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Fishing
The cod fishery was the basis of Īle Royale's economy during both French occupations. A valuable enterprise, it generated almost three times more
wealth than that of the North American fur trade and had an annual worth that exceeded government spending several times over. The marketing centre for the entire cod catch of the colony was Louisbourg.
It was the importance of dried and salted cod in the European diet that made it such a valuable commodity. In an age before artificial refrigeration preserved foods were essential and codfish held an especially significant place in people's diets. Cod was easily preserved and, because of the almost five months of meatless days due to religious obligations, it was in constant demand.