Sunday 5^th April 1800[.] Employed Joseph & Lebeau – folding the Grand River Beaver fit for the press – these skins are to lie under weights for some Days that they may take the right form[.] Gave out Credits to several Montagners[.] Traded a Great Many Beaver B___ks & a good Deal of fresh Meat[.] Marlin proposed this Day to send a Canoe with some Goods and a person to trade with the Montagners this Summer at the upper End of River Decorse – where they wish to have a fort next winter between themselves and the Indians of Grand Marrais[.] He says that the first year great returns might be made at that place because the Beaver is plentiful but that the second & third as the Beavers grow scarce the packs will also diminish & the Montagners will again wish to Change forts at the Expiration of three years when there will be plenty Beaver near this place[.] In my opinion this is a good Scheme to frustrate the Designs of the Little Poties – & I told Marlin that it was very likely M^r Finlay would Comply with his request[.]

Monday 6^th[.] The Meuffle Killed a Swan and a Bustard[.] He offered the swan to Marlin who told him that every thing which any of the young Men would kill while near the fort belongs to the trader but that whatever they would Kill in Land was his Due being their Chief – the Meuffle therefore brought the Swan here[.] Bustards were seen near this place the 31^st of last Month[.] Finished giving Credits to the Montagners[.] They are all very well pleased[.] Marlin in his Relations behalf told us that the Montagners were ready to do any thing we would propose this summer – he desired us to speak out our minds like him self & the other Montagners for when they had any request to make they were never backward[.] The only request therefore we liked to make was that they would behave well this summer wherever they might be sent[.] Told them at the same time that in making any reasonable Demand we never backward which is not always the Case with them – for they are not only forward in making reasonable but also unreasonable Demands[.] It must be observed here that this Desire of Marlin's to please is only a preface to ask Goods for nothing – but here he missed his Mark for the present being deferred till the Embarkation or M^r Finlay's arrival[.] Giving him or any others Goods at this time would prove of no use […] [.]

Tuesday 7^th[.] Nothing particular[.]

Wednesday 8^th[.] Dusablon arrived from the Islands w^t a Train Containing 90 trouts[.] The Men finished folding the Grand River Beaver[.] Since they began this work they had the Pray of old fish[.] The snow melts very fast[.]

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