THE NEWFOUNDLAND FISHERY QUESTIOIJ. 1 87 



Great Britain and France ; and, further, that for a period of 47 years, 

 from the year 1844 to 1891, no less than eight Commissions have 

 been appointed, and a large number of Special Missions organised, 

 besides a considerable amount of negotiations and correspondence 

 carried on in order to arrive at a settlement of this vexed Newfound- 

 land fishery question. 



All these efforts of diplomacy have proved of no avail, arising on 

 the one hand from the sturdy spirit of independence and patriotism 

 of the Newfoundlanders, and the obstinate determination of the 

 French on the other hand, to maintain their hold on the Waters 

 of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and on the north and west coast 

 line of Newfoundland ; the fragments remaining to France of their 

 once famous Colonial possessions on the North American continent. 



In order that we may be able to form a correct estimate, and a 

 sound judgment on the whole case, we will now briefly refer to these 

 various Commissions and negotiations which have been undertaken, 

 from 1844 to 18.91, for the purpose of arriving at a satisfactory basis 

 for settlement. 



In the remarkable and able Despatch which the Right Honourable 

 the Earl of Derby, H.M. Colonial Minister in 1884, addressed to the 

 Governor of Newfoundland, Sir John Glover, will be found a com- 

 prehensive statement of the whole question, and the following 

 extracts may be given from this Despatch. 



NEGOTIATIONS IN 1844 



In the year 1844 the French Government proposed negotiations to be held in Lon- 

 don, and previous to opening them it vi^as determined to appoint a British and French 

 Commissioner in Newfoundland to report upon the question. 



Captain Fabvre, commander of the French naval station, and Mr. Thomas, Presi- 

 dent of the Chamber of Commerce at Newfoundland, were, in consequence, 

 appointed by their respective Governments, 



On the 30th July 1844 Mr. Thomas made his report to the Governor. In this re- 

 port he suggested, with regard to the French claim of "exclusive rights," that the 

 respective fishermen of both nations should be kept separate and distinct in their 

 fishing places. He also suggested the extension of the French fishery limits to the 

 Belle Isle North, and made suggestions with regard to the sale of bait to French 

 Fishermen. 



This report resulted in negotiations being held in Paris in the month of March 1846. 



The British Commissioner, Sir A. Perrier, was authorised to offer, in exchange for 

 the French cession of all rights between Cape Ray and Bonne Bay, the following con- 

 cessions : — 



Admission of exclusive right of fishery from Bonne Bay to Cape St. John, going 



round by the north. 

 Exclusive right of French fishery, drying, and curing at Belle Isle North. 

 Permission for English fishermen to sell bait at St Pierre. 



