Le Comte de Saint Pierre 51

or habitan of Ile Royale to leave without written per- mission of the Governor, and instructing the Gover- nor of Isle Saint Jean not to receive any who might arrive without such permission, and likewise not to allow any habitans of Isle Saint Jean to go to Ile Royale without similar credentials.**

In the meantime the affairs of the Company as distinct from the Colony were not prospering suffi- ciently to retain the interest of the stockholders. 'The Comte de Saint Pierre made no financial contribu- tion in 1722 and as a result a rearrangement of the stock was made in October by which Farges and Moras assumed greater responsibilities. But they also failed to meet their obligations in 1723 and 1724 while at the same time they were under con- stant fire from the merchants and fishermen of Ile Royale and St. Malo, who accused them of exercis- ing their monopoly with unnecessary rigor and even of showing favor to the English, in consequence of which the fishing industry was being ruined for the subjects of France and by no means adequately con- ducted by the Company of the Comte de Saint Pierre. Matters came to a head in the autumn of 1724. Au- bert, the financial director of the Company in Isle Saint Jean, was beset on all sides by importunate creditors and by the habitans dependent upon him. At the same time Roberge, captain of the brigantine La Chimene, which had done such damage to poach- ers upon the fishing grounds, threatened to go off to France and desert the colony. “God preserve me, if

18 Ci1 IV, Vol. 6, p. 81.