BELLEISLE, an island of France, in the depart ment of Morbihan, situated in the Bay of Biscay, about six leagues from the coast of France. It is about six leagues long, and two broad, and is so stir. rounded with sharp pointed rocks, that there are on ly three places, well fortified, by which the island can be attacked. The soil of this island, naturally fertile, is manured by means of a weed .called goes. mon, or vareck, which is constantly thrown upon their shores. Corn of different kinds is there pro duced in abundance, and form the articles of their commerce. The principal commerce of Belleisle; however, consists of sardines, which are fished on the coast to the extent of 3000 barrels a year, each bar rel containing about nine or ten millions of sardines. No fewer than•150 chaloupes, of two or three tons each, are employed in this fishery, which is carried on from June to October. A barrel of oil flows from about thirty or forty barrels of sardines, by means of small holes pierced in the bottom of each barrel.
The sardines are exported to Bilboa, St Sebastian, Bayonne, and all the places along the Garonne ; and the oil is partly consumed in the island, and partly exported to Bourdeaux and Nantes. The whole commerce of the island is said to produce annually between 140 and 160 thousand francs. There are also salt marshes in this island. Belleisle once be longed to the family of Fouquet, and was exchanged for the county of Gisors. Palais and Bungor are the chief places of the island, which contains like wise about twenty villages. Chantreaux, in one place of his Science de l' Histaire, makes the popula. tion of Belleisle 2136, and in another between live and six thousand. -West Long. 3° 6' 30", North Lat. 4.7° 17' 30". (Q)