The Rendezvous

"Trappers Rendezvous" were a yearly meeting beginning in 1825 of all commercial interests in the trapping business.  Not only were the fur trading companies represented but the trappers themselves, middlemen, buyers, suppliers, free traders even Indians.

Each summer a supply caravan would bring supplies from Missouri and meet in a designated place.  It was a big party where furs were bought and sold and the whiskey flowed.  Even the friendly Indians were welcome.

Unfortunately the buyers were the only buyers available and so offered rock bottom prices per piece - usually half the market value.  They they sold it at profits up to 1000% to settlers because they were the only sellers as well.  This left the trappers broke or in debt to suppliers and the cycle repeated itself year after year with no change.

The suppliers, too netted large profits, but they were afraid of competition...of course!

This cycle would be the death of fur trading rendezvous in short time...

Next time...A mess of a year!