BEITISH, COLONIAL AND OTHEE COEBESPONDENCE, ETC. 233 



much more formidable competitors in foreign markets than the 

 French for the produce of their bank fishery will soon cut out, by its 

 well known superiority, the small fish of Newfoundland catch, taken 

 along the coasts of the Island and of Labrador. 



With respect to a further reference to the Legislature of Newfound- 

 land before coming to a final decision on the proposals to be made to 

 France, it is entirely a matter of consideration for your Lordship ; but 

 I should consider myself deficient in my duty were I not to state the 

 impression left on my mind that this suggestion, emanating from the 

 Newfoundland Attorney General, is, that the proposed delay is with 

 the view of keeping back the question of sale of bait as a means of 

 bargaining with H. M. Government for Free Trade with the United 

 States. 



It would be trespassing too much on your Lordship's time to con- 

 tinue refuting the objections contained in the enclosed documents, and 

 to renew the oft-repeated arguments against the concurrent right of 

 fishery proposed to be offered to the French on the Coast between 

 Cape Ray and Bonne Bay; but there remains one proposal of these 

 Gentlemen which is of too serious a nature not to be noticed, namely, 

 the admission by Treaty of a sort of French jurisdiction in places 

 reserved to French fishery. 



The end may be obtained without this sacrifice of principle; for 

 when warned that they must not fish nor trespass within the French 

 boundaries, British transgressors will have no right to complain of 

 any act of the French to uphold their privileges. 



These acts may, without inconvenience, be overlooked ; but it would, 

 I conceive, be a dangerous precedent to concede, by Treaty, the exer- 

 cise of any right pertaining to the sovereignty of the Island. 

 I have, etc., 



(Signed) A. PERRIES. 



The right honorable the EARL OF CLARENDON, K. G., 



etc., etc., etc., Foreign Office. 



[Inclosure.] 



Messrs. Archibald and Strachey to Sir A. Perrier. 



COLONIAL OFFICE, DOWNING STREET, fill June, 1853. 

 SIR: In pursuance of the instructions given to us by the Duke of 

 Newcastle, to take into consideration the project of Treaty which 

 you have suggested for negociation with France, in reference to the 

 Newfoundland fisheries, and communicate with you on the subject, 

 we transmit to you, herewith, a statement of such amendments of the 

 project as we think, after the discussions which we have had with 

 you, to be advisable, together with observations in explanation of 

 them. 



We have, etc., 



(Signed) E. M. ARCHIBALD. 



W. STRACHEY. 

 Sir A. PERRIER. 



