Final answer:
Lot and block references are critical in real estate and surveying to detail properties' locations and boundaries, especially for the historical French Long Lots cadastral system.
Step-by-step explanation:
Lot and block references for legal descriptions are used in real estate and surveying to identify and describe the location and boundaries of a particular piece of property. In the context of the French Long Lots cadastral system, such references would be crucial for mapping out these narrow, elongated parcels of land which were typically laid out by the colonists to ensure access to a transportation route, like a river. This system of land division, which creates lots that are much longer than they are wide, was common in areas with significant French influence and settlement. The legal description using lot and block references would help delineate the exact pieces of land within this historical context.