The last remaining piece of France's North American colonies. When New France (Quebec) in what ios now Canada had to be handed over to the British, following the Seven YearsÕ War, France was allowed to retain a base for fishing in the St Lawrence. This takes the form of two islands off the south coast of Newfoundland. They were established by the Treaty of Paris (1814).

They have the status of a French overseas territory (collectivité).

The population is about 6000.

They were the first Vichy French territory to be conquered by Charles de Gaulle's Free French forces in 1942.

French

Fishing was the main industry but as with neighboring Newfoundland the collapse of the Atlantic cod fishery has ended this industry. There is the possibility of some gain from the oil and gas that has been discovered in the Newfoundland area, but there is a dispute with Canada over how much of the continental shelf is owned by the colony.

French subsidies are the main income.