116 FISHERIES OF THE PROVINCE OF QUEBEC 



sorted to lately by American vessels that it has discouraged 

 Mr. Janvrin from extending his commerce. This year the 

 number of American vessels drying fish at the Magdalens 

 amounted to thirty-five, and more than two-thirds of them 

 have cured their fish in the harbour of Amherst, and occupied 

 so large a space as to almost exclude Mr. Janvrin or any Brit- 

 ish Adventurer from pursuing the fishery in an extensive 

 way. The Americans having met with no interruption, have 

 lately had the presumption to build several fishing stages and 

 flakes; they have not yet left any person to remain the win- 

 ter, but in the spring bring two crews for each vessel, one of 

 which remains on shore to cure the fish. The Americans 

 having finished their fishery for the season, I therefore only 

 observed to them that I was of opinion that it was improper 

 for them erecting flakes, etc., and so many vessels resorting 

 to one harbour, supposing that my admonishing them would 

 now be too late to produce any effect this season. Before 

 leaving the Magdalens, I am extremely sorry to acquaint 

 you that the Sea Cow fishery at those Islands is totally an- 

 nihilated, not one having been seen for many years. ' ' 



After the war of 1812-14, negotiations for a renewal of 

 American fishing privileges in British North America waters 

 were entered upon and a convention signed in London in 1818 

 which considerably limited the privileges accorded by the 

 Treaty of Paris in 1783, as will be seen by Article 1 of the 

 Convention, which reads, in part, as follows: 



"The inhabitants of the United States shall have for 

 ever, in common with the subjects of His Britannic Majesty, 

 the liberty to take fish of every kind on that part of the 

 southern coast of Newfoundland from Cape Ray to the Rameau. 

 Islands, on the western and northern coast of Newfoundland 

 from the said Cape Ray to Quirpon Islands, on the shores of 

 the Magdalen Islands, and also on the coasts, bays, harbors. 

 and creeks from Mount Joly on the southern coast of Labra- 

 dor, to and through the Straits of Belle Isle, and thence 

 northwardly indefinitely along the coast, without prejudice 

 however, to any of the exclusive rights of the Hudson Bay 





