The Fur Animals of Louisiana 27 



It was in 1720 that officials informed the home govern- 

 ment that many of the skins received, before they could 

 be shipped to France, were often badly damaged in the 

 warm climate because of the crude system of tanning in 

 vogue, and that while they were able to supply large con- 

 signments of buffalo skins, it would be necessary to prop- 

 erly tan them. A tannery on the Wabash River (Ohio) 

 was proposed, with soldiers who understood the process to 

 do the work. This did not materialize, however. 



In 1721, "The Company of the West" endeavored to 

 systematize the commerce in peltry by fixing prices at the 

 various storehouses and, according to LaHarpe, the follow- 

 ing are prices fixed for Biloxi, Mobile, and Fort Louis; 

 delivered elsewhere, they were diminished by the cost neces- 

 sary to ship them to the coast : 



Kinds Best Grade Good Grade 



Beaver 3 livres a pound 34 sols a pound 



Buffalo 4 livres each 



Cow 2 livres 10 sols each 



Deerskins With head and tail: Without head and tail: 



Large Medium Small Large Medium Small 

 25 20 15 20 15 10 sols each 



So the fur trade prospered, "but just at the time when 

 the outlook was darkest for the English, the French officials 

 played into the hands of their rivals by trying to persuade 

 the traders to take up agriculture, which they believed was 

 more essential to the welfare of Louisiana than furs.'" The 

 Louisiana traders it must be admitted, were furthering the 

 English advantage by demanding high prices in pelts for 

 the French goods they distributed in exchange, and this 

 caused trouble with the Natchez, and led to an order from 

 New Orleans suspending all commerce with these Indians. 

 This command only served to widen the breach between 

 the officials and the traders, who continued operations in 

 defiance of the instructions from New Orleans. Indians on 

 the Missouri also went on the warpath, robbing the French- 

 men found in this territory. 



Other Indian troubles arose, and the "Company of the 

 West" was thoroughly convinced that it could not carry on 



•Surrey, Commerce of Louisiana, p. 347. 



