Note 48 — Chapter II · CAUSES OF THE AMERICAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE AND THE QUEBEC ACT (continued 2)
Reading edition
A French Canadian petition to the King, drawn up about the end of 1773, referred in the following terms to the Labrador question: ‘We desire also that His Majesty would be graciously pleased to re-annex to this province the coast of Labrador, which formerly belonged to it, and has been taken from it since the peace. The fishery for seals, which is the only fishery carried on upon this coast, is carried on only in the middle of winter, and sometimes does not last above a fortnight. The nature of this fishery, which none of His Majesty’s subjects but the inhabitants of this province understand; the short time of its continuance; and the extreme severity of the weather, which makes it impossible for ships to continue at that time upon the coasts; are circumstances which all conspire to exclude any fishermen from old England from having any share in the conduct of it.’ (Shortt and Doughty, pp. 358-9.)