USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -The hat makers of Europe soon learned that the North American beaver under-fur could form good felt. Marten, fox, otter and mink were also bartered but beaver became the main staple of the fur trade.

Detailed explanation-2: -Beaver pelts were in the greatest demand, but other animals such as mink, muskrat, fox and sable marten were also trapped. In the 1830s, when beaver lost its value as a staple fur, HBC maintained a profitable trade emphasizing fancy fur.

Detailed explanation-3: -The main cause of the rising beaver pelt prices in England and France was the increasing demand for beaver hats, which included hats made exclusively with beaver wool and referred to as “beaver hats, ” and those hats containing a combination of beaver and a lower cost wool, such as rabbit.

Detailed explanation-4: -Beavers played an important role in this fur trade due to the high value of their pelts. Beaver pelts were the first great trade commodity in America. Many fur companies established themselves in the Northeast as the revenue from beaver pelts fueled the economy.

Detailed explanation-5: -Fur Qualities The under fur consists of dense, short, fine hairs that together with an oily material provide the waterproof barrier that keeps the beaver’s skin dry in the water. During the fur trade beaver pelts were used chiefly to make felt hats which were a very popular fashion in Europe.