In the course of the perpetual conflicts between the French fishermen 

 and the inhabitants of Newfoundland, which had followed the signature of the 

 treaty of 1763, the ancient rule based on signing the paper at Croc had al- 

 ready been modified. It had been replaced by the institution of a document of 

 which one printed copy was given to the captain of each vessel at departure 

 from the port of outfitting, with the obligation of indicating, on arrival at New- 

 foundland, the designation of the place chosen among those not yet occupied. 

 On return from the season's fishing, the captain had to give this document of 

 choice of harbor to the Commissioner of the Marine. 



This method of distributing (the places of fishing) having given rise to dis- 

 putes between captains, the Regulation of February 4, 1803, substituted for it, 

 according to the wishes of the outfitters, the drawing of lots. This procedure 

 took place before the departure, before the Commissioner of the Marine, so 

 that all the interested parties could be heard in advance to proceed to an ami- 

 cable settlement. 



The distribution, thus arranged, of harbors and beaches was valid for 

 three years. Henceforth no vessels could make regular trips to Newfoundland 

 without proving assignment of a beach. 



Every three years the outfitters or their proxies had to meet in general 

 assembly at Saint-Malo, before the Commissioner of the Marine in this port, 

 to proceed to a new division of the places of fishery. 



In application of this Regulation, the better harbors and beaches for fish- 

 ing and drying were divided into fishing places classified in four series, ac- 

 cording to the number of dories or long-boats which could operate there. There 

 was ranked in each series the places of fishing where 15 long-boats or dories 

 could operate to advantage; those which could handle 10 to 15;. those which 

 could contain only 9 or less than 9; and finally those which were considered 

 as unusable, and which were not included in the classification. 



It was forbidden, on arrival at Newfoundland, to send any embarkation 

 to land if floe ice was present, or if the vessel was farther than a myria- 

 meter (6. 2 miles) from the shore. All violations of this interdiction were 

 punishable by a fine of 1000 francs. 



The title of master or patron of the fishery, substituted by the Ordinance 

 of 1681 for that of admiral of the fishery, was abolished, as well as the advan- 

 tages attached to its possession. Henceforth, policing of the fishery was 



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