markets; equally, the northern ports are actually better situated than 

 Bordeaux for exporting their production, by sea or by rail, toward the 

 regions of great consumption in the mediterranean basin. 



Thus Fecamp recently has taken first place as a cod-landing port in 

 France, surpassing Bordeaux. In 1938, the quantities of cod landed were 

 23, 000 tons at Fecamp, 18, 000 at Bordeaux, and 17, 000 at Saint-Malo. 

 One should note, however, that the greatest fishery is realized by the 

 Malouin outfitters, with 25, 000 tons brought back from Newfoundland and 

 2, 300 tons from Greenland. The Bordeaux trawlers have, for their part, 

 captured 10, 500 tons at Newfoundland and 2, 500 tons at Greenland. It is 

 among these Bordeaux trawlers of the great fishery that one found, at the 

 beginning of the war, the largest vessels of the type anywhere in the world. 

 These superb vessels actually have only a commercial and administrative 

 attachment to their port, being manned by Brittons and Normans. They do 

 not contribute less to maintain at Bordeaux an important cod industry in 

 which this port has recently regained indisputed supremacy andwhich, with 

 Fecamp and Saint-Malo, represents almost the total for France. 



Since the beginning of exploitation of the Newfoundland region at the 

 dawn of the 16th century, the great cod fishery has represented a very im- 

 portant factor in the economy of France, and has provided a living for many 

 families. Besides, its crews, which have surpassed 15,000 in some years, 

 always constitute a most solid reserve for the French navy. 



Thus is justified the constant solicitude of the public authorities for this 

 industry, and their care in assuring its maintenance by efficient protective 

 measures. 



When the king of France ruled in the northern region of America and 

 in the lands neighboring the places where cod were caught, the French fish- 

 ery found itself in a privileged situation by comparison to the exploitation 

 by foreign countries. Outfitting for Newfoundland was a great remunerative 

 industry which had no need for assistance and asked none. 



The situation changed with the Treaty of Utrecht, in 1713, giving Brit- 

 ish domination in Newfoundland and, later with the treaty of 1763 which re- 

 moved all French possessions in North America. 



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