24 The French in Prince Edward Island

lens during the winter. But in the spring he died and his son, Louis Doublet, having despatched the ships, applied to the King for the continuance of the charter in his name, failing which he and his father’s associates should be compensated for their losses. The records reveal neither the King’s answer nor the ultimate fate of the association; but its failure may be gathered from the following reference of Denys, who resented the intrusion of Doublet into his do-

main and, though apparently unaware of his rival’s death, did not weep over the result.

After that there came a man named Doublet from Normandy, who thought himself more clever than all the others. It is true, judging from what he says him- self, he is capable of many things. He had heard tell of the fishery from the fishermen of the country, how the work is done, and that which is practised there. Here was a man wise by hearsay. He imagined himself capable of undertaking this sedentary fishery. He went to Rouen, spoke of it to sundry persons, and accomplished so much by his arguments that he formed a company and went to establish himself at the Isles de la Magde- laine. Through aid of his associates he obtained from the old Company of New France a concession of the Isles de la Magdelaine on condition that he should not make any traffic or trade with the Indians. Then he made an embarkation with two vessels, with everything he thought necessary for his establishment. He arrived at Isle Percée, and learned that these islands (the Mag- dalens) belonged to me, of which he did not take any great account. He went to La Magdelaine, where he made his establishment, and set at work all his fisher-