Fur Trade
Why come to Canada? Fish and Fur Fish – Great demand due to Catholic rules about meatless days. – More affordable than meat – French and Portuguese salted on board – British did on land meaning they had a foothold in Newfoundland Furs – This trade was responsible for expansion into canada – Beaver hats are WILDLY popular in Europe – Other furs used for trims of cloaks, covers for beds, and hats – Natives are integral part in the fur trade as entrepreneurs and mediators. – Companies looked to have monopolies.
Those involved in the trade French Traded goods of pots, axes, knives, beads, wool cloth. Stored in warehouses in Quebec and Montreal Fur trade was the only way to get rich in the colony. As profits from trade increased, larger areas of land were needed to draw upon for the trade. Dutch Ohio valley, south of the Great Lakes; rich in furs 1610 settled on Hudson river, where Henry Hudson explored for the Dutch East India Company Established New Amsterdam, fell to the English in 1665 (now NY) Had hoped of opening up the trade in Ohio Valley and were unsuccessful.
Involved in the trade: English Gained control of New Amsterdam established Hudson’s Bay company – Sent Radisson and Groseilliers to Hudson’s Bay to bring back thick, northern furs from the region North of Lake Superior English claimed Rupert’s Land (named after the King’s cousin, who would head the new company) a royal charter to the Hudson’s Bay Company to all the lands drained by all the rivers flowing into the Hudson’s Bay.
How did the Fur Trade shape Canada ? Traders were the leading edge of the wave of European settlers. Native people met fur traders before other settlers Exploration of river and waterways lead to venturing deeper into the country. New maps of the territories were made Conflict between companies trying to hold monopolies with certain groups of peoples.
HBC: Hudson’s Bay Company Radisson and Groseilliers propose fur trade based on Hudson’s Bay to the King of England. Both men very familiar with Native peoples (Radisson a Mohawk prisoner, Groseillier learned from Hurons) French seized furs from R&G and that caused them to switch over to the English King Charles II and his cousin Prince Rupert support R&G. King claims northern territories as Rupert’s Land 1607, charter to Prince Rupert to run the company “Governor and Company of Adventurers of England tradeing into Hudson’s Bay” aka Hudson’s Bay Company
HBC: beginnings Posts called Factories (the man in charge at posts was called a factor), were very successful as they were located on mouths of rivers. Natives such as the Cree, Assiniboine, and Chippewa traded. Most trades were fair and natives had control. Poor prices – they’d bring inferior furs. The company was controlled by gentlemen in England. Prices were set there, but altered by factors in Canada who knew the situation better. Beaver was so valuable that it was essentially money. A Made Beaver (MB) was the gauge by which other furs were valued and priced. (see pg 261) Traders were given beaver tokens which could be used as cash.
The North West Company French continued to trade along the St. Lawrence and west of the Great Lakes The Seven years war in Europe had given the English control of the French settlements American and Scottish traders in New York decided to move to Montreal to run the fur trade. Scots and French made good partners. The Scots used French trading posts and used Frenchmen as Voyageurs to do the trading with Natives. Voyageurs brought the furs back to the posts.
North West Company: cont All the many small companies in Montreal joined together to form the North West Company instead of competing with each other. Nor’Westers built a large post on Lake Superior called Fort William to alleviate some of the trading issues they were facing Merchants from Montreal would meet up with fur collectors in the summer at Fort William to exchange goods. North West Company gave the HBC stiff competition and soon was receiving more business. This caused the HBC to build posts inland too.
Who would you choose? Write a short response as to which company you would choose French Trader Why do you trade with the English? You must carry your furs long distances to their trading posts on Hudson’s Bay. If they don’t want all your furs, you must carry them back to your homes. The English won’t even let you into their storehouses to see the goods they have to trade. You should trade with us. We accept all your pelts. We even travel to your homes to buy them. We give you supplies and don’t ask for payment until next year’s pelts. Hudson’s Bay trader Why do you trade with the French? Their trade goods aren’t as good as ours. Their tobacco tastes like sawdust. They cause trouble in your groups. You should trade with us. Our goods are less expensive. It is worth making the trip to our post to get a fair price for your furs. If you don’t want to travel so far, you made trade with the Cree or the Assiniboine. They will bring the furs to us.