THE NEWFOUNDLAND FISHERY QUESTION. 19? 



The rejection of the Convention by the Legislature of Newfound- 

 land was mainly in consequence of Article xvii. of the Treaty, which 

 was as follows : 



French fishermen shall have the right to purchase bait, both herring and capelin, 

 on shore or at sea, on the shores of Newfoundland, free from all duty or restrictions, 

 subsequent to the 5th of April in each year, and up to the close of the fishing 

 season. 



And also objection was taken to Article ix., on the ground that 

 considerable power was given to the French Naval authorities 

 stationed at Newfoundland, in the absence of British cruisers, against 

 British subjects, whom the French fishermen might consider were 

 infringing on their fishing rights. 



The Article on this subject was as follows : 



On a complaint being made by French fishermen or on a demand being made by 

 them with a view to their being enabled to exercise their right of fishing, the com- 

 manders of the English cruisers shall oppose, and, in case of no English cruiser being 

 in Hgkt, the cOTnmanders of the French cruisers Tnay oppose every fishing operation of 

 British subjects which may interrupt the industry of such French fisher^nen ; tkey shall 

 remove the boats or ships causing the obstruction to such industry. 



The action of the Legislature and Government of Newfoundland 

 in refusing to ratify this Convention was disappointing, considering 

 that in the first Convention signed by the English and French 

 Commissioners at Paris, 26th April, 1884, they raised no objection 

 so far as we know, to either Articles ix. or xvii., neither were the 

 British Commissioners, Messrs. Ford and Pennell, who were in 

 personal communication with the Government of St. John's, 

 informed of any difficulty that would be raised against either of 

 these Articles in the Convention. 



In a Despatch addressed by the Governor of Newfoundland, 

 Sir J. H. Glover, to the Earl of Derby, H.M. Minister of the 

 Colonies, dated July i6th, 1884, he stated that : 



Your Lordship will observe that my Ministers desire two modifications in the 

 proposed scheme, namely : — facilities for the export of minerals from harbours not 

 tinted red on the map, and that the French Guardians should be Umited to one family 

 in each harbour. 



His Excellency enclosed a copy of the resolutions on the subject, 

 adopted by the Government of Newfoundland, which contains the 

 following important declaration : 



The Council are convinced that the Legislature, as well as the Executive, in 

 entering upon this important question, will be animated by a desire to meet 

 as far as possible the views of her Majesty's Government regarding a satisfactory 



