USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -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-2: -The North American beaver is the continent largest rodent. Its amphibious body is covered with a soft felt-like under fur that is 1 inch thick. This under layer of barbed hairs is called fur-wool and it is covered by a protective over layer of coarse guard hairs measuring about 2 inches in length.

Detailed explanation-3: -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. Although the fur trade continues today, HBC is no longer in the fur business.

Detailed explanation-4: -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.