New FranceNew France

The Fur TradeThe Fur Trade

The Fur TradeThe Fur Trade There were six important parts There were six important parts

of the fur trade:of the fur trade:

#1 - The #1 - The BeaverBeaver - the - the beaver have two beaver have two layers of fur, one layers of fur, one short and one short and one long, and they long, and they are perfect for are perfect for making warm making warm hats.hats.

#1 - The #1 - The BeaverBeaver - the - the beaver have two beaver have two layers of fur, one layers of fur, one short and one short and one long, and they long, and they are perfect for are perfect for making warm making warm hats.hats.

##2 - The Native 2 - The Native PeoplesPeoples - they - they trapped the trapped the beavers, skinned beavers, skinned them, and them, and brought them to brought them to the trading the trading outposts.outposts.

##2 - The Native 2 - The Native PeoplesPeoples - they - they trapped the trapped the beavers, skinned beavers, skinned them, and them, and brought them to brought them to the trading the trading outposts.outposts.

#3 - Coureurs #3 - Coureurs de Boisde Bois - - “Runners of the “Runners of the Woods” - Woods” - Frenchmen who Frenchmen who hunted and hunted and trapped beavers trapped beavers like the Indians.like the Indians.

The The VoyageursVoyageurs were were the same as the the same as the coureur de bois coureur de bois except they had a except they had a license to trap and license to trap and trade beaver (which trade beaver (which was necessary was necessary because so many because so many french settlers french settlers wanted to be coureur wanted to be coureur do bois)do bois)

#4 Birchbark #4 Birchbark CanoesCanoes - the rivers - the rivers were the highways were the highways in the 17th and in the 17th and 18th centuries and 18th centuries and canoes could cover canoes could cover up to 150 km in one up to 150 km in one day carrying four day carrying four tonnes of supplies.tonnes of supplies.

#5 The #5 The MerchantsMerchants - - they traded they traded clothes, blankets, clothes, blankets, tools, muskets, tools, muskets, gun powder, and gun powder, and brandy for brandy for beaver skins.beaver skins.

For Example: For Example: 12 beaver 12 beaver

skins = 1 skins = 1 musketmusket

4 beaver 4 beaver skins = 4.5 skins = 4.5 litres of litres of brandybrandy

2 beaver 2 beaver skins = 10 skins = 10 fish hooksfish hooks

#6 Fashions in Europe - everyone in #6 Fashions in Europe - everyone in Europe needed a beaver skin hat to Europe needed a beaver skin hat to be “in style” (and they were willing be “in style” (and they were willing to pay a lot of money)to pay a lot of money)

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