Part 28 (1/2)
The early fur trade of Western Europe, was conducted through the merchants on the south coast of the Baltic, who received goods from the ports of Livonia. In the sixteenth century, a direct trade was opened between the English and Russians; and a company of the former, protected by the Czar, established trading posts on the White Sea, and a warehouse at Moscow, whence they sent trading parties to Persia and the countries on the Caspian Sea. The Czar sent rich presents of beautiful furs, to Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth; but the latter prohibited the wearing of any but native furs, and the trade soon declined and was abandoned. In the 17th century, Siberia was conquered by the Russians, and its tribute was paid in furs. Large quant.i.ties were also furnished to China, but the choicest kinds--the precious ermine, the brilliant, fiery foxes, and the best sables, were taken to Moscow, for the use of the princes and n.o.bles of Russia, Turkey, and Persia.
In our own country, the early settlers of the Northern provinces, soon learned the value of the furs of the numerous animals which peopled the extensive rivers, lakes, and forests of these vast territories. They collected the skins in abundance, and found an increasing demand for them, with every new arrival of immigrants from the mother country. Trinkets, liquors, and other articles sought for by the native tribes, were s.h.i.+pped to Quebec, and from thence up the St. Lawrence to Montreal, which soon became the great trading post of the country. The various tribes of Indians were stimulated by trifling compensation, to pursue their only congenial and peaceful occupation; and the French settlers, readily a.s.similating to the Indian habits, became themselves expert hunters, trappers, and explorers.
The business prospered, and the English soon became interested and secured a share of the valuable trade. Many [Page 280]
wealthy and influential parties, connected with the government of Great Britain,--Prince Rupert and Lord Ashley, among the number--became deeply interested in this source of revenue; and after a successful enterprise, they obtained from Charles II., a charter of incorporation, giving to them full possession of the territory within the entrance of Hudson's Straits, not already granted to other subjects, or possessed by those of any other Christian prince or State. In this charter was included the monopoly, of all trade in these regions, and thus we see the origin of the Great Hudson's Bay Company, which is to-day, one of the largest organizations of its kind on the globe. The territory they claimed, extended from Hudson's Bay, west to the Pacific, and north to the Arctic Ocean, excepting that occupied by the French and Russians. They soon formed settlements upon the various rivers which empty into Hudson's Bay, and carried on their operations with immense vigor and success. They met with much opposition and open hostility from the French, and were subjected to vast expenses and losses, but in spite of all, they continued to prosper. Their forts or factories were extended further into the interior of British America, and their power was supreme throughout the country, and in a great measure over the Indians, whom they employed to collect their skins.
In the course of time, the French Canadians organized themselves into a united band, under the name of the North West Company, and established their headquarters at Montreal. Their operations were carried on with great energy and profit, and many factories were built in the western portion of the Province. The company thus soon became a formidable compet.i.tor with the Hudson's Bay Company and for a period of two years, an actual state of war existed between them. This condition of affairs finally terminated in a consolidation of the two organizations, under the name of the Hudson's Bay Company, the privileges of which extended over all the territory formerly occupied by both.
Thus, we have the history of the famous Hudson's Bay Company, from its origin to its perfect organization. It is a most stupendous concern, and its annual s.h.i.+pment of furs, is something amazing.
Their great sales take place in the month of March, in order to be completed before Easter; and again in September, every year at London, and are attended by purchasers from nearly all parts of the world. Leipsic, the famous fur mart of Germany, is also the scene of a great annual fair, for the sale of skins.
The importance of the fur trade in this country, led to the [Page 281]
early settlement of the Western territories of the United States; and many a frontier city, like St. Paul, has been built up by the enterprise of the trapper. Mackinaw and Montreal owe much of their growth to the traffic of the fur trade; and many a kingly fortune--John Jacob Astor's, for instance--has been founded on peltry.
Besides the above fur sales in London a moderate portion of those annually collected in the United States are retained for use, amounting to about 150,000 mink and 750,000 muskrat skins, besides a number of other furs which are manufactured and worn.
The annual yield of raw furs throughout the whole world is estimated at over twenty millions of dollars in value; and when we include the manufactured articles therefrom, the amount will swell to a hundred millions or over. This will serve to give some idea of the immensity and value of the business.
American dealers divide our native furs into two cla.s.ses, viz., _home_ and _s.h.i.+pping_ furs; the former being chiefly utilized in our own country, while the latter are exported to all parts of the world. New York City is the great fur mart and depot for the s.h.i.+pping trade in this country, and the annual value of its exports, in this one branch of trade is enormous.
The princ.i.p.al s.h.i.+pping furs are the silver, red and cross Fox, Wild Cat, Racc.o.o.n, Fisher, Muskrat and Skunk.
Among the home furs are the Marten, Mink, Opossum, Wolf and Muskrat, the latter being extensively used both here and abroad.
In the following chapter will be found more detailed notes on the leading American furs, including their various uses and the different countries for which they are the especial staples.
In order to give the reader some idea of the variety and magnitude of the yield of furs from our own country, we annex a table (p.
282) showing the sales of the Hudson's Bay Company, at London, in the year 1873.
MARKET VALUE OF FUR SKINS.
Below will be found an authentic table of the comparative values of the various American furs at the present date of publication.
The quotations are those of one of our largest fur dealers, as published in ”THE HAT, CAP AND FUR TRADE REVIEW,” the leading journal of the trade in America. Of course these values are constantly varying--keeping pace with the eccentricities of fas.h.i.+on and the demands of the fur trade; but [Page 282]
the table will serve at least to gauge the relative values, as between the two extremes of common and scarce furs. The fur market is a great deal like the stock market. It is constantly fluctuating, and a fur which is to-day among the novelties, may next year find itself on the low priced list. The demand for furs of any kind is nearly always governed by fas.h.i.+on, and of course the value is estimated on the demand. If the convention of fur dealers should decide to usher in _Muskrat fur_ as the leading and most fas.h.i.+onable article in that line, the fas.h.i.+on would create the demand, the demand would be in turn supplied by the trappers throughout the country, and in proportion as the Muskrat skins became scarce, so their value would increase. In this way a skin which may be worth fifty cents at one time may soon acquire a value of twenty times that amount. The comparative value of skins is, therefore, constantly varying more or less; but the annexed table (page 283) will be found useful for general reference, and for approximate figures, will probably answer every purpose for some time to come.
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No. of
No. of
Estimated
Skins.
Skins.
Total
Price according to
average KINDS.
March
Sept.
No.
quality.
price per
Sale.
Sale.
skin.
------------
---------
---------
---------
-------------------------------
s. d.
Badger
2,700
2,700
1s. to 7s.
1 06 Bear
5,217
2,794
8,011
5s. to 8 10s.
5 0 00 Beaver
111,993
37,052
149,045
4S. 3d. to 38s. 6d.
1 00 00 Fisher
2,843
779
3,622
8s. to 3 5s.
2 10 00 Fox, Blue
90
90
18s. to 4.
2 10 00 ” Cross
1,818
471
2,289
5s. to 4.
1 10 00 ” Kitt
6,930
6,930
2s. 8d. to 28s. 10d.
3 00 ” Red
6,914
1,383
8,297
4s. 6d. to 17s.
10 00 ” Silver
540
148
688
3 10s. to 21.
10 00 00 ” White
7,312
7,312
2s. to 14s. 9d.
7 00 Lynx
2,468
1,652
4,120
9s. 6d. to 1 14s.
18 00 Marten
47,878
18,955
66,833
10s. to 3 19s.
1 10 00 Mink
31,802
12,896
44,698
4s. to 1 8s. 6d.
15 00 Muskrat
651,498
116,488
767,896
3d. to 16d.
00 8 Otter
8,571
2,681
11,252
14s. to 3 18s.
2 10 00 ” Sea
98
98
4 10s. to 32.
15 00 00 Rabbit
10,029
10,029
3d. to 4d.
00 3 Racc.o.o.n
3,582
3,582
1s. to 3s. 3d.
2 6 Skunk
1,691
1,691
2s. to 7s.
4 00 Wolf
6,216
188
6,404
6s. to 2 15s.
15 00 Wolverine
1,770
320
2,090
8s. to 1 1s.
15 00 ==========================================================================
[Page 283]
AMERICAN FUR SKINS--TABLE OF VALUES.[*]
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Prime.
Seconds.
Thirds.
Fourths.
--------------------------------------
--------
--------
--------
-------- Badger
$1.00
$0.50
$0.10
$ Bear, Black
18.00
9.00
1.00
” Cub
10.00
5.00
1.00
” Brown
7.00
4.00
1.00
Beaver, California per lb.
1.25
75
50
” Southern
1.00
75
40
” Upper Missouri
1.75
1.50
50
” Lake Supr. and Canada.
2.50
1.75