Glossary of terms in the Fur Trade since 1787

Chief Factor: after 1820, the officer in charge of a district. A Chief Factor had a share in the profits of the fur trade.

Chief Trader: after 1820, the officer in charge of a major post where his superior, the Chief Factor, was not resident. A Chief Trader also had a share in the profits of the fur trade.

Clerk: after 1820, a junior officer responsible for clerical matters and in some instances the command of a small outpost or temporary post. A clerk did not share in the profits of the trade.

Orkneymen or Orcadians: ethnic designation of a number of servants and some officers in the service of the Hudson's Bay Company. The Orkney Islands lie off the north coast of Scotland and were the source of much of the Company's manpower.

Post Master: after 1820, a senior servant responsible for the command of a small outpost or temporary post.

Red River Cart: two-wheeled vehicle with over-sized wheels designed for travel across the prairie, carrying up to one half a tonne of goods. The vehicles were manufactured without metal parts. Their origin lies probably with Canadien cartwrights at the posts of the St. Lawrence-Great Lakes trading system. The buffalo-hunting Métis are usually associated with them.

Transfer, The: term used by some English-speaking residents of Red River to refer to the events and circumstances surrounding confederation with Canada, 1869-70.