1146 MISCELLANEOUS. 



regard to the cession of St. Peter, they remarked that it was so small 

 and so near Placentia, that, as a shelter, it would prove altogether 

 illusive, and serve to create disputes between the two nations, rather 

 than facilitate the fishery of the French subjects; and they referred 

 to the cession of Cape Breton, or of the island of St. John, as at first 

 suggested, but expressed a willingness to accept of Canseau instead 

 of either. Still, if the British ministry, for reasons unknown to 

 them, could not agree to the cession of Canseau, then they submitted 

 that Miquelon, an island, or, as they considered, a part of St. Peter, 

 should be included in the cession of the last-named island, for the 

 two joined together did not exceed three leagues in extent. They 

 said also that they would maintain no military establishment at 

 either of the places mentioned, except a guard of fifty men to support 

 police regulations; and that, as much as possible with so weak a 

 force, they would prevent all foreign vessels from sheltering, as 

 required; while they would limit their fishery on the coast of New- 

 foundland to the stipulations of the treaty of Utrecht provided it 

 should be understood that they could take and dry fish on the coast 

 of St. Peter and Miquelon. To the condition relative to the residence 

 of the commissary on the ceded islands they did not object. 



In England opposition to any concessions to France was soon 

 manifest. The fisheries in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and on the 

 Banks of Newfoundland were held to constitute a great source of 

 wealth to France, and to be her principal nursery for seamen. The 

 voluntary offer of the ministry, therefore, to continue the privileges 

 enjoyed under the treaty of Utrecht, was viewed with great displeas- 

 ure. The fisheries, it was said, were worth more than all Canada. 

 The common council of London, as representing the commercial 

 interest of the kingdom, transmitted to the members of the House of 

 Commons from the city peremptory instructions on the subject of 

 the treaty, and particularly tnat the sole and exclusive right of 

 fishing in the American seas should be reserved to the subjects of the 

 British crown. Such, indeed, were the sentiments of a large party. 

 But their remonstrances were disregarded. 



The negotiations were concluded at Paris February 10, 1763. The 

 articles of the treaty which relate to our subject are the following: 



"The subjects of France shall have the liberty of fishing and drying 

 on a part of the coasts of the island of Newfoundland, such as it is 

 specified in the thirteenth article of the treaty of Utrecht, which 

 article is renewed and confirmed by the present treaty, (except what 

 relates to the island of Cape Breton, as well as the other islands and 

 coasts in the mouth and in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.) And his 

 Britannic Majesty consents to leave to the subjects of the Most 

 Christian King the liberty of fishing in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, on 

 condition that the subjects of France do not exercise the said fishery 

 but at the distance of three leagues from all the coasts belonging to 

 Great Britain, as well those of the continent as those of the islands 

 situated in the said Gulf of St. Lawrence. And as to what relates to 

 the fishery on the coasts of the island of Cape Breton, out of said 

 gulf, the subjects of the Most Christian King shall not be permitted 

 to exercise the said fishery but at the distance of fifteen leagues from 

 the coasts of the island of Cape Breton; and the fishery on the coasts 

 of Nova Scotia, or Acadia, and everywhere else out of the said gulf, 

 shall remain on the footing of former treaties." 



