Guns twelve winter beaver skins for largest, ten for medium, eight for smallest. Powder a beaver for 1/2 lb. Shot a beaver for 4 lbs. Hatchets a beaver for a great and little hatchet. Knives a beaver for eight great knives and eight jack knives. Beads a beaver for 1/2 lb. of beads. Laced coats six beavers for one. Plain coats five beavers for one plain red coat. Coats for women, laced, 2 yds. six beavers. Coats for women, plain five beavers. Tobacco a beaver for 1 lb. Powder-horn a beaver for a large powder-horn and two small ones. Kettles a beaver for 1 lb. of kettle. Looking-glass and comb two skins. The trade conducted at the posts or factories along the shore was carried on by the local traders so soon as the rivers from the interior--the Nelson and the Churchill--were open, so that by the time the ship from London arrived, say in the end of July or beginning of August, the Indians were beginning to reach the coast. The month of August was a busy month, and by the close of it, or early in September, the ship was loaded and sent back on her journey. By the end of October the ships arrived from Hudson Bay, and the anxiety of the Company to learn how the season's trade had succeeded was naturally very great. As soon as the vessels had arrived in the Downs or at Portsmouth, word was sent post haste to London, and the results were laid before a Committee of the Company. Much reference is made in the minutes to the difficulty of preventing the men employed in the ships from entering into illicit trade in furs. Strict orders were given to inspect the lockers for furs to prevent private trade. In due time the furs were unladen from the ships and put into the custody of the Company's secretary in the London warehouse. The matter of selling the furs was one of very great importance. At times the Company found prices low, and deferred their sales until the outlook was more favourable. The method followed was to have an auction, and every precaution was taken to have the sales fair and aboveboard. Evidences are not wanting that at times it was difficult for the Court of Adventurers to secure this very desirable result. The matter was not, however, one of dry routine, for the London merchants seem to have encouraged business with generous hospitality. On November 9th, 1681, the sale took place, and the following entry is found in the minutes: "A Committee was appointed to provide three dozen bottles of sack and three dozen bottles of claret, to be given to buyers at ye sale. Dinner was also bespoken at 'Ye Stillyard,' of a good dish of fish, a loyne of veal, two pullets, and four ducks."