The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-06-16

herring taken out of the waters gives as
surance that the source of supply will not
be materially lessened. But that these are
subordinate advantages is evident from the
expressed willingness of the Newfoundland
ers to foreQo them and to repeal the bait
act if the French will withdraw their boun-
ties.
A second cause of trouble relates to the
Holsters, and this was the one which at the
opening of the presena season gave rise to
the protest of the Newfoundland legislature
The grievance here is that the British gov
ernment without consulting with New
foundland or giving any clue to its inten-
tions, concluded modus vivendi with
France which legalized the French lobster
Newfoundland coast. Under this arrange
ment for every new British factory set up
a French factory is to be allowed: and the
naval commanders of the two powers on
the coast are to decide upon all applica-
tions and to agree upon any change of loca-
ton by existing factories. The islanders
protested that this was violation of treaty
stipulations, which allowed the French to
use the coast only for certain specific pur-
poses of drying and curing fish, the context
showing that HOLSTERS were not at all in
cluded in this privilege. They further in
sisted that such an express stipulation
must be construed strictly, and that canning
AOOSOC1o Wd6 AVu OUIAuk A6As uo IIO1lCu
argue that this is quibbling on words. The
La Liberte, in saying that the only people
concerned are few Nantes lobster packers,
probably does not represent the average
French sentiment.
But. q third subject of excitement, which
for the moment has overshadowed the other
two, is the recent occurrence in Bay st.
George. What actually took place there
has beyond doubt been greatly exaggerated
It has been said that French war ship
compelled the English schooner Rover to
take up her nets and stop fishing in those
waters; that force of marines was then
landed at Sandy Point and proceeded to
patrol the coast, and that various acts of
aggression were committed by the French.
Following these statements came accounts
of powerful British squadron hurryinR to
the spot, and of the West Riding regiment
and two batteries of artillery being ordered
to Newfoundland to protect the coast from
seems to be that a single French officer
landed at St. Georges Bay and publicly
read a notification to the Newfoundlanders
to remove their nets and other distractions
to the French fishermen. Boats also vis-
tied the British fishermen, notifying them
that they were intruding on the French
shore, and requiring them to take up their
nets.
But in this there is nothing unprece-
dented. The trouble occurred on a portion
Of the coast where certain rights are con-
ceded to the French, because they are not
entitled to them elsewhere. It was presum-
ably for this reason that the British gun
boat Pelican, which was present at the
time, 10 far from protesting against the
conduct of the French officer, acquiesced in
1t as in conformity with French treaty
rights. Similar events have occurred now
and then during the last quarter of CEN
tury, but they cause special excitement at
this time on account of the other difficulties
of that region. The British admiral COM
manding on that station probably would
not submit to any misconduct on the part
of the French vessel in Bay st. George, and
his instructions presumably recognize the
concession of fishing privileges to the
French on limited portion of the New
foundland coast.
The existing arrangement is, of course,
conflicts on the score of nationality. For
this reason the project of buying out all
French fishing rights in that region has been
seriously contemplated. One difficulty may
be that the French will not consent to be
bought ont. They now retain only frag-
ment of the important interests which they
had generations ago on the North American
coast, and having had this fragment secured
to them by treaty, they hesitate tosacrifice it
for assum of money which they do not need.
It is in this view that Deputy Deloncle has
never give up her fishing rights in the
Grand Banks. Meanwhile the introduction
of government bill to extend the French
bounty system until 1911 apparently takes
away all hope from Newfoundland of get
ting rid of the element which is at the bot
tom of the trouble. Accordingly there is
little immediate prospect of its settlement.