The Hone of the Wolverene and Beaver. 3 1 



formed a junction of interests, under the name of 

 the North- West Company ; and being joined in 

 1787 by a rival company, the new association had 

 no competitor except the Hudson's Bay Company, 

 and soon grew into a gigantic and wealthy concern, 

 whose branches spread throughout the countr\-, 

 and whose posts were found on the furthest 

 frontier. 



The method by which the North-West Company 

 was established and worked is so peculiar that a 

 few words regarding it can hardly be out of place. 

 It may be said to have been supported entirely 

 upon credit, for, whether the capital belonged to 

 the proprietor or was borrowed it equally bore 

 interest, for which the association was annually 

 accountable. It consisted of twenty shares, un- 

 equally divided among the persons concerned, and 

 of these, a certain proportion was held by the 

 people who managed the business in Canada, who 

 were styled agents. It was the duty of the latter 

 to import the necessary goods from England, store 

 them at their own expense at Montreal, pack and 

 forward them to the starting-place of the canoes, 

 and supply whatever cash might be wanting for 

 outfits, &c. ; as compensation for this extra troubl'i 

 the agents received, in addition to the profit or. 

 their shares, a commission on the amount of thf 



