Trade Patterns of Louisbourg
by Sandy Balcom

In the main Louisbourg's trading vessels shuttled goods between the port's major trading partners - France, the French Caribbean, New England, Quebec and Acadia. While the overall flow of goods was triangular between Europe, North America and the Caribbean, Louisbourg's portion of this trade was distinctly shuttle in nature. Vessels typically sailed between Louisbourg and one of its trading partners rather than following the triangular flow of goods in single extended voyage.

The port’s trade was not equally proportioned among its different markets. As the average vessel size varied between the different routes, average annual tonnage per market gives a more accurate picture of the relative importance for the different trade routes than does the average number of vessels.

We have relatively good information for vessel arrivals at Louisbourg for five of the years between 1733 and 1743. Allowing for some discrepancies in the figures for individual years, the average annual tonnage arrivals for Louisbourg's different trading partners during these years are:

• France                   4,250

• New England         1,250

• French Caribbean 1,250

• Canada (Quebec)    750

• Acadia                     250

  Major commodities: