The Wisconsin magazine of history: Volume 5, number 4, June 1922

              the first traders in wisconsin louise p kellogg the fur trade is the oldest industry of white men upon the north american continent indeed the fur traders often outran the explorers in their penetration of the interior and found their way to the farthest recesses of the unknown wilderness after the french had formed a colony on the st lawrence groups of indians from the upper lakes ventured thither each year to exchange the skins of the animals they had captured for the strange and precious things the white men had to offer it soon came to pass that a fur fair was held each summer on the island of montreal late in june or early in july great fleets of indian canoes came sweeping down the ottawa heavily laden with packs of peltry from them disembarked many red men who quickly set up their wigwams on the wide meadows around the little town and prepared their furs for sale all the merchants of the colony and some from overseas gathered for this annual market booths sprang up as if by magic in which was displayed merchandise that tempted the cupidity of the primitive visitors — knives and kettles beads and armlets blankets and cloth looking-glasses and combs — articles manufactured expressly for the indian trade frequently during these periods of exchange the young habitants and their dusky customers became somewhat intimate and an invitation would be offered and accepted to return with the red man to his home in the far west usually the canadian who accepted such an invitation would obtain some goods from a merchant on shares promis ing to repay him with half of the profits of the expedition such an expedition required great courage and physical endurance the trader was cut off from civilization always