In the mean time, the encouragement of the fishery had come under the consideration of the committee—A bill had been brought into the house of commons at the instance of the western merchants; in this bill it was intended to make several alterations in the law of Newfoundland; the principal points of which were, to give the present possessors a permanent interest in their lands, and to repeal some material regulations of stat. 15 Geo. 3. which the merchants had always disliked. On 9th December 1785, his majesty was pleased to refer the matter of this bill to the committee for them to consider it, and to report their opinion thereon. This bill was read at the board on the 14th of January 1786, and every provision of it was separately discussed. The subject of the fishery was under consideration for several weeks[85]. At length the committee made a report on the intended bill. This report contains their opinion upon most of the points relating to Newfoundland, and is therefore well deserving of notice. It has been laid before the house of commons, and is now in print. The report was unfavourable to the bill, which was accordingly laid aside[86]. However, another was introduced, and passed into a law, and is stat. 26 Geo. 3. c. 26. This act continued the bounties given by stat. 15 Geo. 3. and contributed to render more complete the plan begun by that statute, for preventing the seamen and fishermen withdrawing themselves from this country, either by staying at Newfoundland, or deserting to other places. In the year 1788, the intercourse between the United States and Newfoundland was again agitated; and upon the strong representations of the _Quebec_ merchants, the committee were of opinion for proposing a bill to parliament, to prevent entirely the supply of bread, flour, and live stock, from the United States; but, at the instance of the western merchants, this intention was dropt[87]. The following year the mode of occasional supply was continued, at the desire of the western merchants, and so it has gone on ever since by authority of stat. 28 Geo. 3. c. 6. s. 13. [Sidenote: Two acts passed.] In this and the following sessions two acts of parliament were passed respecting Newfoundland. By stat. 28 Geo. 3. c. 35. his majesty was enabled to make some regulations at Newfoundland, to prevent inconveniencies that might arise from the competition of the English and the French in the fishery. By stat. 29 Geo. 3. c. 53. it is declared, that fish, not caught by subjects of Great Britain going from the British dominions in Europe, may not be landed or dried at Newfoundland. This last act was occasioned by the people of _Bermuda_ having engaged in the fishery, and selling their fish to those who had a clear right to dry and cure on the island; by this provision the design of stat. 15 Geo. 3. c. 31. in confining the fishery to ships going from Europe, was fully secured. [Sidenote: Complaints about courts.]