Wilmont Kreis

Book Thirteen: From the very early days of French Canada, even before Champlain, there were two emerging industries: cod fishing in the waters off the Atlantic where this abundant crop could be dried, salted and taken back to Europe and the fur trade where all manor of animals were shot or more commonly trapped for their furs, highly prized in the old world. Of the two, fish was probably the most lucrative, but in the interior regions like Québec, furs were king, and they certainly remain the most famous today. Many animals were prized for their hides, but the beaver is most familiar to today’s audience. Their fur was used for coats to shield from the winter wind, but more famously for the beaver hat. More to come next week.