312 



THE POLAR WORLD. 



even years without tiring. According to Sir John Richardson, no fish in any 

 country or sea excels the white-fish in flavor and wholesomeness, and it is the 

 most beneficial article of diet to the Ked Indians near the Arctic Circle, being 

 obtained with more certainty than the reindeer, and with less change of abode 

 in summer and winter. 



Each of the principal forts is the seat of a chief factor, or general adminis- 

 trator of a district, and of a chief trader, who transacts the business with the 

 Indians. 



Besides these principal functionaries — out of whom the governor is chosen 

 — the Company employed, in 1860,5 surgeons, 87 clerks, 67 postmasters, 1200 

 permanent servants, and 500 voyageurs, besides temporary employes of differ- 

 ent ranks, so that the total number of persons in its pay was at least 3000. 

 Besides this little army of immediate dependents, the whole male Indian popu« 

 lation of its vast territory, amounting to about 100,000 hunters and traj^pers, 

 may be considered as actively employed in the service of the Comj^any. Arm- 

 ed vessels, both sailing and steam, are employed on the north-west coast to car- 

 ry on the fur-trade with the warlike natives of that distant region. More than 

 twenty years ago this trade alone gave employment to about 1000 men, occupy- 

 ing 21 permanent establishments, or engaged in navigating five armed sailing 

 vessels and one armed steamer, varying from 100 to 300 tons in burden. 



The influence of the Company over its savage dependents may justly be 

 called beneficial. Both from motives of humanity and self-interest, every effort 

 is made to civilize them. No expense is spared to preserve them from the 



trader's camp. 



