302 MISCELLANEOUS 



Captain Fabvre, commander of the French naval station, and Mr. 

 Thomas, President of the Chamber of Commerce at Newfoundland, 

 were, in consequence, appointed by their respective Governments. 



On the 30th July 1844 Mr. Thomas made his report to the Gov- 

 ernor. In this report he suggested, with regard to the French claim 

 of " exclusive rights," that the respective fishermen of both nations 

 should be kept separate and distinct in their fishing places. He also 

 suggested the extension of the French fishery limits to Belle Isle 

 North, and made suggestions with regard to the sale of bait to French 

 fishermen. 



This report resulted in negotiations being held in Paris in the 

 month of March 1846. 



The British Commissioner, Sir A. Perrier, was authorised to offer, 

 in exchange for the French cession of all rights between Cape Ray 

 and Bonne Bay, the following concessions: 



Admission of exclusive right of fishery from Bonne Bay to Cape 

 St. John, going rourfd by the north. 



Exclusive right of French fishery, drying, and curing at Belle Isle 

 North. 



Permission for English fishermen to sell bait at St. Pierre. 



At preliminary conferences held in Newfoundland, these meas- 

 ures had nearly been agreed to by Mr. Thomas and Captain Fabvre; 

 but Captain Fabvre was desirous of retaining for France, in addition 

 to the exclusive rights above mentioned, her rights of fishing, curing 

 fish, &c., at Cod Roy, Red Island, Port-a-Port, and Lark Harbour, 

 and to acquire for the French a " concurrent " right of fishery on the 

 coast of Labrador. 



The instructions, however, to the French Commissioner did not 

 admit of his negotiating on the above-mentioned principles, and as 

 no new propositions were brought forward by the French Govern- 

 ment up to the month of May 1847, the negotiations fell through. 



On the application of the French Government in 1851 negotiations 

 were renewed, Sir A. Perrier being again directed to proceed to Paris 

 to act as British Commissioner, M. de Bon being appointed on the 

 part of France. 



The British Commissioner was instructed to invite proposals from 

 the French Commissioner such as might form a starting-point in the 

 negotiations. 



M. de Bon accordingly proposed, on the part of France, to admit 

 the right of British subjects to inhabit, the Bay of St. George, or, in 

 other terms, to give up the exclusive right of fishery in that bay, to 

 which they considered themselves entitled by the Treaty of 1783. In 

 return for this concession he demanded : 



1. The right to purchase and fish for bait (herring and capelin) on 

 the south coast of Newfoundland, without restriction. 



2. The right to fish during two months of the year (without curing 

 or drying on shore) on that part of the coast of Labrador situated 

 between the Isles Vertes and the Isles St. Modeste, both included ; and 



3. The right of fishery at Belle Isle North, in the Straits, which the 

 French Commissioner asserted was enjoyed by the French up to 1841, 

 without any demur on the part of Great Britain. 



The concessions demanded by the French negotiator were not con- 

 sidered admissible, and the British Commissioner, in order to over- 



