DCHP-1 Online

debt Fur Trade

• 1 n. credit extended to hunters and trappers in the form of supplies to be paid for out of the coming year's catch.

  See also: credit  grubstake ((n.)) (def. 2)  trust ((n.))  

  • 1738  (1965)  . . . if he [an Indian] should be sick and not able to get goods his debt must increase and if he dies the debt is totally lost for here is no executors.
  • 1835  (1947)  If you were to allow these Indians . . . a few skins of Debt in fall . . . it would be the means to enable them to withstand the cold . . . .
  • 1955  (1964)  It is the man of the household who lays in the stores. Firstly, he [Eskimo] goes for "debt" in the fall to the Hudson's Bay Company office . . . .

• 2a n. Obs. the supplies advanced.

  • 1743  (1949)  I did see him[;] he Brought your Debt.

• 2b n. the value of such supplies; the amount owing.

  • 1844  (1955)  This is about the season when the Indians gather round the Forts, to subsist upon muskrats, to pay their debts of furs, and to purchase ammunition for summer expenditure.
  • 1947  In addition, they were not burdened with the necessity of collecting "debt" and could resort to tricks and manoeuvres which were denied the legitimate traders of the post.

• 3 v. get (or take) debt, obtain credit for supplies to be paid for out of the coming season's catch.

  • 1783  (1954)  My Indians in general took very large Debts when they went away in the Fall, I wish they may be able to pay, but from the scarsity of Martins near the Factory I very much fear it.
  • 1800  (1898 [1897])  This is customary on their taking debts; we generally give them some liquor to encourage them to hunt and pay us.
  • 1909  When you obtain credit from a Hudson's Bay store, you "get debt." A Factor's unwillingness to advance you goods on credit would be expressed thus, "The Company will give me no debt this winter."

• 4 v. give debt, extend credit in the form of supplies to trappers who will pay out of the coming season's catch.

  See also: trust ((v.))  

  • 1809  (1897)  Indians still drunk. I equipped those who were sober, and gave them debts, but with a sparing hand, as I feared they would make no great hunts.
  • 1934  The Wolf had attempted to stab him in the back for refusing to give him debt . . . .