180 ANDREW FISH
the authorities of Vancouver's Island, in consequence of the onerous exactions to which they were said to have been subjected by those officials."
Interesting information is given in the report about condi- tions in general. It is estimated that somewhere between thirty and thirty-three thousand went into the gold region, most of them during the three months of May, June and July of 1858. Those who came first had to use canoes, skiffs, whale-boats and the like, because American ships were excluded from the river and no other transportation was available. Many lost their lives with the destruction of their crazy craft. Presently Mr. Douglas, "Governor of Vancouver's Island and chief factor of the Hudson's Bay Company," issued permits to Americans to navigate the river on payment of a fee for each trip. He reserved the right to withdraw permission when he saw fit, which would be, of course, when British vessels were available for the traffic. As the license was issued in the name of the Hudson's Bay Company, Mr. Nugent urges that this was illegal.
"Great Britain had the right to exclude our steamers from the waters of Eraser River, but if Great Britain did not choose to assert that right, how could the Hudson's Bay Company's servants claim to make conditions with our people, and charge toll for the privilege of entering? Admitting that they had the right of exclusive trade with the Indians, that did not give them control of the naviga- tion of the river."
The situation was somewhat Gilbertian ; perhaps Mr. Doug- las-as-Governor generously gave Mr. Douglas-as-Factor the benefit of any doubt there might have been on the subject. At all events while the two offices were combined in one person there was no effective legal check on the actions of the Com- pany. Lawful or otherwise, it made agreements with the steamships of great advantage to itself. Only "Company" goods were to be carried, or such goods as it might permit to be carried ; freight rates for "Company" goods were fixed at about half the rate paid by other traders; no passengers
