THE NEWFOUNDLAND FISHERY QUESTION. 1 93 



right to construct fishing establishments upon the reserved French 

 ground, and to utilise the shore line for their railway and mineral 

 interests, and claimed the right to grant railway or mining concessions 

 upon any portion of the littoral zone reserved to France, provided 

 that no injury was inflicted on the French Fisheries. 



Under no circumstances were the French to be permitted to fish 

 either at Belle Isle, or on the coast of Labrador ; and the only con- 

 cession which was made to the French, *as the right to purchase 

 freely the bait upon the Newfoundland coast at the period when the 

 fishing of the capelin and of the herring is permitted, viz., from 

 April to October. 



Generally, the resolutions declared that the rights of the Newfound- 

 landers for fishing upon the reserved French ground were not to be 

 opposed by France, and that they should not be hindered or disturbed 

 in their fishing upon any part of the coast where the French have no 

 concurrent fishing rights. 



NEGOTIATIONS IN 1874. 



In 1874, negotiations were again renewed with the French Govern- 

 ment, England appointing Admiral Miller, and France appointing 

 Captain de Boissoudy, and these negotiations were continued with 

 various interruptions for three years, 1874, '75, and '76. 



The Premier of Newfoundland, Sir Francis Carter, came to Europe 

 to assist in the negotiations, and the five propositions drawn up as a 

 basis of settlement were in this instance submitted to the House of 

 Assembly, and Legislative Council of Newfoundland ; but the French 

 Government opposed the conclusions arrived at, and the negotiations 

 terminated with no good result. 



The arrangement originally contemplated on this occasion was 

 founded on resolutions, dated the 23rd April, 1874, adopted by 

 the Newfoundland House of Assembly, and concurred in by the 

 Legislative Council, and it embraced the following stipulations : — 



I. — The establishment of a Joint Naval Commission to taie cognizance only of such 

 matters as related to the fisheries ; and, in case of disagreement, reference to be 

 made to the respective Governments, all other questions to be dealt with by com- 

 petent authorities. 



2. — ^That the existing British Settlements in St. George's Bay, Cod Roy, and Bay of 

 Islands, Bonne Bay, dnd White Bay should remain undisturbed, and no 

 interruption to be made by the French to fishing by the British in those bays, 



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