In this new situation, the Americans and English colonists at New- 

 foundland, Cape Breton, and Canada, fished close to their coasts, by 

 means of small vessels which returned frequently to port for landing their 

 catches and renewing their bait, while the French fishermen had to support, 

 at a great distance from their bases, a very much more expensive outfitting. 

 The cod cost them much more than it cost those fishing on the spot. 



These conditions, which put the French cod industry in an unfavorable 

 situation compared to foreign competition, were the origin of the traditional 

 aid given them since by public authority under the form of cash bonuses and 

 exemption from taxes. 



t 



The institution of bonuses alloted to outfitting for the great fishery be- 

 gan in 1767, the year in which Louis XV decided to accord a bonus of 500 

 pounds to all French vessels which went for cod to the coast of Newfoundland 

 between Cape Bonavista and Saint- Jean. 



This act had a special intent. This was to incite the French fishermen 

 to retake possession of this part of the French Shore where the English 

 were installed as masters as a result of the war. The result was negative, 

 for the English by their tenacity in holding the shores finally won out. 



It was the Ordinance of September 18, 1785, completed by the Rule of 

 February 7, 1787, which instituted bonuses for the exportation of dried cod 

 from Newfoundland and Saint-Pierre and Miquelon. These bonuses were 

 paid at the rate of 10 francs per hundredweight for fish exported to French 

 colonies; at 5 francs per hundredweight for exports of dried cod destined 

 for Spain, Portugal, Italy, and the Levant. 



In 1793, the precarious position of public finances temporarily sus- 

 pended these payments, without, moreover, there being anyone to pay, for 

 war with England forbade all departures for the great fishery. During the 

 short interval following the Peace of Amiens, the laws of the Revolution 

 re-established the premium at 24 francs per metric hundredweight, in con- 

 sequence of the depreciation of money during this epoch. The Empire did 

 not change this legislation which remained inoperative for lack of benefici- 

 aries. 



130 



