A. D. 1743. 237 



needles, net-lines, rings for the fingers, runlets, fword-blades, fpoons> 

 fhirts, flioes, ftockings, faflies, worded, thimbles, tobacco-boxes, tongs, 

 trunks, twine, &c. Which fhews, in fome meafure, that Mr. Dobbes's 

 o])inion may be right, that the extenfion of this trade farther into the 

 vafl inland countries, fouthward and fouth-eafl from the bay, might 

 prove a national advantage. Yet, whether thofe countries be lo fertile 

 and fo well inhabited as he alleges, is at leaf! doubtful. 



There was exported by the Hudfon's-bay company in the year 1737 

 to the value of - _ _ _ _ - L4124 18 2 



In the year 1738 ______ 3879 17 11 



Thus this difpute between Mr. Dobbes and Captain Middleton has 

 brought to light more particulars for illuftrating this trade, than either 

 the company would, probably, have readily done, or the public could 

 have otherwife expeded. 



Mr. Dobbes has moreover given us alfo a catalogue of the peltry im- 

 ported from Canada, or New-France, into the port of Rochel, for the 

 year 1743, viz. 



127,080 beaver fkins, 1220 fine cats, 



16,512 bears, 1267 wolves, 



110,000 racoons, 92 wolverines, 



30,325 martens, 10,280 grey foxes and cats, 



12,428 otters and fifhers, 451 red foxes ; 



1700 minks, 

 in all 31 1,355 (kins, worth about Li 20,000 fterling, according to the 

 above valuation of the Hudfon's-bay peltry. 



Both Mr. Dobbes and Captain Middleton- admit, that there is a good 

 copper-mine on the wefl: fide of Hudfon's bay, not far from the coafi:, 

 which might, probably, be brought to good account, were a fort built 

 near it. It is on that weft fide, where the company's chief forts and 

 trade are lefs in danger of being annoyed by the French forts north of 

 Canada, and which were much too near ours on the fouth fide of Hud- 

 fon's bay, fuch as our beft and ftrongeft fort, named the Prince of 

 Wales's fort, from whence in 1742 the company got 20,000 beaver's 

 /kins; that on Churchill river; York-fort on Nelibn's river, antiently 

 called on our maps Port-Nelfon ; another on New-Severn river ; one on 

 Albany river ; and one on Moofe river, at the very fouthern extremity 

 ot the bay ; where they keep themfelves clofe, both fummer and winter 

 for the moft part, having no country plantations, and with only a 

 kitchen garden under the walls of their forts, wherein they raife a few 

 herbs and greens. Whereas, fays Mr. Dobbes, would the company 

 fettle and build forts higher up from the fea, on the weft and fouth fides 

 of the bay, where the frofls and cold arc not near lo intenfe, and where 

 they will find a rich country, well wooded, with all manner of plants, 

 herbs, &c. with plenty of grafs, rivers, and lakes ; or rather, were the. 



