Marin's plan to hunt grizzly bears was too late, and it was already the end of April when the maple syrup returned in March. Not to mention the time it takes to prepare a strong bow and a three-edged heavy arrow, even if Marin immediately sent a ship back to North America to deliver weapons, it would be early June. The maple syrup harvest time is only in March and April.

In fact, maple sugar harvesting in Canada in April was indeed attacked by a large number of bears. Garland's men counted more than 500 oak barrels for maple juice that were taken away by the bears. Fortunately, those natives were not stupid and did not dare to provoke the grizzly bear, otherwise they would definitely be killed by the bear.

But in this way, Garand still achieved his goal of producing 10,000 barrels of maple syrup. After all, sugar maple trees are simply everywhere in Canada. Unlike a large number of forests that were cut down in later generations, Canada in this era was full of trees, and there were many sugar maple trees.

In March and April, more than 400,000 barrels of maple syrup were collected and more than 10,000 barrels of maple syrup were processed.

In fact, if it weren't for the inadequacy of the local natives in the early harvesting and the severe interference of grizzly bears, the production of maple syrup this year would have exceeded 12,000 barrels.

Moreover, this year, Garand's men did not go deep into the heart of the St. Lawrence River, but only arrived a little southwest of Quebec City, and did not yet reach the city of Trois-Rivières, let alone Montreal.

In other words, Garand's fleet only penetrated eight or nine hundred kilometers into the St. Lawrence River, and the entire length of the St. Lawrence River was more than 3,000 kilometers upstream, and Garand only explored part of it.

But there was nothing Garland could do, because there were many restrictions on the navigation of inland waterways. The biggest limitation is the lack of wind. Because the dense primeval forests of North America block the winds on the continent, making it difficult for sailing ships to navigate inland rivers. Sometimes, when the wind stops, the sailboat has to stop there and wait, which is very troublesome.

So, Galland planned to apply to Marlin for a batch of Italian-style galleys to be used exclusively for inland navigation on the St. Lawrence River, so that he could go deeper and get more sources of maple juice.

Previously, Garand had the boats docked directly at the makeshift docks of the cooperative tribes near the river, waiting for the natives to exchange oak barrels filled with maple juice. The more river vessels, the more convenient it is for the acquisition of maple syrup.

……

However, expanding the production of maple syrup, that was only Garand's plan. As for Marin, he was not enthusiastic. Why? Because maple syrup can't see the light of day now.

If other European countries knew that Canada's huge forests could collect a large amount of syrup every year, it is estimated that several countries would jump out and compete for it. France and Spain, in particular, are the most powerful. France alone, maybe Marin is not afraid. After all, the French Navy is too rubbish. However, if such a huge stake is seen, it is possible that France and Spain will join forces. When the time comes, Marin will not be able to bear it.

Therefore, no matter how much maple syrup there is, Marlin will not use much, and he will not dare to make it public. For now, maple syrup is mostly used to blend rye two-pot heads, as well as to make maple sugar compressed biscuits for armies and sailors. Therefore, its demand is not large, and 10,000 barrels a year is about the same. No matter how much it is, it doesn't seem to be needed.

In addition, Cuba and Grenada under Marin also produce sugar. As far as dessert sources are concerned, maple syrup is not the only one, and there is no need to produce too much.

But for the exploration of the St. Lawrence River, Marin is certainly supportive. Because, deep into the St. Lawrence River, you can buy not only maple syrup, but also rare animal skins. In addition, Marin must be prepared to control the St. Lawrence River basin. Because, if you don't control it, someone else will try to control it......

Originally, the English did not look much at the Canadian region where they could not farm, and did not penetrate the Canadian coast much, but specialized in the management and development of the east coast of the United States, which was suitable for agriculture.

The French, on the other hand, were too weak to compete with the British for the east coast of the United States, so they simply concentrated on the Canadian coast, especially the St. Lawrence River basin. Quebec City was even built, forming a de facto occupation of Canada's eastern seaboard. It was not until the period of the Seven Years' War that Quebec was taken by force by the British.

But it also reminded Marin that if you don't occupy some places, someone else will occupy them. Therefore, it is better to occupy a pit yourself first to avoid letting others take advantage of it.

In fact, historically, the whole of America was awarded to Spain by the Holy See. It is a pity that the Spaniards only paid attention to the development of the Caribbean and South America, ignoring the development of North America. Then, the British took advantage of the situation. Then, France, the sworn enemy of the British, also entered the coastal areas of Canada......

So, Marin, having learned his lesson, decided - no matter what, to pay attention to the occupation and protection of the east coast of North America. As for South America, Argentina must also occupy near the mouth of the Río de la Plata. And in the Caribbean, Marin doesn't pay much attention. If there is really no way, other countries can be allowed to occupy one or two islands. Anyway, the most valuable island in the Caribbean, Cuban Island, has been controlled by Marin.

……

In early May, the Cuban colony of Havana sent another ship back. The arrival of this ship made Marin overjoyed......

Marin was overjoyed because the ship was loaded with a batch of sisal leaves, the total of which reached several tons......

In the middle of last year, Tara sent a boat back to tell Marin that he had found sisal seeds. Then, at that time, Marin immediately happily let Tara in the hilly area near Havana, cut down trees and plant sisal. To this end, Tara used the acquired sisal seeds to grow 500 acres of sisal in the hilly area near Havana.

However, the maturation period of sisal is more than 2 years. Last September, Tara ordered sisal to be planted, but it would take a year and a half to harvest.

However, Marin had already instructed Tara to buy not only sisal seeds from Mexicans, but also finished sisal fibers......

Even if the indigenous Mexicans don't know how to collect sisal fibers in this way, let them collect sisal leaves directly, right?

Tara then sent to the Aztec Empire in Mexico to negotiate with the natives about the purchase of sisal fiber.

But the Aztecs were reluctant to collect sisal fibers, why? Because the stone knives of the Aztecs could not cut the sisal leaves...... Even if it is cut, it will damage the blade of the stone knife very much......

In desperation, Tara directly asked them to break off the sisal leaves from the bottom of the sisal piece. After all, the bottom end of a sisal leaf is not a sisal fiber, but a petiole that can be easily broken off.

In order to lure the Aztecs to help him break the sisal leaves, Tara directly took out the big killing weapon - sucrose......

Although it was the lowest form of brown sugar, the Aztecs had never eaten anything so sweet. The Aztecs were then conquered by the taste of sucrose......

So, the shrewd Aztec merchants sent their men to the remote arid regions of the northwest, broke off the leaves of sisal, took them to the coastal markets, and exchanged them with Tara's men for sugar......

Tara then collected several tons of sisal leaves and sent them back home......

When Marin got his hands on the sisal leaves, he immediately hired craftsmen who were good at making flax ropes and asked them to cut the sisal leaves, cut them into fibers, and then process them into ropes.

After all, sisal rope is the best marine rope and a good material for making sail bones.

However, after seeing this batch of sisal leaves, the rope maker smacked his lips again and again. Why? Because of this batch of sisal leaves, the best time to deal with them should be when they are just harvested. Fresh sisal leaves, which are easier to shredd, are then soaked in a special saline solution to improve their performance.

However, this batch of sisal was sent back directly in the form of leaves, and the best processing period has been missed. However, the good thing is that the sisal fiber itself is of good quality. Although the performance may have decreased, the rope craftsmen agreed that the rope made of this sisal was much stronger than ordinary linen rope......

Then, the first sisal ropes were applied to the labor-saving steering wheel system developed by Leonardo da Vinci. Because sisal is particularly wear-resistant, there is no need to worry about the rope breaking due to wear and tear during future voyages......

In addition, Marin took a batch of processed sisal fibers and asked women who were good at weaving to weave them into canvas to be used to match the sails of the upper edge of the girth. After all, an upper edge bique sail made of linen could not be made too large. Mainly, the intensity is not enough. And the sisal fiber is very strong, no less than the strong nylon of later generations. Therefore, it is very suitable for making large area sails.

The sisal ropes that have been made, as well as the sisal fiber sails that are being weaved, will be used on the sailing ships of Marin to Daming in person in the future. After all, the best thing is definitely for Marin's own use. The sturdy sisal ropes and sails also ensure the safety of the voyage. After all, Marin is just a traverser, not an immortal, and has no second life to squander......