H. B. Co. fort on Winnipeg river about three miles from mouth on left bank. Built 1792, near site of old French fort Maurepas. In 1800 the Hudson's Bay Co. and the North West Co. had forts only a few rods apart. The present fort Alexander was built on site of the North West Co. fort. After the coalition of the two companies in 1821, the majority of shipments of the Hudson's Bay Co. passed through Norway House to York Factory and the route through Fort Alexander to Fort William was scarcely used. The trade at Fort Alexander rapidly declined. The North West Co. fort was built in 1792 by Toussaint Lesieur (Le Sieurs) a few miles below and opposite the old French fort Maurepas, which had been abandoned about 1745. The North West Co. fort was known as "Bas de la rivière"(q.v.) and "Sieur's fort." The Hudson's Bay Co. fort was also called Winnipeg Lake fort and the North West Co. fort was called Winnipeg River fort.