They said, that in framing these additional instructions, it became necessary to consider, with the closest attention, the provisions and regulations of stat. 10 and 11 Will. 3.; which act, having been framed and passed at a time when the crowns of Great Britain and France had distinct rights and possessions on that island, and the subjects of both carried on distinct fisheries upon those parts of the coasts, which belonged to each respectively, was, they humbly conceived, in no respect properly applicable to the permissive fishery, which the subjects of France were entitled by treaty to carry on in common with the English subjects within the limits described; although, being an act in full force, they had found themselves under the necessity, in framing these additional instructions, to conform to the regulations and provisions of it, in many points, which did, in their opinion, render those instructions less effectual and extensive than they might otherwise have been. But independent of this objection to the act, they conceived it highly exceptionable in almost every other light in which it could be viewed. The regulations intended for the fishery were in general by no means applicable to the present state of it, and such of them as might be of use were not enforced by proper penalties. And, considered as a regulation of government and civil jurisdiction, this act, they said, was the most loose and imperfect that could have been framed, and necessity had already introduced deviations from it in many essential points. Without entering into the particular regulations of the act, and considering only its principal imperfection, namely, the fishery of the island being altogether changed and varied from what it was, when the act was passed, it appeared to them to be disgraceful to suffer it to remain in the statute-book. But as they feared it was too late in that session to enter upon any new parliamentary regulations, the further consideration must be deferred for the present, unless his majesty should be of opinion that a repeal of the act should be moved for, and a short law enacted, impowering the king, by proclamation, order in council, or instruction to the governor, to make such regulations with respect to this branch of commerce, as he should, with the advice of his privy council, judge most expedient[68]. But nothing was done towards correcting or repealing an act that had been condemned so often by public and private opinions of persons best able to judge of its merits.