262 MISCELLANEOUS 



In the year 1858, when the Baron de la Ronciere le Neury made a 

 claim for an exclusive right to fish in St. George's Bay, and gave 

 notice to our fishermen accordingly, the Baron had no communica- 

 tion with the Governor on the subject of French claims, or anything 

 else ; but not long afterwards an official notification was made to her 

 Majesty's government that " in the following season, namely the 5th 

 May, the French cruisers would vigorously enforce against British 

 subjects, the right secured to France by existing treaties, and specif- 

 ically as regards the exclusive right of fishery as claimed by France. 



The British government immediately gave on their part a counter- 

 notice, that from the same date, " French subjects would be required 

 strictly to conform themselves to the terms of the treaties between 

 the two countries." 



The important despatches which the Governor received on this 

 subject, were laid before the House of Assembly, immediately on 

 his receiving them early in the year 1859 ; they will be found in the 

 Appendix to the Journal of the Assembly for the same year, page 

 402 to 408, to which the Governor begs to refer the House, for, it 

 appears perfectly manifest to the governor, on reading the despatches 

 alluded to and others which accompanied them, that under such cir- 

 cumstances, when disputes arise, and claims are made by one party 

 and not admitted by the other, her Majesty's government adopted a 

 wise course in agreeing to a Joint Commission with France to ap- 

 point two English, along with two French Commissioners, to acquire 

 information and report the same to their respective governments in 

 order that if the disputes have arisen from difference interpretations 

 put on these treaties by France and England the two nations may 

 be enabled clearly to define the rights and privileges which belong to 

 their respective subjects, and thus terminate those disputes which 

 have frequently taken place between English and French fishermen, 

 the Governor believes, lor a century past, on the coast of Newfound- 

 land. 



The Governor having published the communication made to him 

 verbally by His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, on his late visit to this 

 colony, and laid before the House a short despatch of date the llth 

 September last, he can give the House no further information, al- 

 though he thinks many days cannot elapse, when he will be fully in- 

 formed on a subject of such importance to the Colony. 



The Governor avails himself of this opportunity of repeating his 

 individual opinion, which he has frequently expressed before, that 

 France never had, and has not the exclusive right of Fishery, which 

 has been claimed, and further, the Governor believes that the maritime 

 and territorial rights of Newfoundland, under existing treaties will 

 be preserved ; and it has been a source of satisfaction to him that pend- 

 ing negociations between the two nations during the last two years, 

 the English and French fishermen have been pursuing their avocations 

 so quietly, at least no complaint whatever has been made by Her 

 Majesty's subjects except one from the West Coast, against a French 

 Naval officer, which, on investigation, was found perfectly frivolous. 



Government House, 4th February -, 1861. 



