The first fort on Swan lake (Manitoba) was built by the Hudson's Bay Co. in 1790. It was located about 4&fract34; miles up the Swan river from its outlet in the lake. This fort was not long maintained by the Company as they moved about 1808 to the outlet of Swan lake and operated there until about 1895. This fort is shown on map No. 37. It was sometimes called "Shoal River House" being at source of the Shoal river. The North West Co. at first located in the abandoned Hudson's Bay Co. fort or in the immediate neighbourhood and later moved 12 miles up the Swan river. On coalition in 1821 the H. B. Co. took over the N. W. Co. house and called it Swan Lake House. See maps No. 43, 37, 8, 13, 16, 2, 86, 7, 9, 101, 141. In 1800 Harmon built a fort 50 miles farther up the Swan river and called it Somerset House (Map No. 2). It was also known as Elbow Fort. Prior to 1806 the Swan and Red Deer rivers were main channels of trade of North West Co. with Plains Indians and a good cart trail extended along the north bank of the river. The X. Y. Co. also had a post 12 miles up the Swan river.