What were voyageurs paid in the early 1800s? Were there different skills that voyageurs needed? (Rachel, age 15)
Good question. They received trousers and a shirt or two, a blanket, tobacco and food while working. And money — 400 livres (I’ll find out how much that is), one-third in advance and the remainder upon return to Montreal.
Two skilled canoemen were paid more. Because they were responsible for steering the canoe — the avant in front, the gouvernail in back — they earned double or more what others were paid.
A six-livre piece
If an avant or gouvernail wintered enough times, and knew where and how long portages were and how to communicate in various Native American languages, he might become a guide of a brigade of canoes or an interpreter. That was as high in their career as they could rise. They could earn between two and four times as much as a basic canoeman, perhaps as much as a clerk.
There were also two levels of voyageurs — pork eaters (mangeurs de lard) and winterers (hivernants). Winterers earned more than pork eaters.
Pork eaters, who perhaps had fewer skills and were younger (but also could be long-time canoemen), would travel from Montreal to Grand Portage and back in the same season. They got paid less — food, clothing, a blanket, tobacco and money.
The name “pork eaters” was a term of ridicule (bullying another way) — pork eaters could eat their “comfort food” (like salt pork) all winter at home, whereas winterers would have to rely on hunting, fishing or trading for food, and occasionally starved when they couldn’t find food.
If they became winterers, they were issued special supplies for trading or personal use — a hat, winter coat, another pair of trousers, 20 pounds each of biscuit and pork, 15 pounds of white sugar, one gallon of rum. They were also allowed a credit at their fur trading post in order to trade with Native Americans for food and other things (including small canoes, snowshoes, dogs and dogsleds).
Clerks at the interior fur trading posts served an apprenticeship of five to seven years. They were paid about $150 a year, partly for their writing and mathematics skills. They kept daily records of the trading and were responsible for building the post and managing it.
So André is in a special category. He doesn’t have skills as a paddler, guide or interpreter, but because he can read, write, cipher (calculate) and keep books, he becomes a valued member.
Nikki
what quality’s did they need
Thanks for asking. Being a voyageur was low unskilled labor, close to the bottom of the career barrel. So there were fewer skills needed than for other craftsman work. But still, there were a few desirable qualities:
1. Willingness to live a very rough life (no-tent camping, working 12-hour days, eating whatever food was available or going hungry…)
2. Arm and leg strength: each man was responsible for 6 pieces of cargo, at 90 pounds each. When they needed to portage, or carry when the rapids didn’t allow for paddling, they toted 2 at a time (180#) and usually at a dog trot. Paddling a 36-foot canoe loaded with 2 tons of cargo meant there was NO loafing. Ever. And if it rained at night, they protected the cargo first, and got wet themselves.
3. Looking out for your buddy if you fell in the river (nobody could swim) or if a bear threatened.
There are the basics. At a higher level:
4. Leading the singing or cooking were important enough skills that men might be paid extra (though I can’t find that proof in their contracts).
5. Steering was a highly valued skill. Paddling as a “devant” (in the front of the canoe, called the bow) was the greatest responsibility and paid double what the middlemen received. Paddling as a “gouvernail” (in the back of the canoe, called the stern) also paid more, but that position was secondary to the man in front.
6. If a man had paddled on many canoe brigades, he might have skills to guide or to interpret different Indian languages. For those skills and responsibilities, he’d also be paid more.