Underthe FrenchRegime 41

The land on which they are settled was formally granted to them by Messieurs Aubert and Dubuisson in 1723, but they were not able to farm it because it was burned in the fire of 1724. They made a clearing where they sowed 3 bushels of wheat, and they have enough fallow land left to seed 37 bushels. (TR)*°

In mentioning Tracadie, de la Roque pointed out that it was a favourable place for both fishing and farming. He noted that the eight families who had settled there were doing well in both occupations?'. It should be remembered that since 1749 only the inhabitants of Tracadie and Havre Saint Pierre were allowed to fish. The French authorities were so anxious that the Island become the granary of Louisbourg that they decided to restrict fishing to ensure that the inhabitants devote all their energy to agricultural production.

De la Roque criticized strongly the policy of forbidding fishing everywhere except Havre Saint Pierre and Tracadie. In his opinion it was contrary to the interests of the population, which was often on the verge of starvation due to poor crops. Fishing would help the inhabitants survive. Taking the example of Havre Saint Pierre and Tracadie he insisted that the two occupations were compatible:

...believing that inhabitants who fish neglect to farm the land is a prejudice into which we have stumbled because of a lack of experience, Havre Saint Pierre and Tracadie are obvious and definite proof of the contrary. The inhab- itants have made large clearings there and I dare say that fishing is an undeniable way of helping with farming. It enables people to have servants and cattle without which the land would never be ploughed. (TR)*?

FARMING

The Acadians who emigrated to fle Saint Jean devoted themselves mainly to agriculture. When they arrived, they tried to settle on land that was similar to that which they had left in Acadia. The few existing natural meadows along the rivers and bays were taken up quickly since they provided a ready source of hay for the winter”. These meadows were later cultivated by the Acadians, and dyked if necessary. During his inspection tour of 1751 the engineer Franquet noted that all the settlements on the Island