SOURCE OF ST. I'JSTEr's RIVER. 81 



skins, when brought by the Indians, nre loosely tied or 

 rolled ; they are separated, folded, and made into packs 

 three feet long and eighteen inches wide, which are ex- 

 posed to a heavy pressure under a wedge press. These 

 packs generally contain from forty to fifty deer skins, and 

 about two hundred raccoon skins. Bear skins being rare, 

 are not put up in packs, but are used to cover the other 

 furs. The prices of skins vary every season, according to 

 their quality and abundance. In 1823, the skins were 

 worth at Fort Wayne — 



For Deer, (bucks,) - - - ^125 



(does,) - - - - 1 00 



Raccoon . _ _ - 50 



Bear - - - ^ 3 00 to 5 00 



The amount of furs annually made up at this post is, as 

 we were informed by a competent and disinterested judge, 

 about two hundred packs, the average value of which may 

 be fifty dollars each, making an aggregate of ten thou- 

 sand dollars. But this value is rather a nominal than a 

 real one, as the furs are paid for to thf^ Tndinns at the prices 

 just quoted, in goods which are passed off to them at a 

 value at least double the amount of prime cost and expense 

 of transportation. So that to the dealer the real expense 

 attending the purchase of the furs does not amount to one- 

 half of their nominal value. They are usually sent down 

 the Maumee to Lake Erie, and thence to Detroit, where they 

 are for the most part purchased by the American Fur Com- 

 pany. At the time when we visited Fort Wayne, the 

 number of Indians there was considerable. This is one of 

 the stations at which the Potawatomis, Miamis, &c. re- 

 ceive their annuities. The late Indian agent, Mr. Hays, 

 was on the point of leaving the post, previously to which 

 he was desirous of paying them an annuity^ but this being 



Vol. I. 11 



