On Saturday mornings, this smoky little sweatbox of a bar hosts a packed Cajun music concert that draws in crowds from across the state, many of whom speak Louisiana French as a second, if not mother, tongue. Some farmed rice, some worked crops and livestock on the prairies, and some occupied the swampland, where they eked out a living based on fishing and trapping. By the early 19th century some 3000 to 4000 Acadians, or Cajuns as they became known, lived in southern Louisiana. A homeless population of Acadians searched for a place to settle for decades until seven boatloads of exiles arrived in New Orleans in 1785. These maritime provinces (New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia) were, under French rule, known as Acadie, and the refugees deemed themselves Acadiens (Acadians). The Cajuns on the other hand descend from Francophone refugees who fled the maritime provinces of Canada after they were conquered by Britain during the Seven Years' War (also known as the French and Indian War). In Louisiana, Creoles are either the descendants of 18th-century French and Spanish colonists, or racial mixes of African Americans, white Louisianans and sometimes, Native Americans. Now when Louisiana is added to Fishing Planet soon, you will properly know how to entertain the community your fish stories.Many people think the terms 'Cajun' and 'Creole' are interchangeable, but they actually refer to two distinct populations. If there are any more Louisiana cajuns and creoles out there that know any other terms please feel free to add them. These are the terms I became most familar with growing up on the bayou. All freshwater drum species are called gaspergou or just plain goo. Minnows called cocahoe (use your pervy mind to sound this one out -)). Redear sunfish is called chinquapin (sounds like ♥♥♥♥♥ pin). Flat head catfish is either called mud cat or goujon. Bowfin is call choupique (sounds like shoe pick) and is used for the roe (eggs) to make Cajun caviar. All bass species (except striped) are sometimes called green trout. Instead you fish bayous and canals in bateaus. In Louisiana you don't fish rivers and streams in boats. Being from Louisiana and spending my summers at my family's camp in the Atchafalaya basin, I thought I would help prepare the community for fishing in Louisiana.
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