316 MTSCELLAK iiOUS 



copy of a despatch from the Governor of Newfoundland, inclosing 

 copy of "An Act to regulate the Exportation and Sale of Herring, 

 Capelin, Squid-, and other Bait Fishes," together with a copy of a 

 further despatch inclosing the Attorney-General's Report on the Bill, 

 with a Petition from both Houses of the Legislature praying that the 

 Bill may not be disallowed. 



As the Governor has reserved the Bill, and the operation of it is 

 in any case by clause 8 postponed until the 31st day of December 

 next, no immediate decision is required upon it, and time will be af- 

 forded to see whether any arrangement can be come to with the 

 United States' Government as well as with that of France on the 

 fisheries questions. 



Lord Granville, however, is inclined to think that the colonists 

 make out a strong case for the allowance of the Bill. 



It has hitherto for many years past been the policy of Her Majes- 

 ty's Government to resist any attempt on the part of the colonists of 

 Newfoundland to interfere with the sale of bait to the French, as the 

 French Government, as Lord Rosebery is aware, attach the greatest 

 importance to their fishermen being able to obtain bait on the south 

 coast of the island for the prosecution of the Bank fisheries, and they 

 would, no doubt, regard as a very hostile act any interference with 

 what nas been the practice for years. 



The late Duke of Newcastle, when Secretary of State for the 

 Colonies in 1863, informed the Governor, in a despatch dated 3rd 

 August in that year, that " no Act could be allowed which prohibits 

 expressly or is calculated by any circuitous method to prevent the 

 sale of bait;" and recently, when it was known that the Fishery Ar- 

 rangement of 1885 was being unfavourably received in the Colony, 

 Lord Granville stated in a telegram to the Governor that "Her 

 Majesty's Government could not consent to any measure restricting 

 sale of bait to the French." This message was read to the Com- 

 mittee of the Legislature who were considering the Fishery Arrange- 

 ment, when Mr. Pennell, of this Department, recently met them in 

 St. John's, but it is in Lord Granville's opinion a question requiring 

 consideration whether, now that the French Government are threat- 

 ening to carry out the Treaties according to their extreme views, this 

 position of Her Majesty^ Government may not be changed and the 

 prohibition of the sale of bait be permitted, unless the French 

 Govej-nment are prepared to abolish or to substantially reduce the 

 bounties. 



Before, however, coming to any conclusion on this matter, Lord 

 Rosebery will probably think it desirable to await the arrival of the 

 Delegate expected from Newfoundland, and the discussion of the 

 whole question proposed in the letter from this Department already 

 referred to. 



I am, &c. 



(Signed) ROBERT G. W. HERBERT. 



Count (PAubigny to the Earl of Iddesleigh (Received September #/.) 



LONDON, September 20, 1886. 



MY LORD: A decree of the Newfoundland Government, dated the 

 9th August last, has prohibited lobster fishing for three years, from 



