28 ‘The French in Prince Edward Island

existing record of its fate is comprised in the request of Duc de Noirmoutiers, 1714, an heir of the Mar- quis de Chevry for indemnity to the extent of 224,- 728 livres/10s., or as an alternative the grant of the above-mentioned islands. The Council dismissed the claims of the duke and forbade any interference in the islands on the part of the heirs of the Marquis of Chevry or any other of his associates in the previous enterprise.°

The abortive efforts of Gautier and his associates complete the annals of Isle Saint Jean during the seventeenth century. In one sense, the island during this period had no history. Though it had been in- cluded in all three grants described above, it did not in any case become the center of either the fur-trade or the sedentary fishery. No doubt the Micmacs domi- ciled there pooled their furs with their Indian brothers of the mainland when occasion offered, communication by water being free and easy. Gautier claimed to have erected establishments in all the islands but his venture came to nought. Denys visited one of its harbors on the north coast but whether Cascumpeque or Malpeque, neither his record nor his map gives any definite indication. In the meantime, France was concentrating upon the St. Lawrence Valley and her ships sailed serenely by to Quebec and Montreal. Such Frenchmen as straggled over to the island from Canso were bent upon securing seals rather than extending the bounds of geographical knowledge. So, too, the Basques harpooned their whales and re-

9 C11 VI, Vol. 8, p. 92; C1 Vol. F. 10, pp. 46-48; 316.