The French Basques, just as experienced as the Spanish Basques, likely also sent ships to the region in the 1540s. French-Spanish struggles in Italy also came to Newfoundland too. In 1554, Basque ships from Labourd and Bordeaux (based in Buitres) attacked Basques from Gipuzkoa and Biscay in Saint-Modeste-Ouest. After the signing of the Cateau-Cambrésis treaties in 1559, the ships of the Guipuskoa and Biscay increased in number while ones from Labourd declined. However, Johannes de Gaberie, a Basque from Saint-Jean-de-Luz, resisted and spent the winter from 1562 to 1563 in an undetermined port. His boat was attacked by another from Biscay, resulting in many crew members killed and the oil cargo stolen. It is unclear if he returned to Newfoundland. This last conflict thus marks the beginning of the monopoly of the Spanish Basques in the Strait of Belle Isle.