1 78 THE NEWFOUNDLAND FISHERY QUESTION. 



depth of the sea varies from 30 to 100 metres, equal to from 35 to 

 no yards in depth. 



The French Rear-Admiral Clou6 is of opinion, that these plateaux 

 in the ocean, are the direct result of the Gulf Stream which flows 

 towards the Northern Atlantic, in the line of an arc of the circle. On 

 arriving at the banks of Newfoundland it turns to the westward and 

 meets the cold current of water which descends from the BaflSn Seas, 

 and thence takes a course along the shores of Labrador and New- 

 foundland. 



This cold current of water which descends from the north brings 

 in its course, during a greater part of the year, a large number of im- 

 mense mountains of ice, rudely and wildly detached from the Arctic 

 zone, and the contact of these huge icebergs with the hot water of 

 the Gulf Stream dissolves the former, and scatters its heterogeneous 

 mass of stones and solid material, and this " debris " mingling with 

 other elements, have from distant ages without ceasing, become over- 

 whelmed in the depths of ocean, and have led steadily during the 

 past centuries to the formation of these numerous shoals. 



Each of these plateaux in the ocean, have a distinct title, and they 

 are very numerous, the principal of which are the Great Shoal, the 

 Green Shoal, the St. Pierre Shoal, and they form a group which 

 appear as if they were linked with the mainland of Newfoundland, 

 whereas they are separated by deep channels of water. 



The Shoals de Misaine, d'Arteinon, le Banquereau, de Sable, du 

 Canseau, and others are more easily approached from the mainland 

 of Nova Scotia. 



On these extensive shoals the codfish finds a rendezvous, and its 

 fecundity is extraordinary, as it is said that millions of eggs are 

 annually deposited upon them. 



TREATY OF UTRECHT, 1713. 



The Treaty of Utrecht, 17 13, by which England obtained from 

 France Nova Scotia and the island of Newfoundland, secured to 

 France the right to fish, and dry the fish upon an extent of 200 

 leagues, or 700 miles of the coast-line of Newfoundland, comprised 

 between Cape Bonavista, on the east coast, and thence passing 

 northward to Point Riche. 



It may be useful to recapitulate the clauses of the Treaty of 

 Utrecht of 17 13, referring to this subject. 



