When the fur trade began, European traders most wanted lush pelts of mink, sable, black fox, and ermine, which were used to trim expensive coats worn by the wealthy.
By about 1600, though, the fur most in demand was that of the beaver, an animal nearly extinct in Europe. Felt hats were then a very popular European fashion.
Durable and naturally water repellent, the best felt was made from the beaver’s soft underfur.
Related Posts
-
What was the fur trade about and When did the fur trade in North America start?
Beginning in the late 1500s, traders from France, England, and the Netherlands flocked to North America to trade with Indians for animal furs. Europeans wanted furs to make warm winter clothing. The demand…
-
How Did the Beaver Get its Name, What Does Beaver Mean in Welsh, and Where Does the Beaver Come From?
A beaver is an industrious little rodent whose fur was the foundation of an industry that helped create Canada. At a time in history when knights wore armor, the hinged bottom portion of…
-
Where does the expression “eager beaver” come from and What does eager beaver mean?
An "eager beaver" is a person who is always "rarin' to go," eager to start at whatever is to be done. Undoubtedly the term developed naturally from one who "works like a beaver,"…
-
Which Countries Does the United States Trade With the Most and Why Is International Trade Important?
Not surprisingly, the United States conducts most of its trade with its two neighbors, Canada and Mexico. It also trades heavily with China, Japan, Germany, South Korea, Taiwan, and Great Britain. The United…
-
How did the fur trade affect northeastern Native Americans?
Some of the trade goods Native Americans received from Europeans made their work easier and their lives more comfortable. But the fur trade's bad effects far outweighed the good. As Native Americans became…
-
What was the Maritime Fur Trade and How did Native Americans bargain for goods?
The Maritime Fur Trade refers to a trade network that developed between Northwest Native Americans and foreign non-Native American traders. The non-Native Americans wanted seal furs, which they could resell in China for…
