User:Russell D. Jones/Fur trade

One of the principal economic activities of the North American colonies during the seventeenth century. Eventually dying out with the depletion of fur-bearing animals.

The fur trade was of particular importance to New France.

Fur Trade under British Regulation

Following the French and Indian War, France lost nearly all of its colonies in North America and Great Britain took over the fur trade. Beginning in 1756 (before the conclusion of the war) the Board of Trade divided the fur trade into northern and southern departments, each headed by a imperial agent. William Johnson was appointed Northern agent and Captain John Stuart was appointed southern agent. Each agent appointed administrators called commissaries who were to control prices, prevent the cheating of Indians, and enforce the rules of trade. The commissaries were to cooperate with various post commandants. Johnson attempted to regulate his traders as the French under Colbert had done, but this policy did not receive official sanction. Little other official policy came forward as the British government seemed to have left the area alone for the most part with the exception of the Quebec Act.