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The fur trade west of the Mississippi River began in
the mid-1700s. At first, the
Europeans and Americans involved in the trade did not intend to hunt and
trap the
beaver and other fur-bearing animals themselves. Rather, they hoped that the Indians in
the region would supply the furs in exchange for guns,
knives, and traps. By the early 1800s, however, they realized that the Indians could not (or would not) produce enough furs to satisfy the
demand for fur in Europe and America. |
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The
companies involved in the fur trade began in the 1820s to employ their own hunters and trappers.
These hunters and
trappers lived year-round in the mountains, close to their work. The life was hard
and it was dangerous. The following screens describe what the daily life of these trappers and
hunters was like. |
| Click on the Next
button (to the left) to learn more about the daily lives of trappers. |
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