Salaries and trades in Canada, 1749.
188
Mechanical trades, the fabrication of tools of all sorts, construction,
pottery, carpentry, wood-turning and other similar techniques have not yet
reached their full potential. In these areas, the English are far ahead of
the French. This stems, I am told, from the fact that most artisans are former
soldiers who have not been able to devote themselves to these trades. Yet,
there are some who have made great strides; one person in Montréal is a master
craftsman of wall clocks and pocket watches, and is self-taught. There are
also good master mechanics who have made their own reputations.
[…]
[…]
202
The wages for a valet, in Montréal, are usually in the order of 150 livres
per year; this price secures a faithful and diligent servitor; for the services
of a good maid, both diligent and faithful, the annual wages are in the order
of 100 francs approximately. [...] A day labourer, with some competency as
an artisan, is paid one écu per day; a regular day labourer, 30 to 40 sols;
and if he displays some competency as an artisan, he is paid more.
[…]
[…]
330
It is said that a worker normally receives 30 to 40 sols per day, but he
must pay for his food. As it is work paid for work done, there are some who
can earn as much as 100 sols per day.
Source: Kalm, Pehr, "Travels of Pehr Kalm in Canada in 1749" (Montréal: Pierre Tisseyre, 1977), p. 133, 202, 330. Notes: Annotated translation of the travel diary by Jacques Rousseau and Guy Béthune with the collaboration of Pierre Morisset