jan 1, 1600 - The Demand for Beaver Hats
Description:
The demand for beaver was very great by the mid-1600s so the beaver went extinct in Europe. The French were searching for a new way to get the beaver furs, so they set up a colony in New France. King Henry IV of France granted a fur trading monopoly for the lands in the St.Lawrence River area. The demand was not for the glossy, long-haired pelt, but for the fine undercoat. It is composed of downy fibres with tiny barbs. The hat makers of France and England used this undercoat to make a lustrous and durable felt, which they shape and process into waterproof headgear.Added to timeline:
Date:
jan 1, 1600
Now
~ 426 years ago