The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-03-28

tucy sweep tno where they
taking and destroying great quantities of fish with the
bulows also (which lines moored in the water each
sometimes mile in length and containing hundred
baited hooks which, except when lifted at stated intervals
to take off the fish, continue in the day and night
they attract and detan the fish in the locality where they
placed and take great numbers OF them Large senes
and numerous buows however, only be tended and
handled where there large these the French by
means of their bountes command British fishermen
without such support only the hook and line and
best small cod seines of hundred fahoms long by
eleven deep the result must inevitably be- that the French
will within the same space take much larger quantity
of fish than can and these being taken from
locality where at present hardly find enough for
ourselves shall be compelled to abandon that part OF
the coast altogether The same observations apply to
fishery at Belle Isle and that they founded
not merely in theory Is shown by the history bank
fishery and can be confirmed by the experience of our old
est fishermen.
BY the aid Of their large bountes in short the French
enabled TO carry their fisheries in that
speedily gives them the command of the whole ground to
which they may resort and in short time makes nomi-
nally concurrent fishery exclusively their own.
The loss of the straits fishery however, not the only
injury we shall sustain by the concession
sidering; we shall suffer further injury in this way
The fish which supply the straits and the Labrador she
ries consist for the most part of two large shoals
which, entering the Gulf at Cape Ray April and May
through the straits down the Labrador shore and
the other coming from the eastward somewhat in the
season. strikes Belle Isle and proceeds onward in the
direction If therefore, the French be permitted to sweep
their large senes and spread their buows round Belle
Isle cannot be doubted that the effect which too
surely know has by such been produced elsewhere
on our coast Will be reproduced hereboth shoals OF hsh
will be intercepted on their way TO the Labrador to the
great injury not to the entire Destruction OF our sheres
on that shore.
Inc concession next IN Importance though not IN order
ne permission gwen 10 the french 70 purchase DALI
in the event of certain contingency take it for them
selves on the south coast OF between Capes
La Hume and ST. Mary's
tcanno be denied that years many Of the nhab
itants Of the south coast have been in the habit of selling
caplin and herring bait to the French bankers St. Pc
but is also true that such practice Is violation of
local laws and emily exists by of the inability of
Inc local government 70 MAINTAIN force suicient TO pre-
vent H.
sa pracice moreover which as may be inferred from
our local legislation is exceedingly injurious to our fish
cries not only because 1t deprives our fishermen OF what
require for themselves but because by its means the
French are enabled to their fisheries on the bank
and thus 10 prevent the hsh from coming to the shore
To require that we should consent to legaze traffic go
suicidal 70 our interests seems most unreasonable aud
weounded objection exists TO the sale OF bait by any OF
our people such objection applies with much greater force
to permission to the French to take for themselves The
terms OF the convention to what shall ene the French
10 TINS right are somewhat ambiguous but It is easy to
perceive that by many devices such right may be obtain
ed Once obtained il cannot be Withdrawn without their
consent and they will thus obtain advantages In this
spec which, while they will contribute largely 10 increase
catch and diminish The expense of the French
outfits, will inevitably destroy our western fishery.
Besides these two main particulars OF the treaty. there
are others OF minor character, which highly obec
onaole The exclusive right to the strand from Cape 81
john TO the bay OF islands the extension OF the hshng
season to the 9th OF April the right OF settling three French
subjects to every mile upon that shore and the right to the
rivers as far as the salt water flows will take from the
British settlers, OF whom there are about 1000 between
Cape 81 John ana the Bay OF Islands Alone valuable net
seal and salmon shery by which they now support them
selves in comfort and independence. The concurrent
fishery in the Straits from the number OF boats which the
French viii employ in its prosecution, and which will
drive the SEAL at all times shy and tmid ANIMAL into
deep water, will, in all probability, destroy very
ensye net seal fishery which, in May and june is carried
on on that shore and will materially interfere with vn-
able herring fishery conducted by British subjects in that
locality The extension OF the fishing season, the right TO
n
the GroaiB island and Belle Isle SOUTH will enable the
French to carry on ship seal hsherya branch OF indus
try which has always been exclusively ours, and without
which our cod fisheries would not support present pop
uauon and the power given to the French or removing
by force the British settlers those parts of the coast
and loss TO those over whom II may be exercised.
Such are the evils to which we shall certainly be exposed
Dy the operation OF this treaty We Deg now 70 oiler
Few on the value OF the concessions offered
to US in return for the advantages OF which we are to be
! deprived
In considering this conventions any acquan ed with
our sheres cannot but be struck with the extensive and
ated on behalf OF the French as well as with the skill
exhibited by them IN turning this Knowledge to their own
advantage; and nothing more clearly illustrates the truth
OF this observation than an examination OF the character
ana value OF the socied equivalenis these are TWO IN
number:
lat We are to have concurrent fishery with them on the
northwestern coast with the exception OF five POINTS
which the French have reserved for rom Cape
NORMAN 70 oape ay W. nave already SHOWN mat MS pe
.meen unAueu inuiuua eh'erprse Oh .ne NC sue any
INC onor's VI "eaitny anu Po"erui huoh on .ue one
concuteht hsney can exist only IN hame-a Prhcpie,
suncleht PROOF OF WINCH any are Wanted 10 iounu IA
,u o Tepor. 81 commune q sns House 2, 70 IN