Prospective shantymen gathered in the Ottawa hotels and taverns awaiting the arrival of company foremen to conduct their hiring for the season. The number of men required for each shanty depended on the size of the cutting area. The shanty itself was the focal point of every timber camp. The shanty was home to between 30 and 135 men. Its dimensions were 35 feet by 40 feet. It was usually named after the foreman who was in full charge of the entire operation around the shanty. In this group was the clerk who kept the records and recorded the timber cut, a culler who inspected and graded the timber, the cook, and the shantymen.
Most of the shantymen and raftsmen were French Canadians who held their jobs because of their skill, reliability, and diligence. In the 1820's, Irish immigrants entered the Valley labour force. They could be hired for less than the French Canadian and after the Rideau Canal was finished many drifted to Bytown to seek employment. Some began cutting oak in western Quebec where they were called "cheneurs" (oak cutters), or, in English slang, "Shiners".
