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Natural born merchants : the Hudson Bay Company, science and Canada’s final fur frontiers (1925-1931)

(2023) BUSINESS HISTORY. 65(5). p.920-934
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Abstract
This article explores the use of science and technology of the Hudson Bay Company, by examining the company's development department (1925-1931). It focuses, first, on the cooperation between the development department and the renowned animal ecologist Charles Elton. Scientific practices of the department were also instrumental in supporting the company's expansive strategy, of finding and commercialising Canada's Arctic north. While the department remained short-lived, the article largely affirms the general view that science and technology played a minor role for trading companies. Yet it gives us a much better understanding of precisely why such a connection is difficult. The case also illustrates that scientific practices could and did play a role for trading companies, and had a specific value in modernising and expanding trade operations. Especially so in organising new supply chains in remote and new territory, and not only to support diversification operations, as it is usually argued.
Keywords
Science and technology, Hudson Bay Company, Arctic, fur trade, product development

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Citation

Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:

MLA
Declercq, Robrecht. “Natural Born Merchants : The Hudson Bay Company, Science and Canada’s Final Fur Frontiers (1925-1931).” BUSINESS HISTORY, vol. 65, no. 5, 2023, pp. 920–34, doi:10.1080/00076791.2019.1625331.
APA
Declercq, R. (2023). Natural born merchants : the Hudson Bay Company, science and Canada’s final fur frontiers (1925-1931). BUSINESS HISTORY, 65(5), 920–934. https://doi.org/10.1080/00076791.2019.1625331
Chicago author-date
Declercq, Robrecht. 2023. “Natural Born Merchants : The Hudson Bay Company, Science and Canada’s Final Fur Frontiers (1925-1931).” BUSINESS HISTORY 65 (5): 920–34. https://doi.org/10.1080/00076791.2019.1625331.
Chicago author-date (all authors)
Declercq, Robrecht. 2023. “Natural Born Merchants : The Hudson Bay Company, Science and Canada’s Final Fur Frontiers (1925-1931).” BUSINESS HISTORY 65 (5): 920–934. doi:10.1080/00076791.2019.1625331.
Vancouver
1.
Declercq R. Natural born merchants : the Hudson Bay Company, science and Canada’s final fur frontiers (1925-1931). BUSINESS HISTORY. 2023;65(5):920–34.
IEEE
[1]
R. Declercq, “Natural born merchants : the Hudson Bay Company, science and Canada’s final fur frontiers (1925-1931),” BUSINESS HISTORY, vol. 65, no. 5, pp. 920–934, 2023.
@article{8628913,
  abstract     = {{This article explores the use of science and technology of the Hudson Bay Company, by examining the company's development department (1925-1931). It focuses, first, on the cooperation between the development department and the renowned animal ecologist Charles Elton. Scientific practices of the department were also instrumental in supporting the company's expansive strategy, of finding and commercialising Canada's Arctic north. While the department remained short-lived, the article largely affirms the general view that science and technology played a minor role for trading companies. Yet it gives us a much better understanding of precisely why such a connection is difficult. The case also illustrates that scientific practices could and did play a role for trading companies, and had a specific value in modernising and expanding trade operations. Especially so in organising new supply chains in remote and new territory, and not only to support diversification operations, as it is usually argued.}},
  author       = {{Declercq, Robrecht}},
  issn         = {{0007-6791}},
  journal      = {{BUSINESS HISTORY}},
  keywords     = {{Science and technology,Hudson Bay Company,Arctic,fur trade,product development}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{5}},
  pages        = {{920--934}},
  title        = {{Natural born merchants : the Hudson Bay Company, science and Canada’s final fur frontiers (1925-1931)}},
  url          = {{http://doi.org/10.1080/00076791.2019.1625331}},
  volume       = {{65}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}

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