<P> The North American fur trade was the industry and activities related to the acquisition, trade, exchange, and sale of animal furs in North America . Aboriginal peoples in Canada and Native Americans in the United States of different regions traded among themselves in the Pre-Columbian Era, but Europeans participated in the trade beginning from the time of their arrival in the New World and extended its reach to Europe . The French started trading in the 16th century, the English established trading posts on Hudson Bay in present - day Canada in the 17th century, and the Dutch had trade by the same time in New Netherland . The 19th - century North American fur trade, when the industry was at its peak of economic importance, involved the development of elaborate trade networks . </P> <P> The fur trade became one of the main economic ventures in North America attracting competition among the French, British, Dutch, Spanish, and Russians . Indeed, in the early history of the United States, capitalizing on this trade, and removing the British stranglehold over it, was seen as a major economic objective . Many Native American societies across the continent came to depend on the fur trade as their primary source of income . By the mid-1800s, however, changing fashions in Europe brought about a collapse in fur prices . The American Fur Company and some other companies failed . Many Native communities were plunged into long - term poverty and consequently lost much of the political influence they once had . </P>

When did the north american fur trade start