Fur, the covering of certain animals, especially such as inhabit the lands or waters of cold countries, distinguished from hair by its greater fineness and softness; also the skins of such animals dressed with the fur on. Before being dressed the skins are known in commerce as peltry. Fur is used especially for winter clothing, for which it is well adapted not merely by reason of its warmth and durability, but also on account of its great beauty. Skins of animals were among the first materials used for clothing. The ancient Assyrians used the soft skins of animals to cover the couches or the ground in their tents; and the Israelites employed skins which were dyed red as ornamental hangings for the tabernacle. The ancient heroes of the Greeks and Romans are represented as being clothed in skins; but the Romans of later periods regarded the clothing as that of barbarous times and people, associating it with the habits of the savage tribes on their eastern and northern frontiers. In the 2d or 3d century fur dresses appear to have been in use and in high estimation with the Romans. The fur of the beaver was in use, either in the skin or for manufacturing fabrics, in the 4th century; the animal was known as the Pontic clog.

The sable of the far-off regions of Siberia was not known till many centuries later; but it was the productiveness of that region in furs that chiefly prompted the Russians to its conquest. In the early periods furs appear to have constituted the whole riches of the northern countries; they were the principal if not the only exports; taxes were paid with them, and they were the medium of exchange. In the 11th century furs had become fashionable throughout Europe. The art of dyeing them was practised in the 12th century, chiefly red. Richard I. of England and Phillip II. of France, in order to check the growing extravagance in their use, resolved, in the crusade about the end of the 12th century, that neither should wear ermine, sable, or other costly furs. Louis IX. followed their example in the next century, when the extravagance had grown to such a pitch that 746 ermines were required for the lining of one of his surcoats. In these times the use of the choicer furs was restricted to the royal families and the nobility, and the fashion extended to the princes of less civilized nations, if it was not indeed originally adopted from them. In 1272 Marco Polo observed that the tents of the khan of Tartary were lined with rich skins.

In 1337 the use of furs, which had become common in England, was prohibited by Edward III. to all persons not able to expend £100 per annum. The early trade of western Europe in furs was through the Hanse merchants on the south coast of the Baltic, who received them from the ports of Livonia. In the 16th century a direct trade was opened between the English and Russians; and a company of the former, protected by the czar, established posts on the White sea with a warehouse at Moscow, whence they sent parties to Persia and the countries on the Caspian. Ivan the Terrible sent presents of beautiful furs to Queen Mary and to Queen Elizabeth; but the latter prohibited the wearing of any but native furs, and the trade was abandoned. Siberia was about this time conquered by the Russians, and its tribute was paid in furs. This country also furnished large quantities to China; but the choicest kinds were taken to Moscow and Nizhni Novgorod for the use of the princes and nobles of Russia, Turkey, and Persia.-The settlers of North America early learned the value of the furs of the numerous animals which peopled the rivers, lakes, and forests. They collected the skins in abundance, and found an increasing demand for them with every new arrival from the mother country.

The Indians were stimulated by trifling compensation to pursue their only congenial peaceful occupation. The Frenchmen, readily assimilating to the Indian habits, became themselves hunters and explorers; and the classes of voyageurs and coureurs des bois, to which this trade gave rise, became the pioneers of all the new settlements. To protect and control the trade, forts were soon required in the Indian territory. That established at Mackinaw became an important central point. The value of this trade early engaged the attention of wealthy and influential persons connected with the government of Great Britain, as Prince Rupert, the duke of Albemarle, the earl of Craven, Lord Ashley, and others. After a successful enterprise in which they had embarked they obtained from Charles II. in 1070 a charter of incorporation, giving to them full possession of the territory within the entrance of Hudson strait not already granted to other subjects, or possessed by those of any other Christian prince or state. In this was included the monopoly of all trade in these regions, and this was the origin of the Hudson bay company.

The territory they claimed extended from Hudson bay west to the Pacific, and north to the Arctic ocean, excepting that occupied by the French and Russians. They soon formed settlements upon the rivers which empty into Hudson bay, and carried on their operations with great vigor and success. The company continued to prosper notwithstanding the persistent opposition of the French. Their forts or factories were extended further into the interior of British America; and their power was supreme throughout the country, and in great measure over the Indians whom they employed to collect the skins. Still their charter had never been ratified by act of parliament. In 1740 a question arose in parliament respecting their rights, which was decided in their favor. But the Canadians organized a company in the latter part of the last century, composed of some of the chief merchants of Canada, under the name of the northwest company. Their headquarters were in Montreal, and their operations were carried on with great energy in the interior, extending to the rivers that How into the Pacific, where they established factories about the year 1805. The annual meetings of the active partners were held at Fort William at the mouth of Pigeon river, on the N. shore of Lake Superior. The company thus soon became a formidable competitor with the Hudson bay company for the furs of these regions.