29 



limes found them aggressors, not only at Newfoundland, but on the 

 coast of Labrador. Troubles from this source occurred in 1842; and 

 in the following year the British sloop-of-war Electra, in endeavoring 

 to drive off a vessel fishing on the southwesterly shore of Newfound- 

 land, unfortunately killed one man and wounded others on board of 

 her. It appears that the Electra was on the station for the purpose of 

 enforcing the treaty stipulations; that one of her boats gave chase to 

 the French vessel, and, not being able to come up with her, fired across 

 her bows for the purpose of bringing her to ; that, not having accom- 

 plished this object, another shot was fired over her* which, proving as 

 ineffectual as the first, was followed, by order of the officer in charge, 

 by a shot aimed dii:ectly on board, and producing the results mentioned. 

 The aifair created much excitement at the moment. A french frigate 

 arrived at the capital to demand explanations, and the governor of 

 Newfoundland immediately sent a despatch to the ministry "at home," 

 stating the facts of the case. The offence, in this instance, consisted 

 merely in taking bait on the shore not within the Hmits prescribed for 

 vessels of the French flag by the treaties of 1713 and of 1783. The 

 officer in command of the Electra's boat is said, by the colonists, to 

 have acted in accordance with the rules of the service; but a contrary 

 opinion was expressed by the French.* 



The "Bultow" system of fishing is clearly in violation of treaty 

 stipulations. Prior to the peace of 1815, there is good reason to believe 

 that both French and Enghsh fished from the decks of their vessels, 

 without coming to anchor, and without lines moored with several thou- 

 sand baited hooks attached thereto, as at present. There is much dif- 

 ference of opinion as to the degree of injury to the shore, or English 

 fishery, on this account; but since the question is one to be settled 

 entirely by the "declaration" in 1783 — ^namely, that "the method of 



* The French fishermen eaffered much at the hands of the British officers who guarded the 

 coasts in 1853. A colonial newspaper contained the {oilov/'mg acconnt : 



" It appears that the Charles, under the command of James Tobin, esq., commissioner of 

 fisheries, has been doing, serrice at Belleisle, where, on the 29th ultimo, there were about one 

 hundred French fishermen, with about thirty batteaux, who were just commencing their an- 

 nual invasion of British rights. Mr. Tobin immediately ran down to H. M. brig Sappho to ob- 

 tain help, as James Finlay had not then arrived with his crew. His messenger had to travel 

 seven miles over land on the night of that day, and by half-past eleven of the same night re- 

 turned with an intimation from Capt. Cochran that he would land the required force by day- 

 light on the following day in Black Joe Cove, whither Mr. Tobin then proceeded with the 

 Charles, and found that the Frenchmen had been already routed by the men of the Sappho, 

 and were running in their batteaux under reefed foresail and mainsail — the wind blowing half 

 a gale at the time. The Charles escorted them round the island of Belleisle, and then left 

 them, without one fish, to make the best of their way in a pelting storm to Quirpon." 



Near the close of the season, another colonial newspaper stated that — 



" The Vigilance brig-of-war vessel, on the coast of Newfoundland, has damaged the French 

 fisheries very much. Fifty vessels of the fleet in the straits of Belleisle will return home, having 

 eighty thousand quintals short of last year's catch." 



These proceedings, it would seem, were authorized by the ministry, under the general plan 

 adopted in 1852 to prevent encroachments on the fishing-grounds. Admiral Seymour, in a 

 letter to the governor of Newfoundland, remarks that — 



"Her Majesty's government are so desirous that ample means should be given to check the 

 numerous encroachments which have been represented to have taken place in the last years at 

 Belleisle and the coast of Labrador, that I am further authorized to hire and employ some 

 small schooners, for which I am to provide officers and men, for the pui'pose of carrying the 

 object of her Majesty's government fully into effect on the coast of Labrador, under the ^rec 

 tiou of the-captain of the ship or steamer there employed." 



