was carried on in this region for a longer period;[100] and we know from Dablon that the Wisconsin savages were not compelled to separate by families during the hunting season, as was common among other tribes, because the game here was so abundant.[101] Aside from its importance as a key to the Northwestern trade, Wisconsin seems to have been a rich field of traffic itself. With such extensive operations as the foregoing in the region reached by Wisconsin rivers, it is obvious that the government could not keep the _coureurs de bois_ from the woods. Even governors like Frontenac connived at the traffic and shared its profits. In 1681 the government decided to issue annual licenses,[102] and messengers were dispatched to announce amnesty to the _coureurs de bois_ about Green Bay and the south shore of Lake Superior.[103] We may now offer some conclusions upon the connection of the fur trade with French explorations: 1. The explorations were generally induced and almost always rendered profitable by the fur trade. In addition to what has been presented on this point, note the following: In 1669, Patoulet writes to Colbert concerning La Salle's voyage to explore a passage to Japan: "The enterprise is difficult and dangerous, but the good thing about it is that the King will be at no expense for this pretended discovery."[104] The king's instructions to Governor De la Barre in 1682 say that, "Several inhabitants of Canada, excited by the hope of the profit to be realized from the trade with the Indians for furs, have undertaken at various periods discoveries in the countries of the Nadoussioux, the river Mississipy, and other parts of America."[105]