The treaty between Great Britain and the United States, which opens the Pacific Northwest to more settlers, is likely to have a significant impact on your livelihood as a fur trader. Here’s how it might affect you:
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Increased Competition: The presence of new fur traders in your traditional hunting areas means that you will have more competition for resources. This increased competition can lead to a decrease in the amount of fur you are able to capture, as you will be sharing the land and resources with more traders.
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Market Dynamics: With more traders in the region, the supply of furs may increase, which could potentially lower the prices you can ask for your furs. This means that even if you are still capturing a good amount of fur, you may not be able to sell it for as high a price as before.
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Potential for Collaboration: While competition is a concern, there is also the potential for collaboration with other traders. You might find opportunities to work together in certain aspects of the trade, such as pooling resources or sharing knowledge about the best trapping techniques and locations.
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Protection from British Navy: If the British Navy offers protection for trade at sea, this could help safeguard your trading routes and reduce the risks associated with transporting your goods. However, this depends more on the context of your trading operations and whether you rely heavily on maritime transport.
In summary, the most likely direct impact of the treaty on your livelihood would be increased competition for fur. This could potentially result in capturing less fur than before due to shared areas and rival traders.