Did the coureur de bois get paid?

Coureurs de bois, or "runners of the woods," were French fur traders and trappers in North America during the 17th and 18th centuries. They typically did not receive a regular salary; instead, they earned their income through commissions on fur sales and trade goods. Their compensation often depended on the volume and quality of furs they collected, as well as their ability to successfully navigate relationships with Indigenous communities. This system encouraged them to be resourceful and entrepreneurial in their pursuits.