Pathways for Commerce and Conquest:

Pathways for Commerce and Conquest:. Traversing La Belle Rivere (The Ohio River). , Water transportation was vital to the developing frontier economy. Native Americans and Europeans, particularly the French, used the waterways to transport goods such as furs to ports for shipping. , Boats included flatboats, bateaux, dugout canoes and canoes made from tree bark. Flatboats and bateaux, made from sawed wood, were used to transport provisions. They were well suited for the larger rivers and lakes but useless on the smaller waterways. , Bark canoes, first built by the Native Americans, were more versatile than flatboats or bateaux. Many different sizes could be used depending on water depth and maneuverability. Bark canoes were built for single travelers, small-hunting parties, or large groups traveling to battle. In areas where elm or birch bark was not available, dugout canoes were used. These were constructed by hollowing out a large tree and shaping it to run smoothly through the water., (Caption):, Bark canoes came in a variety of sizes and were used to move people as well as goods. , Courtesy Thomas Davies Collection, National Gallery, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada