140 FISHERIES OF THE PROVINCE OF QUEBEC 



east and north of Blanc Sablon was simply to dispossess the 

 Canadian fishermen who had settled on the coast or who 

 might attempt to do so in the future, of everything which they 



Several facts in support of this view are officially on 

 record. 



Antoine Talbot, of Berthier, County of Bellechasse, pur- 

 chased in 1838 at Forteau, on the coast in question, an estab- 

 lishment for the fishing of cod, seal and herring, from one 

 James Dumaresq, for the sum of 40, which was paid in cash. 

 He. occupied this property and carried on fishery operations 

 there every year from 1838 to 1846, during which period he 

 was fully recognized by all the fishermen of the coast as the 

 sole proprietor of the station in question. During a good part 

 of this period he made a profit of over 300 per annum, and 

 at the end of eight years he had so much improved his pro- 

 perty that it was worth, together with his fishing outfit, fully 

 1,800. In the spring of 1846, he left Berthier, as usual, 

 for Bradore, taking with him twenty-three men whom he had 

 engaged to work for him. 



Upon his arrival, he found one William H. Ellis in pos- 

 session of his establishment. Ellis had forced the doors of his 

 buildings and chased away his guardian. Talbot called upon 

 him to give up to him his property and his effects ; but in 

 return he received only threats. He was even struck by 

 Ellis and told to get out of the way unless he wished to lose 

 his life. Ellis had some sixty men with him. There was 

 nothing left for Talbot to do but to take his men with him 

 on board his schooner. It looked like a case of highway rob- 

 bery and the plunderer being the stronger, was necessarily 

 left in possession. 



In the hope that Ellis would at least leave him his 

 establishment and buildings at the end of the season, he 

 went down early in the following spring, with the men 

 whom he had engaged to help him, and took possession of his 

 buildings, which were not then occupied. He made the neces- 

 sary repairs and was about ready to commence fishing oper- 



