New-York tribune., 1902-01-13
FRENCH SHORE QUESTION.
EXPIRATION OF MODUs vIvEyDrRAIsEys
NEW DIFFICULTIES

ST. Johns. N F. Jan (speciaD.-on the Lass
day of December the modus vtvendi covering ther
French Shore OF Newfoundland ceased 10 D.
effective and serious consequences may ensue The
Newfoundlanders think they have been III used
long enough, and are now demanding better arit
more generous treatment than heretofore.
The French Shore question has been a long srand-
ing dispute The main dispute over the right os
the French to catch and dry cod on the west anfi
northeast coasts OF this island. seven huudredt
miles IN extent But a subsidiary issIne Is IA
French claim that they can also pack 1obstEx4
there The colonlsts contend that the lobster fsi
not hsh, canning Holsters IS not drying fish, and
that the canneries. which are permanent strucr-
ures with corrugated iron roofs and brcked f1s
boilers. are not Temporary usual and neces-
sary for drying fish such the treaties call for
Twelve years ago the French commodore on shs
coast NJ RecolOux- ordered his compatrfots
move the first cannery set up there Then FrzncsI
recognized in the dispute the trrftarn z
England. so rhe starting OF the French cannsr1es
was encouraged. and Newfoundland's right TO en-;
gage in the industry was questioned
In 1890 a modus vivendf was arranged recorrIztrz q
as legal those factories OF both nations then IN
operation. and fOrbidding any others. and provfcsn
for submitting this lobster issue 10 arbitration
Newfoundland protested against any piecerneaI
bitration. and demanded that the whole subject os
French rights be included. This caused a deadiocix
that has never been broken, the modus vivsndT
being renewed from year 10 year. pending better
arrangement. Pressure toward the latter end has
always been made by the colony. Both the treaty.
powers seem now agreed that the time has cono,
TO effect Encouragement. and the colony has be>ss
invited to state its demands. Its position that
the treaty coast has resident population OF four
teen thousand cOlOnials in settlements largo arA;
small engaged in various industries The French
have only FIVE hundred men, located IN drreer
stations at scattered points along the seaboard-
taxing cod and lObsJers. The catch OF cod Ihes
coast last season under ten thousand Cuiatals.
worth about $4,000 The pack or Holsters was
about Ave thousand cases. valued at S5aoo0 Herring
taken for bait in St. Georges Bay. and sal-non-
netted IN the rivers along the would realizes
another $.00 that the practical economic Values
OF the shore is under $500 annually. To insure
5 5Ios-e.SIou oL llese llustries
every summer. and England has DO the same.
far more than the value OF the French producfs.
Ene LeatE 81 snore Is now or no sGostanIal ya1re To-
mer, are only induced 20 90 by the stimulus OF
Versailles and the municipality OF St Pierre On
the northeast coast only one station was gorong
all in the coming summer. This leaves only the
west coast TO be considered
But what IS OF far grever import IS the injury,
whlch the c4mpeutlon OF bounty led French dsh-
European markets The really valuable interest
the Banks, This Industry is prosecuted by SIX
and nartI5 tom s. ilTrs RrH Ia iI I'm b3,| ~
headquarters OF the industry The French fishing
policy is controlled by the Breton hsh dealers. who
advance the plea that this industry Is great navak
nursery for France, and thus secure bounes aggrs-
man. The expenditure OF this 500 0ooo00 francs IN
cause II does not fqlhI It's purpose the experiences
or the French naval officer being that the deep
fishermen cannot be utilized Tor naval purposes.
A really desirable ending 10 the difficulty would
be the removal or the French from the treaty
shore and Banks altogether, acquiring ST Pierre
IN return for a cesSiOn OF territory them else
where, and compensating them for their losses In
abandoning their fishing pursuits Failing in this
radical remedy, z partial rearrangsment might ba!
made whereby the French fishermen could. in re-
for the reduction OF their bOuntieS, be alowe
free entry 10 harbors the same terms as ghal
Americans. who put IN for wood and watsr,s
shelter and repairs bait and suppleS- Bait thsf
most important essential
The cOlony'S is N the hands OF two com q
petent representatives. Premier Bond has had
twenty years parliamentary experience. ha1c OF
which has been spent Colonial Secretary. He
delegate TO ENGLAND this question In 1850 1
negotiated the BOnd-Blaine reciprocity don
In 1891 and headed the confederation delegation TO
Ottawa in 1895 afterward obtaining in London thsf
loan which saved The colony financial collapse
He became Premier last spring. bis associate Ia
the Hon E p. Morris. who has represented St
Johns N the legislature for nearly twenty years
and Is thoroughly posted on every aspect Or tae<