Denomination and names of vessels. DISTRICT OF PORTSMOUTH. Masters of Tonnage. Number of Value of Value of Amount of loss. PART XIII. THE FRENCH FISHERIES AT NEWFOUNDLAND. The recent movements in France in regard to bounties on fish caught at Newfoundland, and exported to foreign countries, are singularly interesting at the present time, because it will be found, from what follows, that the changes which take place during the present year in the allowance of those bounties are calculated to exercise a powerful effect on the deep-sea fisheries of the United States. Hereafter we are to have fish, caught and cured by citizens of France, entering our markets, under the stimulus of a large bounty, to compete with the fish caught and cured by our own citizens. This altogether new and unexpected movement on the part of France has already attracted attention and excited much interest among the fishermen of the New England States. As affecting an important branch of the industry of our people, this change in the policy of France will be reviewed somewhat at length, in order that the whole matter may be fully understood. The law of France which granted bounties to the sea fisheries being about to expire, the project of a new law was submitted to the National Assembly on the 20th December, 1850, by Monsieur Dumas, Minister of Agriculture and Commerce, and Monsieur Romain-Desfosses, Minister of Marine and Colonies. At the same time, these ministers submitted to the National Assembly an able report on the deep-sea fisheries of France, and a variety of interesting statistical returns, translations of which are embodied herewith. It is set forth, among other things, by the Minister of State, that the bounties paid by France during the nine years from 1841 to 1850, inclusive, for the cod fishery only, had amounted to the mean annual average of 3,900,000 francs. The number of men employed in this fishery annually amounted to 11,500 on the average. The annual expense to the nation was, therefore, 338 francs per annum for each man. France trains up, in this manner, able and hardy seamen for her navy, it is said, who would cost the nation much more if they were trained to the sea on board vessels-of-war. The proposed law and report of the ministers of State who introduced it having been submitted to a committee of the National Assembly, a report thereon was presented by Monsieur Ancet, the chairman, on the 3d day of May, 1851, a translation of which is as follows: Report rendered in the name of the commission for the inquiry into the projected law relating to the great sea fisheries, by M. Ancet, representative of the people. Session of May 3, 1851. GENTLEMEN: The commission to which you intrusted the examination of the projected law in relation to the great sea fisheries, presented |