The Fur Trade of the American West: A Geographical Synthesis

Mr. Wishart provides an excellent introduction the Fur Trade. This book provides an overview of the Fur Trade and a thorough explanation of the different types of fur trading systems that existed during the early part of the nineteenth century. As the subtitle of the book indicates, Mr. Wishart spends a fair amount of time providing the geographical background of the Rockies and the river systems that flow out of mountains. The book is generously provided with maps. These maps help to provide clarity to the subject at hand and also greatly increase the reader's understanding of how and why the fur trade developed. I really don't have any quibbles with this book---except that I wished it was longer! The chapters are extensively footnoted and there is a very good bibliography. If you are looking for an introduction to the fur trade, I would greatly recommend this book!

it explains the fur trade of the american west