Which animal provided a popular fur on the Pacific Coast?

• A. Sea otters
• B. Sea lions
• C. Polar bears
• D. Beavers

Answer: (A)

Sea otters were the animal whose fur was highly prized along the Pacific Coast. Their pelts are exceptionally dense, soft, and water-repellent, making them highly sought after in fashion markets—especially in China—during the height of the maritime fur trade in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. This strong demand spurred extensive hunting of sea otters along the coast and among Indigenous communities who traded with visiting ships. Beavers were significant in the broader North American fur trade but more for inland routes; polar bears are Arctic, and sea lions didn’t match the value of sea otter pelts. So the coastal fur trade’s standout commodity was sea otter.