An Alberta fur trader in the 1890s.

Fur trade in Nizhny Novgorod (before 1906)

The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the gain and sale of animal bodies, or parties. It is still a on going tradition. The North American fur trade flourished for 250 years. This long time can be roughly divided into three sections:

• the "French Era" from 1600 to 1760 (See Coureur de bois)
• the "British Era" from 1760 to 1816
• the "American Era" from 1816 to 1850 (See John Jacob Astor)