30 



carryiirg on the fishery which has at all thnes been acknowledge d shall 

 be the plan upon which the fishery shall be carried on there," and that 

 "it shall not be deviated from by either party," — there need be no 

 inquirv into any other matter. The *'plan" of the "Bultow" had not, 

 *V/? all times been •acknovuleclged'^ in 17S3, and it is therefore an aggres- 

 sion. 



The last complaint of the English colonists which I shall notice is, 

 that "the exclusive right of fishing exercised by the French from Cajie 

 Ray to Cape John is a usurpation." The "declaration" just referred 

 to was framed expressly that "the fishermen of the two nations may 

 not give cause for daily quarrels ;" and different fishing-grounds were 

 assigned to each, to accomplish an object so desirable to both. More- 

 over, the British ministry engaged to remove "the fixed settlements" 

 of their own people within the limits prescribed to the French, and 

 actually issued orders for the purpose soon after the conclusion of the 

 treaty. The intention w"as, I cannot doubt, that vessels of the two 

 flags should never pursue the cod on the same coasts ; and unless the 

 words quoted convey this meaning, they mean nothing. The expe- 

 rience of more than a century had shown that, under any other arrange- 

 ment, "daily quarrels" would be inevitable. I submit, with deference, 

 that the interest of all parties imperatively requires that people of dif- 

 ferent origin, language, and religion, and of national prejudices almost 

 invincible, should be kept apart. 



The French government wisely protect their fisheries by bounties — 

 wisely consider them of national importance.* Without its aid, they 



*[translation.] 



The National Assembly of France has passed a law of the following tenor relative to the 

 great maritime fislieries. — June 24th, 9th and 22d July, 1851. 



Cap. I. — CoD-FisHERY. 



From the 1st January, 1852, to the 30th June, 1861, the bounties granted for the encourage 

 meut of the cod-fishery will be fixed as follows : 



1st. — Bounty OH the outfit — 



Fifty francs per niau of the crew employed at the fishery, either on the coast of Newfound- 

 land, at St. Peter's and Miquelon, or on the Grand Bank, and possessmg a drying-place. 



Fifty francs per man of the crew employed in the Iceland fishery, without a drying-place. 



Thirty francs per man of the crew employed at the fishery on the Grand Bank of Newfoimd- 

 land, and w ithout a drying-place. 



Fifteen francs per man of the crew employed at the Dogger Bank fishery. 



2d. — Bounty on the produce of the fishery — 



Twenty francs per metric quintal of ttiy codfish, the produce of the French fishery, to be 

 shipped, either direct from the fishing settlements or from the ports of France, for the markets 

 of the French colonies of America and India, or for the settlements on the west coast of 

 Afiica, and other transatlantic countries — provided, always, that the fish be landed at a port 

 where there is a French consul. 



Si.\tecn francs per metric quintal of dry codfish, the produce of the French fisheiy, shipped 

 either direct from the fishing settlements or from the ports of France, and destined for tlie 

 countries of Europe and the foreign states on the shores of the Mediterranean, Sardinia and 

 Algeria being excepted. 



SLxteeu francs per metric quintal of diy codfish, the produce of the French fishery, that 

 may be imported into the French colonies of America and India, and other transatlantic coun- 

 tries, when said fish are exported from the ports of France without having been there landed. 



Twelve francs per metric quintal of dry codfish, the produce of the French fishery, shipped 

 for Sardinia and Algeria, either direct from the fishoig settlements or from the ports of France. 



Twenty francs per metric quintal of the hard roe of codfish, the produce of the French fish- 

 ery, brought mto France by their fishing-vessels. 



Note. — One kilogramme is equal to 2 lbs. '6i oz. ; 220^ lbs. equal to 1 quintal metrique, 

 (say metric qiiiut-al.) 



