In New France, the focus had been on a solid establishment of
the colony along the St. Lawrence River and it was only after
1673 that the push for a permanent French presence deeper within
the continent began to be officially encouraged. The
enterprising Louis Buade, comte de Frontenac, who had become
governor of New France, set up a trading post on Lake Ontario, a
move which created considerable controversy at the time. Fully
aware of the great profits yet to be made from the fur trade,
Buade also backed his compatriot and contemporary, René-Robert,
Cavelier de La Salle, on an official expedition for France. La
Salle reached the delta of the Mississippi in 1682, and named
its immense watershed, Louisiana, in honour of Louis XIV. In
doing so, the immense hinterland of North America came under
French control, and soon the fur trade was being practiced by
the French from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico.
With the legalization of the fur trade in New France came a
rapid escalation in fur trade forts dealing with the carrying
trade to the Saint Lawrence River. This occurred mostly in the
Great Lakes region, with dozens of small companies plying the
trade. The trade was also practised by a number of other
individuals and companies in the Eastern and Northern basins of
the continent. During the 18th century, the upper Mississippi
basin became a very profitable source for furs. In this region,
the trade was supplied with goods via New Orleans. |