The North West Company operated in a complex system of managers, assistants and contract workers. At the top level were the Montreal agents. These wealthy men controlled the company. They ordered the trade goods from all over the world and shipped them to the supply depots. They sold the furs in European markets. And they worked with the government to create the laws governing the trade. On the next level were the partners. They were part owners in the company and lived year-round in the interior. Partners managed the trading activities in a region. They negotiated directly with the natives, supervised the traders in their districts and watched the activities of rival companies.
The clerks were the next level down. They managed small fur posts, directed and motivated the men and kept records of the actual daily trade. On the next level down were the guides and interpreters. Their special skills and long years in the interior made them very important to the company managers above them. The voyageurs were the bottom level of the company. These men agreed to work for a number of years in exchange for pay, equipment, clothing and "room and board." Most voyageurs were hired because of their skill and strength as paddlers. Finally, there were the Native men, women and families. While not employed by the company, they nonetheless played important roles in the trade as interpreters and diplomats. And since the Northwesters did not hunt for themselves, almost all their food was provided by Native men and women. Traders also depended on Native men and women for their traditional skills such as skinning animals and building canoes.
Like company agents, partners were wealthy men. Partners were also gentlemen. They were well educated, could read and write, and demonstrated correct and proper behavior. According to company policy, no one could become a partner without serving time in the wilderness. It is established as a rule that every partner must take 2 years out of 3, to winter in the Northwest, managing a Post. The managing Partners of the Montreal House are the only persons excused; any other, when they are no longer inclined to serve this duty must resign. —Thomas Douglas, Fifth Earl of Selkirk, 1804 Each wintering partner was in charge of a huge area known as a district.
Each district was divided into several departments. Each department included several wintering posts. An experienced trader with many years experience, John Sayer became a wintering partner of the North West Company in the 1790's. He managed the Fond duLac and Folle Avoine Departments, which included the area south of Lake Superior and the northern reaches of the
St. Croix River valley. In the region under his command, Sayer traveled widely and oversaw the operation of twelve smaller wintering posts. He built and operated a supply depot and warehouse at Fort St. Louis, on the shores of Lake Superior. Most importantly, Sayer was responsible for the actual trading in his department. Although he followed general company policies, he negotiated directly with the local natives. He gave gifts to encourage the natives to trade. He even altered the prices offered for furs. Sayer kept tight control of all his department's operations. During the winter of 1804, he closely supervised the activities of two other traders. Joseph "La Prairie" Duchene wintered along the Yellow River.
Joseph Reaume wintered at Namai-Kowagon. Both were frequent visitors to Sayer's post on the Snake River. Winter Quarters Thursday 14 Febr 1805. A Cold Day wind N. at 11 AM Mr Reaume with 3 Men came from La Prairies Quarters.
it appears that the same extragance as usual has taken place notwithstanding my positive orders to La Prairie to avoid giving large Credits. —John Sayer, 1805 Since the XY Company was trading in the same area, Sayer also spent a lot of time watching his "enemy's" activities. One method was to send his men en dérouine. These short trading expeditions were one way to keep a close watch on rival trader Ignace Chenier. At the same time, he could collect furs and trade for food with the natives. August 4th, Saturday. Today I am sending Bazinet to Ouisconsaint to try and get the Best skins from the Natives and also a small quantity of wild rice. He takes with him a small assortment of goods . . . —François Victor Malhiot, 1804 After the merger with the XY Company, the Nor'westers reduced the number of their trading posts. They trimmed the number of workers and cut wages. The cost of trade goods increased, fur values decreased and profits went down. In the middle of all this change, Sayer took his rotation to Montreal. For a couple of seasons, he traded for the company at Lac de Chats on the Ottawa River. Then, after over thirty years in the business, he retired from active partnership in 1808. According to company policy, Sayer received title to a large farm within the district of Montreal in exchange for one of his shares in the company. He also was allowed to keep his second share as a source of income during his retirement. After a few years as a gentleman farmer, Sayer sold both his second share and the farm. He then relocated to the village of St. Anne's on the island of Montreal. While living there, Sayer married Elizabeth McPherson and was elected to the Beaver Club, an exclusive social club for Nor'westers living in Montreal. Sadly, Sayer did not enjoy a long and prosperous retirement. He died in 1818 at age 68.
