File:Looking Toward the US Side (2586419441).jpg

These boundary waters were the main network of commerce from the 1730s to early 1800s especially for the fur trade.

The ships from Europe dropped off the trade goods in Montreal and picked up the furs for the trip back. Voyageurs would load the trade goods in "Canots du Maitre" or "Montreal Canoe". These canoes were 35' to 40' in length and used 10-14 paddlers. The load this canoe could carry was in the range of 10,000 pounds, including crew. (To ensure a large load of trade goods, Voyageurs of small stature were preferred). These canoes would depart from above Lachine Rapids in Montreal and paddle up the St. Lawrence River to the Ottawa River, up the Ottawa River to the Mattawa River, through Lake Nippissing, down the French River to Lake Huron, around Lake Huron to Sault St. Marie and half way around Lake Superior to Fort William (now Thunder Bay). Here the loads were broken down into the smaller Voyageur Canoes for the trip west across Canada. These Voyageur Canoes were made of cedar ribs and planking and were covered with birch bark. They probably weighed 200 pounds when the trip started but got heavier as the trip went on due to the lack of waterproofing materials. The canoes were paddled by 6 paddlers and could carry 3000 pounds including crew.