29 



times found tlicin ngyrcssors, not only n.t NewKjiindLind, bnt on tiie 

 coast of Labiador. Troubles iVoni this source occurred in 1842; and 

 in the following year the British sloop-of-war Electra, in endeavoring 

 to drive oft' a vessel fishing on the southwesterly shore of Newt()und- 

 land, unfortunately killed one man and wounded others on board of 

 her. It apj)ears that the Klcctra was on the station l()r the purpose of 

 enforcing the treaty stipulations; that one of her Iwats ga.ve cFiase to 

 the French vessel, and, not being able to come up with her, fired across 

 her bows for the purpose of bringing her to; that, not having accom- 

 plished this object, another sliot was fired over her, which, proving as 

 iuollcctual as the first, was followed, by order of the officer in charge, 

 bv a shot aimed dirix'tly on l)oard, and producing the results mentioned. 

 The aftiiir cre;itcd much excitement at the moment. A french frigate 

 arrived at the capital to demand explanations, and the governor of 

 Newfoundland immediately sent a despatch to the ministry "at home," 

 stating the facts of the case. The oflence, in this instance, consisted 

 merely in taking bait on the shore not within the limits prescribed for 

 vessels of the French flag by the treaties of 1713 and of 17S3. Tlie 

 officer in command of the Electra's boat is said, by the colonists, to 

 have acted in accordance with the rules of the service; but a contrary 

 opinion was expressed by the French.* 



The "Bultow" system of fishing is clearly in vioLition of treaty 

 stipulations. Prior to the peace of IS 15, there is good reason to believe 

 ihat both French and English fislied from the decks of their vessels, 

 witiiout coming to anchor, and without lines moored with several thou- 

 sand baited hooks attached thereto, as at present. There is much dif^ 

 fi-rence of opinion as to the degree of injury to the shore, or English 

 fishery, on this account; but since the question is one to be settled 

 entire!}- by the "declaration" in 1783 — nan^ely, that "the method of 



* The French fishermen suffered ranch at the hnnds of the British officers who guarded the 

 CoasfK in IHo'i. A colonial ncvspiiper coiitaiiicd tlic followinij; uccount: 



"It appears that the Chaiirs, undtT the coniinand of James Tobin, esq., commissioner of 

 fisheries, has been doiiif; service at IJelleisle, where, oiitlie 2'Mh ultimo, there were about one 

 himdred l->eiicli tislieniien, wirli about liiiity batteaiix, who v.ere just eoiunieiiciiiir iheir an- 

 luiiil invasion (jf J'ritish ri<,']its. Mr. Tobiii immediately ran down to H. M. briu !>a]ii)li() to ob- 

 tttiii help, as James Finlay had not then arrived with liis crew. His niessen<;tu" had to travel 

 seven nales over land on the nii,'ht of that day, and by half-past eleven of tho same ni;;ht re- 

 turned with an intimation from Capt. Cochran that he woidd laud the re(piired force by day- 

 liilht on the fidlowin<; day in IMaek Joe Cove, whither Mr. Tobin then proceeded witli tho 

 Charles, and found that the Frenchmen had been already routed by the nieu of the Sa]iplio, 

 and were runnin*,' in theii- batteaux under reefed foresail and mainsail — ilie «ind )>lowiu!,' half 

 a Ljale at the time. The (,'liarles escorted them round tlie island of I'.ellcisle, and then lelt 

 them, without one fish, to make tin; bt!st of ihrir w;iy in a ]>cltiu<,' slonn to l^uirpon.'' 



Near the (dose of the season, another c(doiiiid lu'^spajter stated that — 



"The Viiiilance brip-of-war vessel, on the coast td" Newfoundland, has dan)!ij;ed the Frtnwh 

 fisheries veiTimudi. Fifly vessels of tlie fleet in the straits of IJelleisle will return home, having 

 «»ii.dify thousand c|iiintals short of last year's cat(di." 



'J'lii-si- proceeding's, it Would seem, were authorized I'V the ministry, under the general plan 

 adopted in Irf.Vi to ])reveut encroiudnnents on the lishin^'-grounds. Adiidral Se_\mour, inn 

 letter to (In- t;ovenior id' Newfoundland, remarks that — 



"Her M.'ijesty's t'overnmenf tire so desirous iti.it ample meiins should be niveii to clwck tho 

 numerous rneroaeliments which have been represi'iited to hiive taken place iu the last years at 

 Kcllei:<le and the coast of Labrador, thiit I am further iiulhori/ed to hire anil emidoy some 

 Riiiall sidiooners, for whii.-h I am to provide othcers and nu'n, for the |)urpose of carruiii,' tho 

 object other Majesty's government lidly into ell'cct on the coast of Labrador, under tho diruo 

 Uou of the capia'ui of tho ship or stcuiuer there employed." 



