104 THE AKGUMENT OP THE UNITED STATES. 



express an opinion, that a moderate number of planters, not exceed- 

 ing one thousand, were useful in the construction of boats, stages, 

 and other necessaries for the fisheries. * * * 



In 1690, the statute 10 and 11 William and Mary, cap. 25, entitled, 

 "An Act to encourage the trade of Newfoundland ", passed ; but as 

 the substance of this act appears to embody the policy of former 

 times, it tended to no purpose other than to legalize misrule, and the 

 capricious will of ignorant men, invested accidentally by it with 

 authority. 



These persons were distinguished by the dignified titles, or rather 

 nicknames, of admirals, vice-admirals, and rear-admirals. The mas- 

 ter of the first fishing yessel that arrived, was the admiral ; the next, 

 vice-admiral; and the third, rear-admiral, in the harbours they fre- 

 quented. Few of these men could write their own names ; and from 

 this circumstance alone the absurdity of investing them with power 

 must be apparent. * * * 



Upon complaints being made to the commander on the station, it 

 had been customary for him to send his lieutenants to the different 

 harbours to decide disputes between masters of fishing vessels and 

 the planters, and between them again and their servants; but upon 

 such occasions, Mr. Larkins alleges those matters were conducted in 

 the most corrupt manner. He that made a present of most quintals 

 of fish, was certain to have a judgment in his favour. Even the com- 

 manders themselves were said to be, in this respect, faulty. After the 

 fishing season was over, masters beat their servants, and servants 

 their masters. * * * 



The French, always, but now more than ever, anxious about their 

 fishery, insisted on their having a right to the western coast, for the 

 purpose of fishing as far south as Cape Kay: maintaining that it 

 properly was " Point Kiche," mentioned in the treaty of Utrecht. 

 This claim embraced nearly two hundred miles of the west coast of 

 Newfoundland more than they had a right to by treaty; and their 

 authority being founded only on an old map of Hermann Moll, was 

 shown, with great accuracy, by the Board of Trade, to be altogether 

 inadmissible. The coast of Labrador was in 1763 separated from 

 Canada, and annexed to the government of Newfoundland. This 

 was a very judicious measure; but, as the chief object of those who at 

 that time frequented Labrador, was the seal-fishery, the Board of 

 Trade, at the recommendation principally of Sir Hugh Palliser, con- 

 sidered it unwise policy to separate Labrador from the jurisdiction of 

 Canada; and accordingly recommended his majesty to reannex it. 

 This was effected in 1774, and in the following year an act was 

 passed, the spirit of which was to defend and support the ship 

 fishery carried on from England. 



Its principal regulations were, that the privilege of drying fish 

 on the shores should be limited to his majesty's subjects arriving at 

 Newfoundland from Great Britain and Ireland, or any of the Brit- 

 ish dominions in Europe. This law set at rest all that "had been agi- 

 tated in favour of the resident colonists. * * * 



It is certain that none of the British plantations have been worse 

 governed than Newfoundland, nor in any has more confusion pre- 

 vailed. By the constitutions granted to all the other colonies, a 

 clearly defined system of jurisdiction was laid down; but the admin- 



