 French away from Belle Isle in 1841. As he is fully acquainted with 

 the fisheries on those coasts, I thought it right to consult him on the 

 expediency of admitting the French to fish at Belle Isle and on the 

 coast of Labrador. His opinion is that the abandonment of French 

 rights to the Southward of Bonne Bay, would more than compensate 

 for any losses that would fall on the British Fishery interests in con- 

 sequence of French Fishery on the Coasts of Belle Isle and Labrador. 



He informed me that Vice- Admiral Sir G. Seymour, Commander- 

 in-Chief of that Station, is about to proceed to Newfoundland. I 

 therefore beg leave to suggest that the Lords of the Admiralty be re- 

 quested to direct "Sir George to confer with the Governor on this 

 matter, and to report his own opinion upon the above mentioned con- 

 cessions. Sir George has already been on the Newfoundland Station, 

 and is fully aware of all the difficulties arising from French encroach- 

 ments on that quarter. 



I had prepared the enclosed memorandum to serve in my communi- 

 cations with the Colonial Office, and I have the honor to submit to 

 its conclusions to Your Lordship's consideration. 

 I have, etc., 



(Signed) ANTHONY PERKIER. 



The EARL or MALMESBURT, etc., etc., etc. 



P. S. Since writing the foregoing, I have been informed that Sir 

 G. Le Marchant has been authorized to leave Newfoundland and to 

 proceed to Halifax. 



