The vessels found themselves outfitted for resuming the fishery for many 

 months but the first departures did not follow until some days after the re- 

 turn of Louis XVIII, July 8, 1815. 



In this same year, the fishery on the French Shore was subjected to a new 

 regulation, inspired by the Regulation of February 4, 1803. Completed by the 

 Regulation of 1821, of which publication had been preceded by official recog- 

 nition of all harbors and beaches, it fixed definitely the status of the French 

 fishery on the coast of Newfoundland, although slight revisions were made by 

 the Regulation of 1842 and the Decree of March 2, 1852. 



The four categories of fishing places instituted by the Regulation of Feb- 

 ruary 4, 1803 were maintained. The spots were distributed for five year peri- 

 ods instead of three. In consequence, the drawing of lots of the first three 

 series took place every five years before the Maritime Inscription at Saint- 

 Servan, the outfitters taking engagement to occupy the chosen places, and des- 

 ignating the vessels which would be affected. For division of the beaches, the 

 vessels were divided in three series in which they were placed according to 

 whether the number in their crews was a minimum of 25, 20 or 15 men. The 

 drawing was made by classes of vessels. At the calling of the name of his ves- 

 sel, each outfitter chose for it one of the places remaining free. A bulletin 

 of the distribution was given him, and a document was made out indicating the 

 taking of possession, with mention of the construction and gear which could be 

 used on the beach. The regulation permitted the concessionaire to allow boats 

 other than his own, which in this way could have the right to use the beaches. 

 Each outfitter had the right to give up, at the end of the first year, the place 

 assigned to him. A partial drawing each year distributed these abandoned 

 places. 



This distribution by lot applied to the harbors and beaches of the east 

 coast, from Cape Saint-Jean to Cape Saint Normand, as well as the four har- 

 bors on the west coast: Port-au-Choix, Cove of Earnabe, lie de Sauvages, 

 and lie Saint- Jean. 



In general, each vessel moored and unloaded in the harbor or near the 

 beach of which it had concession; it was obliged to disembark the number of 

 men corresponding to its series. The cutting and drying of fish was effected 

 by the part of the crew assigned to this work, while the fishermen embarked 

 in the long-boats to catch the cod. Each crew had the right to fish in all the 

 harbors, occupied or not, as well as in the open sea. Fishing outside the har- 

 bor of the concession constituted "1' expedition en degrat. " 



51 



