End of a Rockies Era

By the end of 1835 there were only about 50-75 white trappers left in the far west compared to 500-600  at the beginning of the decade.  Fashion had changed in the East and the beaver hats were not so fashionable anymore.  Small fur companies went broke, even the Rocky Mountain Fur Company folded in 1834 deep in debt. John  Jacob Aster  sold off divisions of the American Fur Company.

The Indian became more important in trading as they harvested the furs and sold them to the companies.  The last summer fur rendezvous was held in 1840 with "very little beaver and a lot of dull".  Joe Meek attended and was told  "we are done with this mountain life, done wading in beaver dams, freezing in the Rockies is dead, there is no place for us now, if there ever was...".

The Rocky Mountain fur trade was not dead, just changed.  Many old style trappers left, the the trade continued and even improved.  There was no longer pressure from the large competitive trapping brigades and the beaver, otter, mink recovered.  New markets opened up and the number of white roaming the region decreased, leaving the Indians more peaceful.  It was a good time period...

Next time...Allied with the Indians.