L29/568/11/3

State of the present question regarding the Newfoundland Fishery enclosed in L 29/568/11/1. The French want the whole coast from St. John's to Cape May for the purpose of catching and drying fish. That part of the southern coast is a "good station and much frequented by Jersey Men. Besides there are between Cape Ray and Cape May two exceeding good Harbours fit for Men of War. Seems that French want this bit of the Southern Coast as much for the Harbour as for the fishery". French aim to "narrow our Limits, so that if we should be obliged to make any concession to the Americans, it should be out of that part of the Island left to us". French feel this would be compensation for the ground they have lost between Cape Bona Vista and Cape St. John by British fishermen settling there. French proposal a "very unequal one". It would be very easy to agree on a new boundary. The French wish for an island in sovereignty is a question that cannot be answered by itself.

3 Sep 1782

From: 1782 To: 1782

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Lucas,
Grantham, Thomas Robinson, 2nd Baron,
Fitzherbert, Alleyn

Foreign Secretary, political correspondence, Plenipotentiary, fisheries, French, fish, naval ships, Americans, fisherman, general boundaries, Newfoundland & Labrador, St.John's, Cape May, Canada Jersey, Cape Ray, Cape Bona Vista