“The animals of Hudson’s Bay are, the moose-deer, stags, rein-deer, bears, wolves, foxes, beavers, otters, lynxes, martens, squirrels, ermines, wild-cats, and hares; of the feathered kind, geese, bustards, ducks, partridges, and all manner of wild fowl: of fish, whales, morses, seals, cod, sea-horses, and sea-unicorns: and in the rivers and fresh waters, pike, perch, carp, and trout. There have been taken in one season, at Nelson River, 90,000 partridges, as large as hens; and 25,000 hares. Every thing changes white in winter; even European animals after being a short time in the country.
“The inhabitants shew great ingenuity in kindling a fire, in clothing themselves, and in preserving their eyes: in other respects, they are very savage[39]. In their shapes and faces they do not resemble the Indians, who live to the south: they are more like the Laplanders and Samoeids of Europe, from whom they are probably descended. Those on the sea-coast are dexterous in managing their kiacks or boats[40]. The other Americans seem to be of a Tartar original.
“In 1670, a Charter was granted to a Company, which does not consist of more than nine or ten persons, for the exclusive trade to this Bay; and they have acted under it ever since, with great benefit to themselves. The fur and peltry trade might be carried on to a much greater extent, were it not entirely in the hands of this exclusive Company; whose interested, not to say inquisitive spirit, has been the subject of long and just complaint. The Company employ four ships, and 130 seamen[41].
“The French destroyed the forts in 1782, valued at 500,000l. The Company export commodities to the amount of 16,000l. and bring home returns to the value of 29,340l. which yield to the revenue 3,734l. This includes the fishing in Hudson’s Bay.
“This commerce, small as it is, affords great profits to the Company, and is advantageous to Great Britain in general; for the commodities we exchange with the Indians, for their skins and furs, are all manufactured in Great Britain; and as the Indians are not very nice in their choice, those things are sent of which we have the greatest plenty, and which, in the mercantile phrase, are drugs with us.——Though the workmanship, too, happens to be, in many respects, so deficient, that no civilized people would take it off our hands, it may nevertheless be admired by the Indians. On the other hand, the skins and furs we bring from Hudson’s Bay enter largely into our manufactures, and afford us materials for a lucrative trade with many nations of Europe. These circumstances tend to prove incontestably the immense benefit that would redound to Great Britain by throwing open the trade to Hudson’s Bay; since, even in its present restrained state, it is so advantageous. The exclusive Company, it is probable, do not find commerce so advantageous now as it was before we got possession of Canada. The only attempt made to trade with Labrador has been directed towards the fishery.
“From the journeys of McKenzie and Hearne, a complete confirmation has arisen, that there can be no northern communication between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, except at so high a latitude that it must be impeded by perpetual ice.
“The mouth of the Copper-mine River, as ascertained by Mr. Hearne, lies in latitude 72° N.; longitude, 119° W. of Greenwich.”
Since the British have had possession of Canada, a strong competition has arisen between the people of that country and the Hudson’s-Bay traders. It is therefore doubtful whether the opening of a free trade into Hudson’s Bay would be productive of those very advantageous results which Mr. Pinkerton has supposed: the indefatigable Canadians have contrived to carry their mercantile expeditions into almost every part of the N. W. continent of America; and it can be of little political consequence to the mother country, whether the peltry trade is made to pass through Canada or Hudson’s Bay; except, indeed, that the opening of a free intercourse with the Bay might operate as a stimulus upon the Esquimaux, to animate their exertions in the seal and whale fisheries; as they would be then certain of finding an adequate market for their oil, whalebone, and seal-skins.
That nothing serves so effectually to deaden the spirit of mercantile application as an unjust monopoly, is evident, from an old record of the year 1742; which runs thus:—
“When the Indians came to the factory in June 1742, they could get but a pound of gunpowder for four beaver skins, a pound of shot for one beaver, an ell of coarse cloth for fifteen, a blanket for twelve, two fish-hooks or three flints for one, a gun for twenty-five skins, a pistol for ten, a hat with a white lace for seven, an axe for four, a hedging-bill for one, a gallon of brandy for four, a checked shirt for seven; all which was sold at the monstrous profit of 2000 per cent. Notwithstanding which discouragement, the Indians brought down to Port Nelson that season 50,000 beaver skins, and 9000 martens; these beaver skins being worth five or six shillings a pound; whereas those which the English purchase at New York are not worth more than three shillings and sixpence a pound.
“Besides these skins, the Indians, during the same year (1742), brought to the factory, at Churchill, 20,000 beaver skins.”