I lO CASTOROLOGIA. 



undertake the entire overthrow of the English in Hudson's Bay, and 

 for years the warfare was maintained, till in 1696, the English Gov- 

 ernment gave assistance to the Hudson's Bay Company and the 

 struggle became of national interest. 



The treaty of Utrecht brought about peace in America, as it did 

 in Europe, and the fur trade began to increase rapidly and to 

 return enormous profits. The annual returns from Prince of Wales 

 Fort alone reached 20,000 beaver skins, and though at that time 

 the exports included a long list of valuable articles, the quantity 

 of beaver skins represented two-thirds of the entire value. A most 

 extraordinary crisis was reached in the year 1700; for some time 

 prior to this, the collection of beavers had been so excessive as to 

 partly glut the market, but in the j'ear mentioned, the number of 

 beaver skins collected at Montreal was so enormous, that three- 

 fourths of the collection were burned, to make the other portion 

 worth exporting. 



The methods of handling, and the kinds and names of beaver 

 skins in those days, were totally different to anything met with to- 

 day. Happily these details were all preserved, and a description 

 can be given, not only of each kind, but also of the prices current 

 one hundred and fifty years ago. 



" There are eight kinds of beavers received at the Farmer's Office. 



' ' The first is the fat Winter Beaver, killed in Winter, which 

 is worth 5^. 6d. per pound. 



" The second is the fat Summer Beaver, killed in Summer, and is 

 worth 2S. gd. 



' ' The third, the dry Winter Beaver, and fourth, the Bordeau, is 

 much the same, and are worth 35. 6d. 



" The fifth, the dr>' Summer Beaver, is worth very little, abovit 

 15. gd. per pound. 



