Question: who was involved in the fur trade in canada

title: Fur trade
text: Russian fur trappers , called promyshlenniki , hunted in one of two types of bands of 10 -- 15 men , called ' ' vatagi ' ' ( ru ) . The first was an independent band of blood relatives or unrelated people who contributed an equal share of the hunting - expedition expenses ; the second was a band of hired hunters who participated in expeditions fully funded by the trading companies which employed them . Members of an independent vataga cooperated and shared all necessary work associated with fur trapping , including making and setting traps , building forts and camps , stockpiling firewood and grain , and fishing . All fur pelts went into a common pool that the band divided equally among themselves after Russian officials exacted the tithing tax . On the other hand , a trading company provided hired fur - trappers with the money needed for transportation , food , and supplies , and once the hunt was finished , the employer received two - thirds of the pelts and the remaining ones were sold and the proceeds divided evenly among the hired laborers . During the summer , promyshlenniki would set up a summer camp to stockpile grain and fish , and many engaged in agricultural work for extra money . During late summer or early fall the vatagi left their hunting grounds , surveyed the area , and set up a winter camp . Each member of the group set at least 10 traps and the vatagi divided into smaller groups of 2 to 3 men who cooperated to maintain certain traps . Promyshlenniki checked traps daily , resetting them or replacing bait whenever necessary . The promyshlenniki employed both passive and active hunting - strategies . The passive approach involved setting traps , while the active approach involved the use of hunting - dogs and of bows - and - arrows . Occasionally , hunters also followed sable tracks to their burrows , around which they placed nets , and waited for the sable to emerge .