132 FISHERIES OP THE PROVINCE OF QUEBEC 



the mother country, and as several large vessels have been 

 fitted out and equipped therefrom to carry on the cod-fishery 

 in the Bay of Gaspe, at the Island of Bonaventure, at Perce, 

 and in the Bay of Chaleurs in this Province, in order to en- 

 courage that valuable branch of trade, it is enacted by His 

 Excellency the Governor and the Legislative Council," etc. 



In the interests of British and Canadian fishermen it 

 was also enacted, by the legislation of 1824 already referred 

 to, "that the Master or Commander of any vessel fitted out 

 from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, or 

 the Dominions thereunto belonging, as well as all other sub- 

 jects of His Majesty, may take possession of so much of the 

 unoccupied beach, within the aforesaid Inferior District of 

 Gaspe, and in the County of Cornwallis, and in such parts 

 of the County of Northumberland as lies to the eastward of 

 Cape Tourmente, as may be necessary for curing his fish, and 

 preparing it for exportation ; and to retain and enjoy the 

 same, so long as he shall not leave it unoccupied for the space 

 of twelve calendar months; in which case it shall be lawful 

 for any person or persons to take possession thereof, in part 

 or the whole, for the same purposes, and on the same condi- 

 tion. Provided that such beach be not private property, by 

 grant from His Majesty, or other title proceeding therefrom, 

 or by grant prior to the year one thousand seven hundred 

 and sixty, or held under and by virtue of any Location Cer- 

 tificate or Title derived therefrom, or in virtue of any Title 

 derived under any Act of the Legislature of this Province. 

 Provided also, that such new occupier shall, when thereunto 

 required by the preceding possessor or his lawful Attorney, 

 the demand being made within one year after possession 

 taken, pay him a dire d' Experts, for such parts of the flakes 

 and stages as such new occupier shall have taken possession 

 of. And provided further, that the said preceding pos- 

 sessor, not having been paid as aforesaid, may remove any 

 building, or other improvement, erected or made by him on 

 the unoccupied beach as aforesaid, so that such removal be 

 not made during and before the close of the fishing season, in 

 which the new occupier shall have taken possession." 



