4 The Fur Traders. 



axes at two dollars fifty cents each, beaver traps at nine 

 dollars each, sugar at one dollar per pound, coffee at one 

 dollar tAventy-five cents a pound, raisins at one dollar 

 fifty cents per pound, grey cloth of common quality at five 

 dollars per yard, flannel common quality at one dollar fifty 

 cents per yard, calicoes assorted at one dollar per yard, dom- 

 estic cotton at one dollar twenty-five cents per yard, thread 

 assorted at three dollars per pound, worsted binding at fif- 

 teen dollars per gross, finger rings at five dollars per gross, 

 beads assorted at two dollars fifty cents per pound, Vermil- 

 lion at three dollars per pound, files assorted at two dollars 

 fifty cents per pound, fourth proof rum reduced at thirteen 

 dollars fifty cents per gallon, bridles assorted at seven dol- 

 lars each, spurs at two dollars per pair, horse shoes and 

 nails at two dollars per pound, tin pans assorted at two 

 dollars per pound, handkerchiefs assorted at one dollar 

 fifty cents each, ribbons assorted at three dollars per bolt, 

 buttons at five dollars per gross, looking glasses at fifty 

 cents each, flints at fifty cents per dozen, moccasin awls at 

 twenty-five cents per dozen, tobacco at one dollar twenty- 

 five cents per pound, copper kettles at three dollars per 

 pound, iron buckles assorted at two dollars fifty cents per 

 pound, fire steels at two dollars per pound, dried fruit at 

 one dollar fifty cents per pound, shaving soap at two 

 dollars per pound, first quality James River tobacco at one 

 dollar seventy-five cents per pound, steel bracelets at one 

 dollar fifty cents per pair, large brjjss wire at two dollars 

 per pound." 



At that time the wages of a hunter were four hundred 

 dollars per year, and the common laborers about the 

 camp received two hundred per year. Buffalo skins were 

 worth three dollars each, beavers four dollars each, otters 

 three dollars each, raccoons twenty-five cents each, musk- 

 rats tAventy cents each, and deer skins thirty-three cents 

 per pound. 



In estimating the profits of the traders w^e cannot fig- 

 ure the difference between the value of skins received 

 and the factory cost of the merchandise exchanged for them ; 

 but must allow for an expense account, amounting to sev- 

 eral hundred per cent, on the goods. There is no doubt that 

 the net profit remaining was heavy for monej' seldom 

 changed hands in these transactions, and whether buying 

 from the Indians direct, or paying the trappers employed 

 by them on a salary, or dealing with the free white hunters 

 and trappers, the company settled nearly all its accounts 

 in merchandise. 



