On the Boulevards, Or, Memorable Men and Things Drawn on the Spot, 1853-1866 (Volume 2); Together with Trips to Normandy and Britanny

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1867. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XIII. SAINT BRIEUC. 1866. There will be rejoicing along these shores, from Dunkerque to Brest; there will be strange commotion on the banks of the Dieppe oyster grounds, as there will be rejoicings along our southern shores, when the conclusions of the royal commissioners of enquiry into our sea-fisheries shall have been made known among Kentish and Sussex and Norman and Breton fishermen. The commissioners proclaim, after patient inquiry into the results of coercive measures, and the puzzling articles of the Anglo-French Convention for the protection of the fisheries of the two countries, that it is best to repeal all Acts of Parliament which profess to regulate or restrict the modes of fishing pursued in the open sea. Unrestricted freedom of fishing is the regime which the commissioners recommend after having studied the irritating correspondence which has been carried on since 1852 between the English and French Governments on the infractions of the convention perpetually committed, chiefly by the Colchester oyster-boats. The terms of the convention were so complicated and confused, that they appeared designed to produce conflicts between the two countries. The French cruisers took the Colchester boats into Dieppe or Havre, where they were detained three or four days. Evidence of their transgression of the law was drawn up, and presented for signature to the British Consul, which signature he uniformly declined to make; so that the Colchester men went unpunished because English magistrates would not receive the French statement while it was uncertified by the English Consul of the French port in which it had been drawn up. The consequence was that the English boats, after four days' detention in a French port for infraction of the convention, ...