Extracts From Treaties Between Great Britain and France, Relating To The Fishery.
Treaty of Utrecht
Article XIII
The Island called Newfoundland,with the adjacent Islands,
shall from this time forward belong of Right wholly to Britain,
and to that end the Town and Fortress of Placentia, and whatever
other Places in the said Island are in possession of the French,
shall be yielded and given up, within seven Months from the Exchange
of the Ratifications of this Treaty, or sooner if possible, by the
most Christian King, to those who have a Commission from the Queen
of Great Britain for that purpose. Nor shall the most
Christian King, his Heirs and Successors, or any of their Subjects,
at any time herafter, lay Claim to any Right to the said Island and
Islands, or to any Part of it, or them. Moreover, it shall not be
lawful for the Subjects of France to fortify any Place in the
said Island of Newfoundland, or to erect any Buildings there,
besides Stages made of Boards, and Huts necessary and usual for drying
of Fish; or to resort to the said Island, beyond the time necessary
for fishing and drying of Fish. But it shall be allowed to the Subjects
of France to catch Fish, and to dry them on Land, in that Part
only, and in no other besides that, of the said Island of Newfoundland,
which stretches from the Place called Cape Bonavista to the
Northern Point of the said Island; and from thence running down by
the Western-side, reaches as far as the Place called Point Riche.
But the Island called Cape-Breton, as also all other, both in
the Mouth of the River of St. Lawrence, and in the Gulph of
the same Name, shall hereafter belong of Right to the French:
and the most Christian King shall have all manner of Liberty to
fortify any Place or Places there.
Source:
Excerpts from Treaty of Utrecht, Article XIII.