New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-03-30

In tie teo great wars between France sca L1'
gland, which resulted in tie peace OF Uaeca'' 'o'
great points Of contest, 20 far - AGerea WAS COZ
cerIed, were Eudscn's Bay, Newfoupdiand ana '1s
peninsula which the French called Acsd'e soa
the Erglish NcYa-Sco.iA, a. OF which were cclec"
Of contention, not so nuch for any valse atesooeo
TO their possession as colonies for settlement -
for tie facilities afforded BY them TO tho osnetle'
and tia fur trade. This contest terminated % tue
advantage Of the Epglish, who acquu % the exc Il,
ave possession Of Hudson's Bay, the cesson u
Acsdie or Nova-Scolia, AID the southern sno ea'.
trn coasts of Newfoundland, along with the sefa'
tor Jurisdiction Of the whole inland Thefs
however, were secured BY TIL. treaty in the e1elu
ave privilege Of fishing on part Of the eastern
coast Of Newfoundland, from Cape B1navnA 70
the northern point, and thence along inc
western coast as far Is Cape Richie, bat "i'aou'
any rsht 10 settle on the sou or to erec' Any
Structures other than fshsrmea's huts aud stages.
A second struggle vita the English, embracing IKE
the former tre, two distinct wars, and eItendios
ike thst over period Of twenty years, proved sun
more disastrous to French interests in America
By the 1eacs Of 1868, Of al her vsst clains In
North America, France parted with everything eA-
cept the above right Of f-hng on part Of the coast
of newfoundland. as provided for IN the treaty o.
Utrecht, 10 wiich Britain ided the concession o.
the two little slarcs Of 81. Pierre and M'quelon on
the south eastern coast Of Newfoundland, bat with
the condition that they should not be fortified that
not more than fifty soldiers should be kept upon
- Init obouh ha
needed for the f,hery.
By the pesce Of 1888, tie French exclusive right
Of fishing on the coast Of Newfoundland was to
commence on the east coast only at Cape ST. Johns,
or little north of so deg Of north latitude thence
to sx erd round through the Strait Of Belle Isle IN
cludirg all tie western shore Of Newfoundland IS
far as Cape Rsy-the southwestern point of the
Isand and these same rights, together with the isl
asds Of Mquelon and st. Pierre, were confirmed to
France by TIE peace Of Paris in 1914. During the
two lorg preceding wars with England, the French
fishery lad been totally apnhilsted but it revived
umedatey after the peace, ard was encouraged
and stimulated by Government bounties "a policy
which is still perseveIed in. By the Frenchlaw, as
it stands at preseat bounty Of fifty francs for
each man Of the crew is paid to French fishing
vessels that dry their fsh on the Newfoundland
coast and thirty francs per man on vessels bringing
in their fish TO France undried. TO this is added
bounty of from twelve to twenty francs per metric
quinta Of 900 pounds upon al French caught hsh
exported 70 foreign countries.
From the French in Newfoundland, let US now
turn to the English. Their policy toward New
foundland down to quite q recent period was to
Ieat it not as colony OF settlement, but merely as
fshing station for the benefit Of the Engsh mer-
chants at home engaged in the fishing business.
According TO the testimony Of q witoess before
Committee Of the House of Commons in 1898,
Newfoundland had been considered, in all former
"tmes ss great English ship, moored near the
"Bspks during the fishing season for the con-
"yenience of English fishermen. The Governor
"yas considered the ships captain, and all those
"copceIIed in the fishing business as his crew, and
",ubject to naval discipline" functonay of
tho island, who testified before the same Commit.
tee, ,trenuously advocated the policy Of allowing no
women to land on the island and Of the removal Of
those already there. The English Government did
not adop. this suggestion, but they still adhered to
the policy which prompted IT, No grants Of land
for settlement were allowed, and even garden yeget
ab!ss could not be raised except in defiance of the
law.
During the French revolutionary war, in the ab-
sence of the French fishermen. the English fishery
was very prosperous and very profitable. Tho
6,h brought prices which would now be considered
enormous. TIE catch Of lSl4 was one million two
hundred thousand quintals, and the value more than
twelve million dollars. The peace Of 1915 pro.
duceo runous change in the price Of fish. The
dselire from eight or Line dollars the quinta to
four, five, and even less than three dollars.
was rapid. The English fishery seemed
on the point Of aDnihilation, and in point
Of fact the bank fishery, carried on upon q
large scale by English capitalists, was aunhilated
The NenfouI dland cod fishery was reduced to what
it principally is at present-a shore fishery carried
tn within the harbois or near the shore, in boats
manned BY from two to four men. Vessels, how
ever. Of from fifty to two hundred tuhs are em
po,ed in catching seals from the aoating ice during
the months Of March and April, and in the cod and
salmon fishery on the coast of Labrador, which 10
considered Is forming part Of the Colony of
Newfoundland. The population Of the island hav-
pR increased to near 100, OOO and it being no longer
ultful as fishing station for merchants at home,
tho English Government changed their policy.
They opened Newfoundland to agricultural settle
mept-ior which, however, there is little in the soi
or climate very invi.re-and in 1888 the island was
allowed BY the Reform Parliament Legislative
Assembly siuisr to that of the other English
Color lee.
m, N..eo,n;I.,J cod fahsrx h.. ~. lc .l,u -.