Fur-Trade on the Upper Lakes, 1778-1815
Library of Congress Fur-trade on the upper lakes, 1778-1815. 234 Fur-Trade on the Upper Lakes 1778–1815 John Askin 1778: SUPPLIES RECEIVED AND FORWARDED [Letters of John Askin to fur-traders at Montreal and Detroit, and on Lake Superior.41 Original MS. letter-book in library of Clarence M. Burton, Detroit.] 41 The business of forwarding supplies of provisions and liquors to the traders in the Northwest had its headquarters at Michilimackinac, and at this time (1778) was largely in the hands of John Askin. Provisions in Indian corn, bears' tallow, etc., were picked up around the lakes, while the liquors came up from Montreal by two routes: that of the Ottawa (Grand River), and that of Niagara and Detroit. The former was more expensive, because light boats had to be used, on account of the many portages; the latter more uncertain, especially in times of war. The following letters from John Askin's letter-book, which now rests in the Burton Library, Detroit, reveal the names of traders engaged in the traffic, the predominance of the North West Company, and the difficulties of the business; they also incidently throw much light on conditions along the upper lakes during the Revolution, the state of shipping, and the interference with trade due to the progress of the war. For a brief sketch of John Askin see Wis. Hist. Colls., xviii, p. 309, note 29. To that should be added the information that he came West soon after the treaty of Paris (1763); that his wife was Archange Barthe of Detroit; and that after the transfer of the posts to the United States in 1796, he elected to remain a British subject, and removed to the Canadian side Fur-trade on the upper lakes, 1778-1815.
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