Reviewed by Bill Scurlock for MUZZLELOADER. Published in January/February 2000 issue.

    America’s western fur trade was a cutthroat business involving fortune seekers, risk takers, scoundrels and honorable men. Regardless of the social position or background of the fur company owners, fort factors, trapping brigade leaders or laborers, the business of the fur trade was, as the title of this book states, a "competitive struggle."
   Rather than a stale listing of locations and dates of Western fur trading posts, R. G. Robertson has skillfully woven the history and background of the people and the era into his descriptions of fur trading posts between the Mississippi River and the Pacific Ocean. Not only do you get the name, original dates of occupation and location of each fort, but you also get history and background information, giving the reader a more complete understanding of the reason for the fort's existence.
    The book is laid out extremely well starting with an introduction that leads to three sections in "Part I" explaining the 19th century fur trade, the life of a fur trader and the cycle of trade. "Part II" contains a series of excellent maps that help the reader to locate each fort, then the forts, with descriptions and quality photographs, are listed in alphabetical order. There is a helpful little flag in front of each fort's listing that directs the reader to the appropriate map on which to find the fort's location.
   Mr. Robertson has done his research well. This book should become a standard reference on Western fur trading outposts for libraries, students and all Western history and fur trade enthusiasts.
    Copies of Competitive Struggle may be ordered from Tamarack Books, Inc., PO Box 190313, Boise, ID 83719-0313 or call 1-800-962-6657. Please include $5.00 for shipping and handling.