322 MISCELLANEOUS 



strictions, without due notice and on the eve of the fishing season, 

 would cause to French fishermen, was the consideration winch prin- 

 cipally precluded Her Majesty's Government from consenting to the 

 imposition of these restrictions at the present time. 



4. In suggesting that further communication with the French Gov- 

 ernment might lead to the discovery of a remedy for the present de- 

 pression in the Newfoundland fishery trade in some other direction 

 than in that of the prohibition of the sale of bait, Her Majesty's 

 Government had in fact followed a suggestion made by the Colonial 

 Legislature, which had itself referred to another solution (the modi- 

 fication of the French bounties) as likely to remove all need for 

 restriction on the sale of bait. 



5. I may also point out that, although the damage to the colonial 

 fisheries is stated to have been going on for some period " within three 

 years," the Bait Clause in the Arrangement of 1884 was not ob- 

 jected to by the Government of Newfoundland when stating the 

 modifications which they desired to be made in the Arrangement in 

 the Minute of Council of the 15th July in that year. 



6. But although the Address of the House of Assembly has ap- 

 peared to Her Majesty's Government to require the foregoing ob- 

 servations, they have not failed to give their best attention to the 

 strong representations contained in it, and to the further important 

 facts which have since been brought before them as to the operation 

 of the French bounties, and they have felt it their duty to give effect 

 to the reiterated expression of the wishes of the Legislature and 

 Government of Newfoundland. They have accordingly advised Her 

 Majesty to sanction the Act, and an Order in Council for the purpose 

 will be forwarded to you by an early opportunity. 



7. I have, however, desired you, by telegraph, not to issue any 

 Proclamation under section 12 lor bringing the Act into force until 

 after the close of the present fishing season. 



8. You will be so good as to apprise the Members of the Legisla- 

 ture of the decision which has been arrived at in reply to their 

 Address. 



I have, &c. (Signed) H. T. HOLLAND. 



The Marquis of Salisbury to M. Waddington. 



FOREIGN OFFICE, July 5, 1887. 



M. L'AMBASSADEUK : With reference to Count d'Aubigny's letter 

 of the 20th September last, in regard to the prohibition by the New- 

 foundland Government of fishing for lobsters in Bcnne Bay, I have 

 the honour to acquaint your Excellency that a despatch has been 

 received from the Governor of that Colony in which he states that 

 his Government have given a formal assurance that the prohibition 

 will not be enforced against French citizens to whom there had not 

 been any intention of applying it. 



I have, &c. (Signed) SALISUUKY. 



