THE NORTHEAST COAST FISHERIES V U 471 



v 



Fundy, they probably found ample justification for their mis- 

 deeds in the bad treatment they had themselves received. 



In drawing up the treaty of peace which was concluded 

 in Paris in 1763, much difficulty was encountered by the 

 plenipotentiaries in adjusting the fishery question which 

 appears to have claimed consideration beyond all other 

 topics. ' France, driven to extremities, seemed willing 

 enough to lose all of Canada, but she insisted upon the 

 retention of some parcel of territory as a basis from which 

 to carry on her fisheries. Strong opposition to any fish- 

 ing concessions manifested itself in England, it being ear- 

 nestly contended that the fisheries alone were worth more 

 than possession of all Canada. It was finally agreed that 

 France should continue her use of the shores of Newfound- 

 land from Bona Vista to Cape Riche, as had been previously 

 stipulated in the treaty of Utrecht. French fishermen were 

 not allowed to fish elsewhere within three leagues of the 

 shore ; and along the coast of Cape Breton an interdiction of 

 fifteen leagues was placed against them. The islands of St. 

 Pierre and Miquelon were ceded to France in full right, to 

 serve as shelter to its fishermen, and the French engaged 

 not to fortify or to effect permanent settlements upon the 

 same. 



The French fishery interests had again suffered severely 

 by these wars, although after the treaty of Paris, through 

 generous bounties and every kind of governmental encour- 

 agement, they slowly revived, and in course of time recov- 

 ered a share of their former prestige. France having sided 

 with the American colonists in their war of independence, 

 suffered the loss of St. Pierre and Miquelon, but by the 

 treaty of Versailles in 1783, these islands were restored, to- 

 gether with an extension of privileges theretofore granted 

 on the shores of Newfoundland, giving them an area of shore 

 line for curing, from Cape St. John to Cape Ray. The 

 phraseology of this treaty, defining the nature of the rights 

 of France on the Newfoundland shore, furnished another sub- 

 ject of contention to English and French statesmen, until a 

 true meaning was agreed upon in 1881, nearly a century 



