Mountain Man Monday 2/2
#8558328
Yesterday at 07:19 AM
Yesterday at 07:19 AM
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Joined: Oct 2009
east central WI
k snow
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Oct 2009
east central WI
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Most of the focus of the Western fur trade was beaver. However, other furs were collected, through trapping, trading and hunting. Let's look at a few references to collecting other furs: From W.A. Ferris: During these rambles we sometimes saw an animal resembling an otter, in size, shape and color, called a pekan or fisher; but for want of a dog to tree them, did not shoot any. We killed several martins, and saw the traces of a large animal of the cat kind, supposed to be a lynx.From Washington Irving: The export trade of furs from the United States is chiefly to London. Some quantities have been sent to Canton, and some few to Hamburg; and an increasing export trade in beaver, otter, nutria, and vicunia [relative to alpaca] wool, prepared for the hatter’s use, is carried on in Mexico.From John C. Luttig: Thursday the 1st of October, at Sunrise we had to cross a band of Sioux, accompanied by Nez Corbain and another Chief called Boite about 40 in Number they traded and returned at noon satisfied, in the afternoon 7 Men started up the River with the Mackina Boat to hunt Buffaloe, and Immel came home with 15 Beaver 1 Otter and 2 Muskrats, wind blew very hard from N.W. and the Boat returned.our hunters arrived with Meat of 2 Cows. They had Killed 7 and caught 20 Beaver 1 Otter 2 Muskrats and Killed 2 Wolves.From William Kittson: Two more of the absent men have joined us. The beaver got this day amount to 133 and 1 otter. We have now completed our first thousand.Late last night 7 of the 9 absent trappers made their appearance; only 93 beaver and 9 otter.From James O. Pattie: We were all weak and emaciated. But I was young and able to bear hardships. My heart only ached for my poor father who was reduced to a mere skeleton. We moved on slowly and painfully, until evening, when we encamped. On my return from setting our two traps, I killed a buzzard, which, disagreeable as it was, we cooked for supper. In the morning of the 18th, I found one of the traps had caught an otter. This served for breakfast and supper.Lost Greenhorn, by A.J. Miller. ![[Linked Image]](https://trapperman.com/forum/attachments/usergals/2026/02/full-13020-284095-lostgreenhorn.png)
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Re: Mountain Man Monday 2/2
[Re: k snow]
#8558334
Yesterday at 07:29 AM
Yesterday at 07:29 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
williamsburg ks
danny clifton
"Grumpy Old Man"
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"Grumpy Old Man"
Joined: Dec 2006
williamsburg ks
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Buzzard and otter? They musta been starving.
Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
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Re: Mountain Man Monday 2/2
[Re: danny clifton]
#8558339
Yesterday at 07:39 AM
Yesterday at 07:39 AM
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Joined: Oct 2009
east central WI
k snow
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Oct 2009
east central WI
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Buzzard and otter? They musta been starving. Here's the few lines before that quote: The miserable condition of our company may be imagined, when seven hungry men, who had not eaten a full meal for ten days, were all obliged to breakfast on this nauseous bird. We were all weak and emaciated.No meal for 10 days. At that point I sure would pretty much anything I could get my hands on.
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Re: Mountain Man Monday 2/2
[Re: Rob & Neall]
#8558390
Yesterday at 09:04 AM
Yesterday at 09:04 AM
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Joined: Oct 2009
east central WI
k snow
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Oct 2009
east central WI
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From Washington Irving: The export trade of furs from the United States is chiefly to London. Some quantities have been sent to Canton, and some few to Hamburg; and an increasing export trade in beaver, otter, nutria, and vicunia [relative to alpaca] wool, prepared for the hatter’s use, is carried on in Mexico.
Was Irving an actual trapper or was this taken from his book "Astoria"?
From his Astoria book.
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Re: Mountain Man Monday 2/2
[Re: k snow]
#8558660
Yesterday at 05:28 PM
Yesterday at 05:28 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Oregon
beaverpeeler
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Oregon
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The annual reports of Hudson Bay company Columbia district listed many other furs sailing out of Ft Vancouver besides beaver.
My fear of moving stairs is escalating!
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Re: Mountain Man Monday 2/2
[Re: beaverpeeler]
#8558951
10 hours ago
10 hours ago
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Joined: Oct 2009
east central WI
k snow
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Oct 2009
east central WI
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The annual reports of Hudson Bay company Columbia district listed many other furs sailing out of Ft Vancouver besides beaver. Here's a list of furs purchased by the Northwest Company from the Astorians, during the takeover of the operations. Valued is what the NW Company paid the Astorians, worth is what the NW Company would sell them for on the market. Beaver parchment is stretched and dried beaver. Coat beaver are older tanned beaver. The following estimate has been made of the articles on hand, and the prices: 17,705 lbs. beaver parchment, valued at $2.00 worth $5.00 465 old coat beaver, valued at 1.66 worth 3.50 907 land otter, valued at .50 worth 5.00 68 sea-otter, valued at 12.00 worth 45 to 60.00 30 sea-otter, valued at 5.00 worth 25.00 Nothing was allowed for 179 mink skins, worth each .40 22 raccoon, worth each .40 28 lynx, worth each 2.00 18 fox, worth each 1.00 106 fox, worth each 1.50 71 black bear, worth each 4.00 16 grizzly bear, worth each 10.00
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Re: Mountain Man Monday 2/2
[Re: k snow]
#8558964
9 hours ago
9 hours ago
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Joined: Jan 2009
Nebraska
Trapset
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2009
Nebraska
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Cool stories, Patties story reminded me of trip to Canada where I learned about starving vs hungry.
My brother and I took a buddy to Canada 30 years ago. The buddy was a Polish immigrant. We went out fishing early one morning. Got to be around 11:00 my hang over was fading so I said, “let’s start working our way back, I’m starving”. My Polish buddy said “Shawn, did you eat anything yesterday?” I said “Yes, you were sitting right next to me.” He said, “Exactly, starving, pfft! your not even hungry yet.”
Since then I don’t think I’ve ever described my condition as starving. Hungry, peckish, hollow, but never starving.
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Re: Mountain Man Monday 2/2
[Re: Trapset]
#8558998
8 hours ago
8 hours ago
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Joined: Oct 2009
east central WI
k snow
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Oct 2009
east central WI
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Cool stories, Patties story reminded me of trip to Canada where I learned about starving vs hungry.
My brother and I took a buddy to Canada 30 years ago. The buddy was a Polish immigrant. We went out fishing early one morning. Got to be around 11:00 my hang over was fading so I said, “let’s start working our way back, I’m starving”. My Polish buddy said “Shawn, did you eat anything yesterday?” I said “Yes, you were sitting right next to me.” He said, “Exactly, starving, pfft! your not even hungry yet.”
Since then I don’t think I’ve ever described my condition as starving. Hungry, peckish, hollow, but never starving. I've never truly been starving. Rarely even truly hungry. My brain may have thought I was hungry, but my body not so much. A trick I use now, to keep my weight down, is ask myself, am I hungry enough to eat a can of plain sardines?
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Re: Mountain Man Monday 2/2
[Re: k snow]
#8559109
5 hours ago
5 hours ago
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Joined: Dec 2006
Oregon
beaverpeeler
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Oregon
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The annual reports of Hudson Bay company Columbia district listed many other furs sailing out of Ft Vancouver besides beaver. Here's a list of furs purchased by the Northwest Company from the Astorians, during the takeover of the operations. Valued is what the NW Company paid the Astorians, worth is what the NW Company would sell them for on the market. Beaver parchment is stretched and dried beaver. Coat beaver are older tanned beaver. The following estimate has been made of the articles on hand, and the prices: 17,705 lbs. beaver parchment, valued at $2.00 worth $5.00 465 old coat beaver, valued at 1.66 worth 3.50 907 land otter, valued at .50 worth 5.00 68 sea-otter, valued at 12.00 worth 45 to 60.00 30 sea-otter, valued at 5.00 worth 25.00 Nothing was allowed for 179 mink skins, worth each .40 22 raccoon, worth each .40 28 lynx, worth each 2.00 18 fox, worth each 1.00 106 fox, worth each 1.50 71 black bear, worth each 4.00 16 grizzly bear, worth each 10.00 Good stuff. Did that come from Irving?
My fear of moving stairs is escalating!
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Re: Mountain Man Monday 2/2
[Re: k snow]
#8559179
4 hours ago
4 hours ago
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Joined: Dec 2006
Oregon
beaverpeeler
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Oregon
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In Alfred Seton's narrative "Astorian Adventure" he claims that NW company paid fairly for the fur and supplies when they took over. I think Astor had a totally different opinion when he found out what had transpired. Seton was the lone American left in Astor's group on the Columbia. I think all the rest were Canadians. Irving relied heavily on Astor's take on things as he was the one sponsoring the book.
My fear of moving stairs is escalating!
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Re: Mountain Man Monday 2/2
[Re: k snow]
#8559215
2 hours ago
2 hours ago
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Joined: Oct 2009
east central WI
k snow
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Oct 2009
east central WI
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The following is from Seton's Adventures. It doesn't sound like he was particularly happy with the outcome of the purchase. Other than he was happy there was no military action involved in the takeover.
at length the price of the goods and furs in the factory was agreed upon, and the bargain was signed by both parties on the 23d of October. The gentlemen of the Northwest Company took possession of Astoria, agreeing to pay the servants of the Pacific Fur Company (the name which had been chosen by Mr. Astor), the arrears of their wages, to be deducted from the price of the goods which we delivered, to supply them with provisions, and give a free passage to those who wished to return to Canada over land. The American colors were hauled down from the factory, and the British run up, to the no small chagrin and mortification of those who were American citizens. It was thus, that after having passed the seas, and suffered all sorts of fatigues and privations, I lost in a moment all my hopes of fortune.
This section from Seton makes it sound like he agreed that Astor got shafted:
D. M’Dougall, as a reward for betraying the trust reposed in him by Mr. Astor, was made a Partner of the Northwest Company, crossed the mountains, and died a miserable death at Bas de la Rivičre , Winipeg.
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Re: Mountain Man Monday 2/2
[Re: k snow]
#8559253
1 hour ago
1 hour ago
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Joined: Dec 2006
Oregon
beaverpeeler
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Oregon
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"I will only add that if this country had abounded in beaver as much as any Country ever did, & if Duncan McDougall had a principal hand in it, or if it was under his direction, I would venture to say it never would have succeeded. I therefore consider Mr. John Jacob Astor as very fortunate in getting rid of the business with so little loss; & much more so in have. Mr. D. McKenzie in this country." pg 133 Astorian Adventure. Alfred Seton.
Seton does seem to contradict himself a little with the two statements. It does need to be considered that when the NWCo came down the river and informed the Astorians that a British Man of War was on its way to take Ft. Astor as a spoil of war that the subsequent selling Astor's interests might be considered a prudent action.
Both Hunt and Seton were given $500 bonuses by NWCo for meritorious conduct.
Last edited by beaverpeeler; 1 hour ago.
My fear of moving stairs is escalating!
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