New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-07-02
THE FRENCH FISHERIES.
SOME FACTS ABOUT THE BOUNTY-FED
INDUSTRY WHICH CAUSES PERENNIAL
DISPUTES WITH NEWFOUNDLAND.

the cod fsheres-a trouble which is now
we'll along in the second century Of existence
but which has been stirred up afresh by recent
occurrences there-needs, perhaps little ex-
PLANTATION, in order that it mag be understood
just where and to what extent France is now
conducting fishing operations in those waters
In the first place there are two entirely distinct
neghborhoods in which French fisheries are
carried on in Newfoundland. One-and by far
the more important Of the two, far as the
catch is concerned-is the fishery on the Grand
Banks; the other is that which is maintained on
the rorth AMI west coast Of Newfoundland,
usually called the French shore" or the treaty
shore" on this long disputed treaty shore" as
is well known, the French have pressed what
originally intended to be only certain con-
current fishing rights until they practically con-
troll the whole coastline for more than five hun
dred miles, and have reduced the Newfoundland
Inhabitants Of the distric; to the most abject
poverty by interfering with every pursuit in
which they have tried to engage.
The persistence with which France has dom
mated this shore would indicate, it might be
supposed, that ii was Of immense value to her.
but this is far from being the case Instead. it
probably represents an actual loss The Royal
Commission Of Great Britain, on its recent jour
the per nent, native born Newfoundland popu-
lation numbered nearly 1890 the total number
OF French fishermen who came there was not
more than 600 Scarcely thirty French fishing
vessels frequent the treaty shore" Yet France
keeps it, apparently as a matter Of sentiment
SO much, indeed has been confessed by repre-
sentative Frenchmen. who say that il is the only
relic (besides St Pierre Mquelon) Of the once
magnificent French domnons in North America
But the French fisheries on the Grand Banks
ore quite another affair. These are profitable to
those engaged in them. thanks to the large
LOuntles paid by France for the fish and they
employ many thousands of men. The fishing
grounds on the Banks are OF course on the
high seas" and common to all nations. But
their connection with Newfoundland for the
French. lies in the two little islands Of St Pierre
and Miqucon. which form a separate French
colony. These were coded to France 10y the Brit
ish in 1853 under the conditions that they
should be merely shelters for French fishermen;
that they should not be fortified that no foreign
ships should enter their ports and that an Eng
lish representative should live in St Pierre
All these conditions have been disregarded In
stead OF being simply temporary refuge for
fishermen from France. st Pierre (Mlquelon is
only an insignificant appendage) has become a
headquarters
for all the fisheries both on the Banks and on
the treaty shore" AMI incidentallv for an
enormous and profitable smuggling trade
The town OF st Pierre itself is on the east
side Of the island and contains 5000 or 6 600
persons 1t is quaint .cturcsque little place
Ike village Of old Brittany transplanted to
foreign shore Through It's narrow streets. with
their genuine French "trottoirs,' rather poorly
old IA
Norman women, in their characteristic costumes
patter along in noisy wooden sabots Every
where are bright colors, laughter and a contin-
ua chatter in the peculiar patois of Brittany
and Normandy. 1t is gay little town CORE
spending TO the nature Of its inhabitants its
cafes and various places Of entertainment being
In strong contrast to the sober almost puri-
tanical life in the typical British Newfound-
land town How decidedly il has become a
permanent colony may be understood from its
possession Of a Governors House a Court of
Justice Treasury and Postoflice buildings. a
Government printing office. schools. a cathedral
convent etc, not to mention many fine pri-
vatc houses.
In the fishing season which is the summer
St Iierre is one Of the busiest little spots mag
Unable Every spring about cen thousand fisher
men come from Brittany and make the town
their headquarters for bait and supplies for
landing fish to be dried. for packing and ship
ping, and for ali the processes connected with
the cod fishery. Then the harbor contains hun
dreds Of vessels Little fishing is done directly
at st. Pierre but the fishermen radiate from
there to the Grand Banks at the south and in
lesser numbers t. the cod and lobster fishing
grounds on the disputed west coast The French
are not equipped to take the herring. squid and
caplin which constitute cod bait. and even if
they were II. could not afford to waste part