Forts were important for fur traders as they provided places to get supplies, sell furs, and gain information about territory and trapping areas. Canoes called Montreal canoes used by fur traders could hold 8-16 voyageurs and were 30-40 feet long. These canoes were made from birch bark sealed with spruce gum. To move between bodies of water, trappers used portages, ranging from short to long distances like the 8 mile Grand Portage. The fur trade helped establish the early economic system in North America and provided capital for those involved like voyageurs and mountain men.

1. Tracks in the WildTop 10 Answers

3. Why were forts so important to the fur traders?

4. Forts were important to fur traders for several reasons. They were able to get supplies as well as sell their furs. Forts were also places to gain information of the territory and where the better trapping areas were.

5. How many voyageurs would a canoe hold?

6. The Montreal canoe was the largest canoe used by the fur traders. It was 30-40 feet long and would hold 8-16 voyageurs.

7. What were the canoes made from?

8. The canoes were made from birch bark. The bark was taken from the trees in the spring and would generally not kill the tree if taken then. The seams were sealed with spruce gum.

9. How did the trappers get from one body of water to another?

10. The trappers used trails called “portages”. Some were short while others, such as the Grand Portage were approximately 8 miles long.

11. How did the fur trade impact the early economy?

12. The fur trade provided the economic system and early capital for voyageurs and mountain men. This helped the economic system of the early colonies and gave a base for the economics of the U.S. in the early years.

13. What is “gumming”?

14. “Gumming” is taking the sap from a spruce tree, combining it with charcoal and tallow I a frying pan and heating it up until is all melted together. It is then spread across the seams of the birch bark canoe to help hold it together and keep it water resistant.

15. How far is a “league”?

16. A “league” is a measurement term used to judge the distance that a man or a horse would walk in an hour. It is approximately 3 miles.

17. Besides fur and economy, what else was the fur trade noted for?

18. The fur trade was not only noted for economic reasons. Fur traders and trappers helped to open up the new country and found travel routes and landmarks for later pioneers to use when the westward expansion started.

19. What is the name of the largest fur trade company?

20. The largest fur trade company is the Northwest Company.

21. How much did a bale of furs weigh?

22. The bales of furs generally weighed approximately 90 pounds.