Fur trade

The fur trade is a global industry focused on the acquisition and sale of animal pelts. This business involves collecting the skins of animals to create clothing and fashion items. Historically, the most valuable furs came from mammals living in boreal, polar, and cold temperate regions. The demand for these materials drove the exploration and colonization of vast territories. These included Siberia, northern North America, and the South Shetland and South Sandwich Islands.

In the Russian fur trade, specific mechanisms were used to gather wealth. The state collected a fur tribute from Siberian native tribes known as yasak. This was often a fixed number of sable pelts required from every male tribe member aged fifteen or older. To ensure payment, officials sometimes used coercion or took hostages, such as tribe chiefs. The government also collected a 10% Sovereign Tithing Tax on the catch and sale of pelts. These furs were so vital to the economy that they were called "soft gold."

Hunters in Siberia, called promyshlenniki, operated in two distinct types of groups. The first type was a vataga, which was an independent band of 10 to 15 men. These men were often blood relatives or unrelated individuals who shared all expedition expenses. They cooperated on tasks like setting traps, building camps, and fishing. In a vataga, all pelts went into a common pool to be divided equally. The second type consisted of hired hunters who worked for large trading companies. These hunters received food and supplies from their employers. However, the company kept two-thirds of the pelts, leaving only one-third to be divided among the laborers.

Historical expansion in Russia was driven by the search for specific species. In the Early Middle Ages, between 500 and 1000 CE, the city-state of Novgorod was a primary supplier. Novgorodians exploited resources "beyond the portage" and established posts along the Volga and Vychegda rivers. Between the 16th and 18th centuries, Russians moved into Siberia to find species like the Arctic fox, lynx, and sable. They even expanded into North America, specifically Alaska, to find sea otter pelts.

The scale of this trade had massive geographic and economic significance. By 1620, Russia dominated approximately 1.25 million square miles of land from the Urals to the Yenisey valley. From 1585 to 1680, tens of thousands of sable and other valuable pelts were collected in Siberia annually. This wealth allowed Russia to purchase essential goods from Europe, such as lead, tin, and firearms. It also allowed trade with the Ottoman Empire for silk, spices, and dried fruit.

In North America, the fur trade began as early as the 1500s. It involved contact between Europeans and First Nations people. Early trade often involved sailors exchanging metal implements, like knives, for well-worn pelts. The most sought-after animals in this region included the beaver and the sea otter. The beaver was particularly important for the European fur felt hat and garment trades.

Today, the fur trade has changed significantly and faces modern challenges. Its global importance has diminished compared to previous centuries. Many people now use synthetic imitations, such as man-made ruffs on parka hoods, instead of real fur. The industry has also become highly controversial. Animal rights organizations oppose the trade, citing concerns about how animals are killed and skinned. Consequently, much of the modern trade is now based on regulated trapping and pelts from fur farms.