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    Having considered the origins of French Communities in the region, it is now time to examine some of the stages of their evolution. One needs to see how the first families managed to survive and prosper so well that today the French-speaking villages of the peninsula include over 1,500 inhabitants whose mother tongue is French even if they are, with few exceptions, bilingual.

    Unfortunately, few documents exist describing the life of the early settlers on the peninsula. One can of course make use of reports prepared by French naval officers and, after 1857, of censuses made in the area; but one must sometimes beware of figures, the interpretation of which is not always safe.

    One must first ask how the earliest settlers nourished themselves. Charles de la Morandière provides useful information regarding the provenance of some foodstuffs. Quoting a Mr. Carpon, a surgeon who had made several passages to the French Shore fishery, and who gave an account of his experiences in a book published in 1852, de la Morandière tells us:

    The ship carefully carries many young cabbages planted in earth-filled baskets. These baskets are suspended beneath the tops so that the sea rime does not damage the vegetables so conserved, and which grow perfectly well there. In this way all the cabbage stalks and their roots are preserved, the leaves having served to make soup for part of the crossing. Upon arriving in Newfoundland these are planted, along with potatoes. Turnips, peas, lettuces, chervil, spinach, cress, swedes and radishes are planted, and it is a pleasure to see them grow so quickly. These labours are performed under the direction of the surgeon.