BAIT-FISH — EXPANSION — AND CONFLICT 223 



of constables, of sub-collectors of Customs, of post officials, 



and of Commissioners for issuing mesne process — was 



already at work at St. George Bay, the Bay of Islands, 



Bonne Bay, Flower's Cove, and St. Anthony in 1881 ; and 



for a time the naval officer on the station was also invested 



with the authority of a local magistrate. The population on 



the Treaty shore numbered 9,000 in 1881 and 13,000 in 



1 89 1, and it was known beforehand that the French fishermen 



would not recognize local law, or those who tried to enforce 



it. The lobster was only the principal cause of strife, and 



men wondered what would happen if attempts were made to 



compel Frenchmen to obey the thousand and one laws in the 



local statute-book about seines, and nets, and close times for 



fishing, and Sunday observances, and the like. 



It was plain that the lobster was one of many influences ^^^^ ^^^^^ 



which were leadmg England and France towards war. other abor- 



English and French statesmen took the alarm, and in 1885 ^ijve Anglo- 



.-. .-, . ,., , French 



Signed a new provisional convention, which once more de- Conven- 



limited the English and French fisheries, reserving to the *^°^^^ ^^^5» 



French, amongst other things, the neighbourhood of Croc, 



St. Barbe, St. John Island, and Ingornachoix Bays, and 



authorizing existing buildings on the reserved parts, and 



future as well as existing establishments and buildings for 



industries (except fishing industries) elsewhere. Dual naval 



control was provided, each naval officer controlling those of 



his own nation. Fishing-ships were exempt from port, 



light, and shipping dues, and fishing necessaries were exempt 



from import duties. Fish included fish caught on the sea, 



but were otherwise undefined. The word lobster was not 



even mentioned, but herring and capelin were mentioned; 



and the French were allowed to buy herring, capelin, and 



other bait freely. Newfoundlanders once more rebelled 



against the bait-clause, threw the Treaty on one side, and 



enacted the Anti-Bait Laws of 1886 and 1887, which will be 



presently discussed. The Treaty was not wholly waste 



