Although this representation of an exchange between Amerindians and traders is somewhat idealized and was painted after the time of the fur trade, it does suggest the nature of their activities. Some registers that were kept by merchants have survived and they indicate that the Amerindians would purchase, in order of importance, various types of cloth, blankets, rifles, iron implements, copper pots and other goods. The merchandise was distributed to the many posts around the Great Lakes and beyond. The equivalent value in furs was predetermined and there was little variation in price. A knife, for example, fetched a half pound (226.79 g) of beaver or two marten pelts. In monetary terms, the furs had a much higher value than the articles for which they were traded; as a result, trade was very profitable for the Whites. The trade revolutionized the Amerindians' lives, making them increasingly dependent on the suppliers of manufactured goods. The trade items were often delivered to Amerindian villages or camps prior to the hunt, and when the Amerindians returned in the spring they conscientiously paid off their debts. Although liquor was not an item of trade, it was used when the parties in question met to transact their business.
