BBITISH, COLONIAL AND OTHEB CORBESPONDENCE, ETC. 549 



regards the article of dried codfish, although they prosecuted the 

 herring-fishery at Bonne Bay and Bay of Islands on the western coast. 

 The question of the privileges of fishing on certain portions of the 

 Newfoundland shores enjoyed by French fishermen does not come 

 within the scope of this Commission, yet a passing allusion may be 

 made to it. These privileges consist in the freedom of the inshore 

 fisheries from Cape Ray northwardly to Quirpon Islands, and from 

 thence to Cape John, on parallel 50 of north latitude; and the value 

 attached to this right by the French Government is attested by their 

 solicitude in maintaing it, and by the amount of French capital em- 

 barked in the prosecution of these fisheries. This affords another 

 proof of the productiveness of the waters of the island. 



CHAPTER II. Advantages derived l>y United States citizens. 



It will not be a matter of surprise that there should be an absence 

 of exact statistical information when the facts are taken into con- 

 sideration that, until the Washington Treaty, this vast extent of 

 fishery was exclusively used by the people of Newfoundland 

 sparsely scattered over a long range of coast, for the most part in 

 small settlements, between the majority of which the only means 

 of communication is by water, and where, up to the present time, 

 there was no special object in collecting statistical details. It is 

 proposed, however, to show, by such evidence as will, it is believed, 

 satisfy the Commissioners, the nature and value of the privileges 

 accorded to the citizens of the United States under the Treaty of 

 Washington. These may be conveniently divided into three heads, 

 as follows: 



I. The entire freedom of the inshore fisheries. 



II. The privilege of procuring bait, refitting, drying, transship- 

 ping, and procuring supplies. 



III. The advantage of a free market in Newfoundland for fish 

 and fish-oil. 



The privileges granted in return to British subjects will be treated 

 subsequently, and consist of 



1. The liberty of prosecuting fishing operations in United States 

 waters north of the 39th parallel of north latitude; and, 



2. The advantages of a free market in the United States for fish 

 and fish-oil. 



I. The entire freedom of the inshore -fisheries. 



Newfoundland, from that part of its coast now thrown open to 

 United States fishermen, yearly extracts, at the lowest estimate, 

 $5,000,000 worth of fish and fish-oil, and when the value of fish used 

 for bait and local consumption for food and agricultural purposes, 

 of which there are no returns, is taken into account, the total may 

 be fairly stated at $6,000,000 annually. 



It may possibly be contended on the part of the United States 

 that their fishermen have not in the past availed themselves of the 

 Newfoundland inshore fisheries, with but few exceptions, and that 

 they would and do resort to the coasts of that island only for the 

 purpose of procuring bait for the Bank fishery. This may up to 

 the present time, to some extent, be true as regards codfish, but not 



