 For during his stay, he had kept an eye out for lucrative colonial enterprises in which he might wish to acquire an interest for himself and his family.Hocquart's fine opinion of the La Portes soon changed when it became apparent that Jean was using his recently acquired familiarity with the Canadian economy for private benefit.On 17 April 1744, the Count de Maurepas informed the Canadian officials that Jean de La Porte was to be given the “fur farm” (la ferme sur la traite des fourrures, i.e.