Otter Skins, Boston Ships, and China Goods The Maritime Fur Trade of the Northwest Coast, 1785-1841

Before contact with white people, the Northwest Coast natives had traded amongst themselves and with other indigenous people farther inland. By the end of the 1780s, when Russian coasters had penetrated the Gulf of Alaska and British merchantmen were frequenting Nootka Sound, trade had become the dominant economic activity in the area.While previous studies have concentrated on the boom years of the fur trade before the War of 1812, Gibson reveals that the maritime fur trade persisted into the 1840s and shows that the trade was not solely or even principally the domain of American traders. He gives an account of Russian, British, Spanish, and American participation in the Northwest traffic, describes the market in South China, and outlines the evolution of the coast trade, including the means and problems. He also assesses the physical and cultural effects of this trade on the Northwest Coast and Hawaiian Islands and on the industrialization of the New England states.Gibson, James R. is the author of 'Otter Skins, Boston Ships, and China Goods The Maritime Fur Trade of the Northwest Coast, 1785-1841' with ISBN 9780773520288 and ISBN 0773520287.