Though the withholding of the license neither affected nor. professed to affect Rupert's Land, yet between it and the remaining portion of the Indian territories the difference, so far as Hudson's bay company was concerned, was little more than nominal; and in 1809 the company made a formal cession,to the British government of whatever territorial claims remained, receiving an indemnity of £300.000 from the Dominion of Canada, to which the whole territories were forthwith annexed. of was, however, stipulated that the company should retain all its forts, with 10 acres of ground at each, and one-twentieth of all the land from the Red river to the Rocky mountains, besides blocks to which it made special claim. At this reservation the Canadians rather grum ble, as the land is meanwhile kept unimproved, though it gains indefinitely in value by the improvements made around it by the labor of others. Since the transfer to Canada, the government has entered into treaties with the Indians, by which the latter have sur rendered their right to the land on certain conditions, particularly the setting apart of a certain amount of land for their exclusive use, the annual payment of $5 to each indi vidual, and certain presents of clothing, food, utensils, and cattle. The territory has been organized in three divisions: 1. Manitoba (see RED RIVER SETTLEMENT); 2. Kee watin, embracing that portion of the Hudson's bay territory e. and n. of Manitoba; and 3. The North-west territory, including the region between these and British Columbia. During its monopoly, the company kept strict faith with the Indians (fulfilling every bargain, though it possibly bought for a few trinkets furs worth pounds), and' gained their confidence by kindness and sympathy. Its great influence for good over the half breeds also is not to be forgotten. Over a territory with ports further apart than Lon don and Mecca, Paris and Saniarcand, the organization of the company was perfect, and its operations seemed to go as if by clock-work.
Formerly there were but few immigrants into the Hudson's hay territory. Most of the settlers were either retired servants of the company or their offspring. The few immigrants in pursuit of agricultural enterprise were sent to Rupert's Land at the expense of others, such as tile earl of Selkirk (see RED RIVER SETTLEMENT). or the com pany itself. But since the annexation of the territory to Canada, and the formation of the province of Manitoba, there has been an influx of immigrants into the land; and this influx will become broader and deeper, for a finer grain-growing country than that to the 11.w. of lake Superior does not lie under the sun. The loss of territorial control
has not in the least affected the Hudson's bay company as a trading community. Its organization is still complete. Its shares or parts are indeed now quoted on the stock exchanges, an arrangement quite recently come to, but this only means that a wider public may enjoy its benefits than was formerly allowed under a very close corporation. It has still its offices, its outlets for young energy to risk itself "over flood fell;" but, best of all, very large dividends. As a single part, between one year and another, ranges from about £300 to about £500, the total revenue may easily be found to vary front about £63.750 to about £106,250—averaging perhaps about £80,000, so as to yield about £48,000 to the proprietors and about to the wintering partners. This income arises almost entirely from fur; for other articles, such as tallow, oil, feathers, fish, timber, etc., have never been of much account. The working organization of the company is as follows: A young man commences with the apprentice-clerk, or apprentice-postmaster. These postmasters are those in charge of the various posts which have been from time to time erected around the central one, at distances varying from about 200 to 500 miles, Such settlements arc supplied with goods in accordance with the amount of trade likely to be done. In the fall of the year the Indians collect and get what is called "debt" proportionately with their known qualifications as hun ters. - They then depart to their hunting-grounds, and are visited at various periods during the winter by the servants of the company (generally half-breeds), who back with them any peltrics (or furs) that may be on hand. These, in turn, are into packs and transmitted, in spring, by canoes to the central post, and from thence arc transmitted either to England or Canada, as the case may be. These skins are given to the traders in repayment of the "debt" paid to the Indians.
For further particulars, see Fitzgerald's Examination of the Charter and Proceedings of the Hudson's Bay Compamy and 31ontgomery Martin's Hudson's Bay Company's Ter ?Works and Vane.ourer's both published in 1849—perhaps the leading works ou opposite sides of a much-vexed controversy.