The pebbly beach behind the restaurant is the historic site where Acadians came ashore in 1755. They later were forced to pay rent on land the Acadians occupied when King George III gave the islands to a Capt. The islands prospered in the late 19th century when Quebec legislation enabled Islanders to buy back their land. Yet the Magdalens were still a family fiefdom, privately owned by descendants of Coffin, who lived abroad. The mainstay of the economy is fishing, and bounty from the sea is evidenced throughout the islands.
Fishing boats roll gently in protected harbours.
Herring not used to bait lobster is hung out to dry in smokehouses. Not everyone with a fondness for the sea is engaged in fishing. Tourism has become an increasingly important source of income. Travelling by ferry from another jewel in the Gulf, Prince Edward Island, visitors bask in the beauty and civility of the Islands. On the English-speaking island of Grosse Ile is Holy Trinity Anglican Church.