48 ARGUMENT OF GEE AT BRITAIN. 



The great importance attached to fisheries as training-grounds for 

 seamen is also attested by the bounties with which the industry has 

 been encouraged by the United States as well as by other countries, 

 notably France. 



In view of all this, the precise significance of the term "American 

 fishermen " as employed in the treaties of 1783 and 1818 be- 



55 comes very apparent. The fisheries were desired not merely as 

 a source of wealth but as yielding a supply of sailors. 



ENLARGEMENT OF TREATY RESULTING FROM EMPLOYMENT OF 



FOREIGNERS. 



It is important to observe how the introduction of foreign fisher- 

 men in American vessels would enlarge the privileges given by other 

 treaties. Take the case of French fishermen. 



By the treaty of 1763, France ceded Canada, Cape Breton, and all 

 the islands in the Gulf of St. Lawrence to Great Britain, and in the 

 treaty occurred the following clause (British Case, App., p. 8) : 



"And His Britannic Majesty consents to leave to the subjects of 

 the Most Christian King the liberty of fishing in the Gulf of St. Law- 

 rence, on condition that the subjects of France do not exercise the said 

 fishery but at the distance of three leagues from all the coasts belong- 

 ing 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 the said gulf, the subjects of the Most Christian King shall not be 

 permitted to exercise the said fishery but at the distance of 15 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 foot of former treaties." 



By the same treaty Great Britain ceded the islands of St. Pierre 

 and Miquelon to France, 



" to serve as a shelter to the French fishermen." 



On the same day as that upon which the United States obtained 

 liberty for American fishermen to fish in British coast waters (3rd 

 September, 1783), another treaty between the United Kingdom and 

 France renewed the provisions of their previous treaty, and thus 

 French fishermen were to remain under exclusion to the distances 

 mentioned from the shore: that is, to a distance of 30 leagues from 

 the Nova Scotia coast; 15 leagues from the Cape Breton coast; and 

 3 leagues from the coasts in the Gulf. 



The declaration of the French King which accompanied this last 

 treaty contained the following (British Case, App., p. 12) : 



" In regard to the fishery between the Island of Newfoundland and 

 those of St. Pierre and Miquelon, it is not to be carried on, by 



56 either party, but to the middle of the channel; and His Maj- 

 esty will give the most positive orders, that the French fish- 



