OF THE FUR TRADE, &c. XX1il

amount and upwards; yielding proportionate profits, and furpaffing, in

fhort, any thing known in America.

Such, therefore, being the profperous flate of the company, it,
very naturally, tempted others to interfere with the concern in a man-
ner by no means beneficial to the company, and commonly ruin-

ous to the undertakers.

In 1798 the concern underwent a new form, the fhares were increafed
to forty-fix, new partners being admitted, and others retiring, This
period was the termination of the company, which was not renewed
by all the parties concerned in it, the majority continuing to a& upon
the old flock, and under the old firm; the others beginning a new
one; and it now remains to be decided, whether two parties, under
the fame regulations and by the fame exertions, though unequal in num-
ber, can continue to carry on the bufinefs to a fuccefsful iffue. The
contrary opinion has been held, which, if verified, will make it the in-
tereft of the parties again to coalefce; for neither is deficient in capital
to fupport their obftinacy in a lofing trade, as it is not to be fuppofed

that either will yield on any other terms than perpetual participation.

It will not be fuperfluous in this place, to explain the general mode of

carrying on the fur trade.

The agents are obliged to order the neceflary goods from England
in the month of Oétober, eighteen months before they can leave Mon-
treal; that is, they are not fhipped from London until the fpring fol-

lowing,