22 THEISLAND ACADIANS

first year several Acadian families joined the colonists who had just arrived from France.

The efforts of the Compagnie de l’'Isle Saint Jean were not very successful. The Comte de Saint Pierre (who never visited the Island) had hoped to recoup his investments with profits from the fishery, but he encountered innumerable obstacles. Although he had obtained exclusive fishing rights off his islands he was never able to make the fishermen from Ile Royale respect his monopoly. Fiercely contested by the French merchants who employed the fishermen, they considered the monopoly to be against their interests and those of France. Deeply in debt and unable to make the colony pay for itself, the Compagnie de U'Isle Saint Jean ceased its activities at the end of 1724. The following year Louis XV revoked the Comte de Saint Pierre’s fishing rights. The departure of the company prompted numerous settlers and fishermen to move to fle Royale or go back to France.

COLONIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT: 1726—1745

After the departure of the Compagnie de I’Isle Saint Jean, France became concerned about the safety of the territory. According to rumours, the English were preparing to establish a foothold on the Island. Consequently the French government ordered the governor of Louisbourg to send over an armed detachment of about thirty naval fusiliers that would be responsible for confirming French sovereignty. This tiny company, under the command of Jacques d’Espiet de Pen- sens, landed on fle Saint Jean in the spring of 1726 and set up headquar- ters at Port LaJoie in the dilapidated buildings formerly occupied by the Compagnie de l’Isle Saint Jean. Jacques d’Espiet de Pensens was an experienced officer with years of service in the colonies of New France.

At this time the population was still sparse. In 1728 there were only 297 permanent residents and about 125 seasonal fishermen, in a total of 54 dwellings that housed 76 men, 51 women, 156 children and 14 servants®.

French authorities still hoped to entice Acadians, and especially young couples, to settle on [le Saint Jean’. To this end Commandant de Pensens requested the approval and support of the Minister of the Navy in charge of French colonies. De Pensens felt that to attract