Fur brigades were convoys of canoes and boats used to transport supplies, trading goods and furs in the
North American fur trade industry. Much of it consisted of
native fur trappers and fur traders who travelled between their home
trading posts and a larger
Hudson's Bay Company or
Northwest Company post in order to supply the inland post with goods and supply the coastal post with furs. Travel was usually done on the rivers by canoe or, in certain prairie situations, by horse. For example, they might travel to
Hudson Bay or
James Bay from their inland home territories. This pattern was most prevalent during the early 19th century.