228 MISCELLANEOUS 



off in 1847, and Lord Palmerston directed Sir A. Perrier to hold him- 

 self in readiness to meet the Commissioner about to be appointed by 

 the French Government. The Commission was opened in Paris last 

 month, and the French Commissioner, Monsieur De Bon, presented a 

 proposal of which the following is a literal translation : 



" On the part of the French Government, concession to British sub- 

 jects of the right*to inhabit St. George's Bay, Newfoundland, and 

 to fish there in common with the French citizens, or in other words, 

 relinquishment of the exclusive right of fishery in that Bay, guaran- 

 teed to France by the Treaty of Peace of 1783. 



On the part of the British Government, 



1st. Concessions to French citizens of the right of purchasing and 

 fishing for herrings and caplin on the south coast of Newfoundland, 

 without being subject to any tax or retribution whatsoever. 



2nd. Concession to French citizens of the right of fishery, without 

 curing on shore, during two months of each year, on the following 

 points on the Coast of Labrador, viz., Green Island, Lance a Loup, 

 Black Bay, and Modeste Islands. 



3rd. Recognition of the right of French citizens to fish at Belle 

 Isle in the Straits, which right they exercised and without its being 

 put in question until 1841. 



This proposal is so different from anything that could have been 

 expected from Captain Fabvre's communications, that it cannot but 

 be considered as totally inadmissable. 



Sir A. Perrier will therefore submit to Her Majesty's Government 

 the expediency of his making a counter proposal embodying all the 

 conditions contained in Lord Aberdeen's instructions of March 14, 

 1846. He will also suggest that he be instructed to hold out (in the 

 event of refusal to entertain the English proposal, or of the French 

 Government insisting upon the removal of British settlers within the 

 French limits) that Her Majesty's Government will enforce the 

 strict observance of all the stipulations of the several treaties which 

 concede to France a temporary right of fishery upon certain parts of 

 the coast of Newfoundland; that the French will be restricted from 

 fishing, curing and drying, and to board Stages and Huts necessary 

 for these purposes, that they will be prevented taking Salmon or any 

 other fish, in any part of the rivers, streams, or other water not bona 

 fide on the coast 6 that nothing but what is indispensable for fishing, 

 or to the necessities of the fishermen, will be allowed to be landed 

 without payment of duty; and lastly, that these measures will be 

 enforced by cruisers and Custom House Officers, who will remain 

 stationary with the French ships during their stay at Newfoundland, 

 and follow them until their departure at the close of the fishing sea- 

 son. Moreover it might be notified that the sale of herrings and 

 caplin to French fishermen would be prohibited. 



(Signed) ANTHONY PEURIER. 



9 CUMBERLAND TERRACE, REGENT'S PARK, July 21, 1852. 



In the Inst degree for apportioning the Fishery stations on the coast of 

 Newfoundland the French have provided for allotment of the Salmon fisheries. 

 This is an encroachment never before attempted. 



6 Coast the edge or margin of the Land next the sen; the shore. It is not 

 used for the Banks of less waters. (Johnsou's folio dictionary.) 



