Fur Trade

[William Brand]

I've recently come across a few facts from the 'Fur Trade' while looking through passages from 'New Voyages to North-America' and I thought I'd list them here, as they pertain to 'goods' which might be bought and sold and stolen and sold in 1685. I know that other threads have discussed the values of goods, so this may be added to any thread which came before on a similar subject.

The Names of the Skins given in exchange, with their Rates.

Livres Sous

The Skins of Winter Beavers, alias Muscovy Beavers, are worth per pound in the Farmer General’s Warehouse 4 Livres 10 Sous

The Skins of fat Beavers, the Hair of which falls off, while the Savages make use of ’em, per pound 5 Livres 0 Sous

Of Beavers taken in Autumn, per pound 3 Livres 10 Sous

Of dry or common Beavers, per pound 3 Livres 0 Sous

Of Summer Beavers, per pound 3 Livres 0 Sous

The Skin of a white Beaver is not to be valued, no more than that of a Fox that’s quite black

The Skins of Silver-colored Foxes a piece 4 Livres 0 Sous

Of common Foxes, in good order 2 Livres 0 Sous

Of the common Martins 1 Livre 0

Of the prettiest sort of Martins 4 Livres 0 Sous

Of red and smooth Otters 2 Livres 0 Sous

Of the Winter and brown Otters or more 4 Livres 0 Sous

Of the finest black Bears 7 Livres 0 Sous

The Skins of Elks before they’re dressed, are worth per pound about 0 Livres 12 Sous

The Skins of Stags are worth per pound about 0 Livres 8 Sous

The wild Cats or Enfants de Diable, a piece 1 Livre 15 Sous

Sea Wolves—apiece or more 1 Livre 15 Sous

Pole-Cats, and Weasels 0 Livres 10 Sous

Musk Rats 0 Livres 6 Sous

Their Testicles 0 Livres 5 Sous

Wolves 2 Livres 10 Sous

The white Elk-skins, i.e., those dressed by the Savages apiece 8 Livres or m.

A dressed Hart’s [stag] Skin is worth 5 Livres or m.

A Caribou’s [skin] 6 Livres

A Roe-buck’s [skin] 3 Livres

To conclude, you must take notice that these Skins are upon some particular occasions dearer [costlier] than I rate ’em, but the difference is but very small, whether under or over. "