furs 13 Martins 8 Minks 2 Fishers 4 Red Foxes 1 Lar. Blk. Bear 1 Lar.
Moose Skin,”

and on 21 April
”...Birston arrived from his wintering quarters...".

Entries in the Fort Ellice journals from this time until the end of out-
fit 1866~67 show that the post at Riding Mountain continued to be occupied
during the winter months. The men who were to winter there left Fort Ellice
some time during October, and returned for the summer during late April or
early May of the following year. Trips to and from Fort Ellice were made
about once a month, either by the man in charge at Riding Mountain or one of
his men. He usually had two or three men and their families wintering with him.

David Prince, a bowsman, was in charge of the post during outfits
1863—64 and 1864-66, when he was succeeded by John McNab. Ballenden
McKay, an interpreter, who was referred to throughout the journal for 1865-66
and popularly known as ”Jerry”. He was in turn followed by Postmaster
Charles McKay for outfit 1866-67. The Fort Ellice journal for the following
outfit (1867-68) has not survived.

On 8 November 1868 Apprentice Clerk Walter J.S. Traill arrived at
Fort Ellice from Riding Mountain

"...with 1 Man, 3 horses & carts, brought all the furs they had on hand

here with them the same time. Mr. Traill is coming for a few more

supplies that he requires for Trade. Mr. Traill expects to get a good

deal of fine furs from the Riding Mountain Indians this winter".

Traill was again at Fort Ellice on 15 April 1869 having
”...Left [Thomas] Spence & The Sheep [an Indian] coming behind
with 3 Carts. The rest of his men he left at his Post Buildg”.

On 29 July two youths were sent from Fort Ellice to hoe the potatoes at

Riding Mountain, and on 13 September
”...Mr. Traill & Thomas Spence, Francois Malony went off To Riding
Mountain. Mr. Trail is to come back in a few days. The 2 men to re—
main and finish the houses".

Due to gaps in the Fort Ellice post journals from 1869 and to a com—
plete lack of country correspondence for this period it is not possible to give a
year by year account of the post at Riding Mountain, but as far as we know it
was in constant occupation during the winter. From the last two Fort Ellice
journals in our archives we learn that James C. Audy was in charge at Riding
Mountain during outfit 1871-72, as an apprentice clerk, and outfit 1875-76, as
a clerk.

The land in the possession of the Hudson's Bay Company at Riding
Mountain was described in the following terms in a memorandum dated Fort
Ellice, 12 September 1879 written by Factor Archibald McDonald, who was in
charge of the Swan River District:

”V2 Section on which buildings and other improvements were made,

it was marked out as H.B.C. land in first Dominion Surveys, the Post

was removed last year lower down the River [Little Saskatchewan,

77