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of which made into Packs of Eighty Pounds weighs on a yearly average is Sixty five Packs – one third of which number are Scarcely any other Peltries than Lyn Skins, but the most Predominent is the Beaver & Bear[.] The value of which has already been intimated to me, but as the Scale frequently depends upon Secret circumstances which are not always imparted to the Clerks of the Comp^y I Shall say nothing more on that Head[.]

The lower Posts Produces very poor returns their Trade consisting in almost nothing but a display of forty or Fifty Packs made up of ragged muskrats – The profits of which add but little weight to the Purses of the Parties concerned in the Trade[.]

The wages allowed to a Clerk at the expiration of a long term of Seven years which he has served as an apprentice for the Sum of one Hundred Pounds for the whole term, was formerly a reasonable Salary of one Hundred Pounds per annum[.] But Since the late contention between the NWC^o and the X.Y. Company & their junction we are reduced to the sum of Sixty years Pounds for the first year[,] eighty for the second and one Hundred for the third – for further wages, we must depend upon success in trade & Friends in Power[.] Some enjoy an income of Five Hundred a year. Such prices are only given because the times were pressing[.] However we are flattered and feed ourselves upon this Hopes of once being admitted to a Share in the Company which only friends and merit can procure us[.]

The Prices of Common Men or Canadians are an establishment rule never to exceed fifty or Sixty Pounds being the highest[,] the lowest is twenty five Pounds but few have these low Prices[.]

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