The Buch trading company was located in the Norwegian town of Hammerfest, and was the company which equipped the first Norwegian trapping expedition to Svalbard. Trapping and hunting took place over winter by the Norwegians, as the Russians had done, hunting walruses, reindeer, fur animals and seals. This continued until around 1830, when over-exploitation led to a decline.

Later, in the late 1800s, overwintering rose again, with hunting and trapping activities continuing until the mid 1900s. During this time, the focus was on hunting arctic foxes and polar bears, as well as seals and reindeer.

More effective hunting techniques and equipment began to endanger the survival of some species. In 1925 the Svalbard reindeer was protected. And in 1973 the Polar was protected.  Profitable hunting was no longer viable.