TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION .

METHODS. The Document Trail for the French Period The Treatment of the Extracts . . The extraction criteria . . The French transcription . . The English translation . . The presentation of the extracts

RESULTS . . . . The Documents . . The Recorders . . . . The Hierarchy of French Rule on He Saint- Jean . .

ANALYSIS . . . . . . The Nature and State of the Forest . . The extent of the forested area . . The quality of the forests. . . The distribution of forest- -types. references to forest- -types and single species stands The tree species composition of the forest . . The size of the trees . .

The Forest as a Natural Habitat . . Fallen trees in the forest . . . . Ground hemlock in the beechwoods . . . . The open nature of old— —growth hardwood forests . . Were there open treeless areas in the forests?. Bog forest . . . . . The fertility of the forest soils . . The fauna of the forest . .

Forest Clearance . . . . . Forest clearance for agriculture . . Forest clearance for roads . . . . Forest clearance for other reasons . . The methods of forest clearance . .

The Utilisation of Forest Materials . . Building materials . . Fencing . . Firewood . . . . Local shIp building . . . . . Timber exports to Louisbourg . . Timber exports to France . . . . Exploitation of the forest fauna . .

Forest Fires . .

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