Birchbark Canoes of the Fur Trade Volumes 1 and 2 By Timothy Kent. This two volume set is an invaluable resources for those interested in North Anerican history, the fur trade, canoes, early exploration, the traditional ways of Native American people, early military transport, and sailing craft. The core of the book is based on the author's discovery of eight surviving original voyaging canoes of the nineteenth century, four in full size and four miniture models.