Final answer:
British merchants continued the fur trade with little change after taking control of Montreal when New France became a British colony. They recognized the profitability of the established fur trade and aimed to capitalize on it.
Step-by-step explanation:
When New France became a British colony, the British merchants who took control of the fur trade out of Montreal continued the fur trade with little change. The fur trade had been a critical part of New France's economy, with the French creating extensive trading networks that relied heavily on local native populations to supply furs.
These European nations, including Britain, aimed to extract as much wealth as possible from their colonies through raw materials, such as the lucrative fur trade. The British, recognizing the profit to be made, allowed the fur trade to continue, facilitating the flow of furs, which were highly sought after for items like fashionable beaver hats in Europe.
Merchants did not move the fur trade to the Caribbean, nor did they restrict it solely to British subjects at that time. The fur trade remained an important economic activity in the colony, and British merchants aimed to capitalize on this established trade network rather than abolish it or make substantial changes immediately upon taking control.