§ Captain Pechellwished to put a question to Her Majesty's Government relative to the proceedings with France under the late Convention for regulating the Fisheries of the two countries. Last Session this country had performed its part, and had done its best to give force to the regulations of the Convention, but as he had not heard of any proceedings of a like nature on the other side, he thought it was necessary the country should know what was the nature of the laws respecting the Fisheries, and whether the French Government had performed its part by submitting to similar regulations.
§ Sir R. Peelwas quite willing to give any information in his power. The hon. and gallant officer would recollect, that when the last Convention, in 1843, was agreed upon, the two Governments were in a different position. The Parliament of this country were sitting, while the Legislature of France had closed its proceedings. It was, therefore, impossible for the French Government to take the same effective steps which the British Government had taken, to give force to the law. The French Government had extensive powers to regulate their affairs by ordinance; but this power, he was informed on good authority, was not sufficient to enable the French Government to carry into complete effect the provisions of a convention of this nature. He had no doubt, however, that the French Government would take the proper steps to carry the stipulations of the Convention into effect. Indeed, he believed, that he might state that he had been advised on good authority that a projet de loi had been prepared, which would be shortly submitted to the Legislature of France, for the purpose of carrying these regulations into effect. He had, therefore, reason to hope that no unnecessary delay would 517 occur in obtaining the requisite legislative sanction in France to the provisions of the Convention.