166 NEWFOUNDLAND.

Cork, and Waterford; which had for some time been engaged in the trade. In the year following, a collector and comptroller of the customs were established at St John’s. This measure, and the consequent introduc-‘ tion of the navigation laws, Were complained of by the merchants, in the same way as the appointing commissioners of the peace, and of oyer and terminer. The French, always, but now more than ever, anxious about their fishery, insisted on their having a right to the western coast, for the purpose of fishing as far south as Cape Ray; maintaining that it pro- perly was “ Point Riche,” mentioned in the treaty of Utrecht This claim embraced nearly two hundred miles of the west coast of Newfoundland more than they had a right to by treaty; and their authority being founded only on an old map of Hermann Moll, was shown, with great accuracy, by the Board of Trade, to be altogether inadmissible. The coast of Labrador was in 1763 separated from Canada, and annexed to the government of Newfoundland. This was a very judicious measure ; but, as the chiefs object of those who at that time frequented Labrador, was the seal-fishery, the Board of Trade, at the recommendation principally of Sir Hugh Palliser, considered it unwise policy to separate Labrador from the jurisdiction of Canada ; and accordingly recom— mended his majestyto re-annex it. This was effected in‘ 17 743“ and in the following year an act]L was passed,

* 14 Geo. III ,.cap 83, commonly called the Quebec Au. 1“ 15 Geo. Ill, cap. 31.