Profits at the Grande Lisiere post fluctuated sharply, depending on the number of pelts received and the prices credited for the pelts. The post in 1835 paid a profit of $1,912.02 on a business of $5,532.24; in 1836 the profit was only $477.59. Since invoices to the posts were placed high so as to pay a profit, and credits of peltries were placed low enough to make a profit for the Mendota establishment, the true profit of the post was much higher.

        Following is an abstract from the American Fur Company ledger account of the post for 1835:

Inventory transferred from 1834 outfit................. $   743.56  
Invoice as per invoice book................................... 1,869.99    
Miscellaneous charges and credits....................... 98.00 19.00
Wages of 3 men for 1 yr., less F. Dumerce........... 408.67
Laframboise salary.................................................... 500.00    
Peltries:        
30,132 muskrat@15½¢...............................................   4,727.96
94 otters @ $5.00.......................................................   470.00
8 minks @ 2/0.............................................................   2.00
1 raccoon @ 2/0.........................................................   .30
By inventory to new outfit.......................................   312.98
Profit............................................................................ $1,912.02                
  $5,532.24 $5,532.24

An abstract of the "Grande Lisiere Outfit" account of 1836:

Inventory 1835, plus interest....................................... $     334.89  
To two horses, $110; mare, $55................................... 165.00  
By Geo. Catlin, Sept. 5...................................................   20.00
Miscellaneous invoices................................................ 413.91  
Invoice per invoice book.............................................. 2,090.67  
Laframboise account assessment................................   43.19
Dumerce's due, $54.75; J. Bellona's due, $116.43.......   171.18
Joseph Laframboise salary, $500; due 2 men, $330... 830.00  
Sending boat for peltries, proportion.......................... 20.00  
By peltries........................................................................   3,243.43
Invoice to new outfit......................................................   854.26
Profit..................................................................................     477.59                
  $4,332.06 $4,332.06

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INVOICE——
Taken at the American Fur Trading Post at Bear Lake in 1836

TRADE GOODS ITEMS TAKEN FROM
GRANDE LISIERE INVOICES

5 prs. blankets, 3-point 5/9/7     2 bales rope 1.00
1 do, 3½ point 17/8     3 window sash 1.00
8 prs. b. c. strouds 23/16/8     20 rat spears 8.00
1 pc. white cotton 2/17/5     1 keg tallow, cwt. 10.00
3 pc. blue cotton 5/14/10     45 lbs. ham 6.97
3 pc. scarlet cloth 16/12/1     1 box soap 1.20
1 doz. scalping knives 3/5     1 keg tar .38
2 dozen cartouch 5/9     3 pr. oxhide shoes 2.40
½ pc. calico 1.80     2 lbs. pepper .20
2 N. W. guns 11.10     1 stock sack .63
6 bbls. flour 45.00     1 phial Turlington .10
3 bbls. pork 36.50     3 pipe tomahawks 3.75
1 bbl. salt 4.00     6 lbs. cut nails .60
1 bbl. sugar 243 lbs. 36.45     1½ lbs. putty .15
1 keg lard, 54 lbs. 8.33     1 dressed elk skin 2.00
40 bu. corn 40.00     2 gal.linseed oil 3.50
20 lbs. coffee 3.60     3 horse collars and harness 7.50
3 bags wheat 3.50     3 lbs. Spanish brown .30
20 pigs lead, 1320 lbs. 69.30     2 bales cloths 2.00
12 kegs powder 120.00     20 bags 5.00
60 I-spring rat traps 60.00     2 boxes 1.50
**9 lbs. vermillion 8.10     ½ oxhide 1.50
114 lbs. plug tobacco 11.40     1½ dozen horse bells .50
24 panes of glass@8¢ 1.92     1 tea cannister .25
1 oil cloth 12.00        

        Other items, of which there are too many to list separately, included handkerchiefs, garters, foxtails, feathers, wampum, beads, brooches, ear bobs, imitation jewels, looking glasses, gun flints, lances and combs. The above list includes materials used in building the post.

**Vermillion was used by war parties and in tribal dances

        The research work on the American Fur Company's activities was made by the late Robt. J. Forrest, an only son of the writer. He died in 1935. He was a deep and thorough student of the early fur trade in this section.

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