Forts were important for fur traders as they provided places to get supplies, sell furs, and gain information about territory and trapping areas. Canoes called Montreal canoes used by fur traders could hold 8-16 voyageurs and were 30-40 feet long. These canoes were made from birch bark sealed with spruce gum. To move between bodies of water, trappers used portages, ranging from short to long distances like the 8 mile Grand Portage. The fur trade helped establish the early economic system in North America and provided capital for those involved like voyageurs and mountain men.