The Newfoundland Gardien and the French Fishery

British possession, its subsequent history a chronicle of permanent settlement and self-government up to the time of confederation with Canada in 1949. Self-government came about in the nineteenth century after the mercantile base of the British fishery shifted from the south of England to Newfoundland itself. In 1832, the colony was granted the right to elect its own assembly, and when the population continued to grow, it was granted Responsible Government in 1855. But while Newfoundland enjoyed self-government in local matters and full responsible for its finances, external affairs such as the implementation of the Anglo-French treaties governing the French fishery on its west coast remained under the control of the imperial government. Accordingly, Britain took measures from time to time to prevent the Newfoundland government from contravening such treaties, leaving it without full sovereignty over its own west coast, known popularly as the French Shore. As successive governments acted to extend their jurisdiction, they were caught in the dilemma of confronting both Britain and France or pursuing compromise and diplomacy. This dilemma remained until 1904, when the two great powers signed an entente cordiale which in part removed the barriers to settlement an