History of Trois-Pistoles, Québec, Canada

Trois-Pistoles is located 250 km northeast of Québec City on the south shore of the ST LAWRENCE R, between Rivière-du-Loup and Rimouski. According to legend, the name was given to the river at whose mouth the town is located because sailors once lost a silver goblet worth 3 gold pistoles in the river. BASQUES were among the fishermen and whale hunters who sailed to the river's estuary before John Cabot's explorations in N America. The remains of several ovens used to melt whale oil have been found on the island opposite the town, appropriately named Ile-aux-Basques.

The seigneury of Trois-Pistoles was granted to Denis de Vitré in 1687. The mission was served by priests from Kamouraska until 1783 and by missionaries 1783-1806, at which time the first resident priest arrived. The municipality's major economic activities were agriculture and forest resources.
thecanadianencyclopedia.ca

The village of Trois-Pistoles, Quebec relies on an annual influx of anglophone students during the 12 weeks of French immersion summer school for its local economy. The town hasn’t grown much since 1904 and its 1873 rail station stands unused.
theglobeandmail.com