C A N AD I A N

W I LD S

Tells A bout the Hu dson s Bay Comp any, N or thern

a nd

T h e ir M odes

of

Huntin g,

BY

P UBL I S HED BY

A R HARD IN G P UBL ISHIN G C O

.

COL UM BUS , om o

C O NTENTS
C H A PT E R

P A GE

THE

II

III

IV

T H E F R EE TR A D E R

VII

V III

I ND I A N S
TR AC K ER S OF T H E N O R T H
P R OV I S I ON S FO R TH E W I L D E R N E S S
F OR T S A N D P O S T S
A BO U T I ND I A N S
W H OLE S O M E F OO D S
O FF I C E R S A LLO W A N C E
I NL A ND P A C KS
I ND I A N M ODE OF H U N T I N G B E A V E R
I ND I A N M ODE OF H U N T I N G L Y N X A ND MA R
T EN
I ND I A N M ODE 0 F H U N T I N G FO X E S
I ND I A N M ODE OF H U N T I N G OTTE R A N D M U S
QUA S H
RE M A RK A B L E S U CC E S S
T H I N G S T O AVO I D
A N T I C O S T I A ND I T S F U R S
C H I S ELL I N G A N D S H OO T I N G B E A V E R
TH E I ND I A N D EV I L

IX

XI

XI I

X II I

XI V

XV

XV I

XV II
X V I II

XI X

XX
XXI

30
46
60
70

TH E C A RE OF B L I S T E R ED F EE T
D EE R S I C K NE S S

77

83
96
103
109
1 17
o

12 3
13 2
14 0

150
158

X XII
X XII I
X XI V
XX V

24

14

O U T F I TT I N G

VI

H U D S ON S B A Y C O M P A N Y

A CA S E

OF

1 72

18 0

A M P H I B I TI OU S C M B AT S

A RT

167

OF P U LL I N G H E A R TS
(1)

185
195

2
C H A P T ER

C O N T EN T S

X X V I D A R K FU R S
XX V I I I ND I A N S A RE P OO R S H O T S
XX V III A B EA R I N T H E W A TER
XXIX V OR A C I O U S P I KE
XX X T H E B R A S S EY ED D U C K
X XXI GOOD W AG E S T R A P P I N G
XX X II A P A R D N E C E S S AR Y
XXXII I A N HER O I C A DVEN T U RE
X XXI V W I LD OXEN
XXX V L ON G L A KE I ND I A N S
X XX V I D E N B EA R S
XXX V I I TH E M I S H A P S OF RA L S ON
.

I NTRO D UC TI ON

the cou rtesy Of F orest and S tream a nd

H u nter Trader T rapper these artic les
are republished i n book form by th e
-

author
I have been i nduced t o bri ng them ou t a s e c
o nd tim e u nder o ne cover by the frequent r e
quests O f my fello w bu shm en w h o w ere ki nd
enough to cri ti ci se them favorably w hen they
rst appeared i n the m agazi ne
I n thi s preambl e I thi nk i t proper and pos
s i b l y i nteresting to th e reader t o have a short
synopsi s O f my career

I entered th e servic e Of th e Hudson s B ay

C ompa ny i n 1 8 6 3 a s a c lerk a nd reti red i n 1 903

a c omm issioned O fcer Of t w enty years

s tand
.

mg

T he m odes O f T rappi ng and Hu n ti ng w ere

learned dir ectly by personal parti ci pati on i n th e
chase w i th th e I ndians a nd th e other storie s
heard rst hand from the red m an
M y se rvic e i n the employ O f the G rea t Fur
C om p any extended from L abrador i n the E ast
.

CA NAD I AN W IL D S

to Fort W i lliam on L ake S uperior i n the W est

a nd from t h e va lley Of the S t L a w rence i n th e
S outh to the head w ater s Of i ts feeders i n the
N orth
By canoes a nd sno w shoes I have traveled on
th e pri nci pa l large rivers o w ing south from
the h eight Of la nd , a mong them I m ay menti on
th e M oi s ee , B ersimi s , S t
M a uri ce O tta w a ,
Mi c h i p oc ot e n P i e a nd N e p i gon
I have hunted tra pped a nd traded w ith th e
Montagna is A lgonqui n s a nd O j ib w ays , the
three largest tribes tha t i nhabi t the cou ntry
mentioned i n th e foregoi ng boundari es a nd
therefore the reader ca n pla ce impli ci t rel iance
i n w hat i s h erei n se t forth
G ivi ng a synopsi s
Of the h i story Of T h e Hudson s B ay C om pany
i t s Forts a nd P osts and th e I ndians they tra de d
w ith a s w ell a s other i ncidents Of the C anadia n
wi lds
R espectfully
M AR T I N H U N T ER
.

C A NA D IA N W I L DS
C H A P TE R

THE

H u D S O N s B A Y C O M P A NY

Th e Hudson s B ay C om pa ny w a s i nc or por
ated i n the yea r 1 6 7 0 a nd received i ts charter
from C harles th e S econd ma ki ng i t t oday th e
longest u nited com pa ny tha t ever existed i n the
w orld
I n 1 8 6 7 w hen th e di fferen t provi nces Of Ol d
C anada w ere brought u nder the D omi nion C on
federati on , the C om pany ceded i ts exclusive
rights , a s per its cha rter , to th e governm ent O f
C a nada , m aki ng th is va st terri tory over w hi ch
the C om pany ha d held s w ay f or nea rly t w o hu n
dred years , free f or hunters , trappers a nd
traders
Pri nc e R upert , of E ngland , w a s a ssoc iated

w i th th e rst body of A dventurers T radi ng

into Hudson s B ay , f or such w ere th ey d e s i g

nated i n th e cha rter a nd the charter gave them
the righ t to trade on a ll rivers a nd thei r tribu
tari es o w i ng i nto Hudson s Bay
They esta bl ished th ei r rst fort s or factori es

CA NAD I AN W IL D S

a t the m outh s of th e pri ncipal rivers tha t f al l

i nto th e bay on th e east , south and w est sh ores ,
su ch a s E a st M a in , R upert s , M oose , A lbany ,
C hurchi ll a nd a fe w i ntermediate smal l out
posts a long th e seash ore
Th ey endeavored t o
dra w the i nteri or I ndians do w n t o the coas t to
trade b ut a fter a fe w yea rs they fou nd that th e
l ong j ourney t o t h e fa ctories took u p s o m uch
of the India n s ti m e and l eft them , after their
return t o thei r hu nti ng grounds , s o exhau sted
from thei r stren uou s exertions i n negotia ting
the turbulent and s w i ft o w i ng w aters , tha t the
c om pany s ma nagemen t decided to stretch ou t
a nd establ ish trading pla ces u p th e di ff erent
rivers
T hi s small begi nni ng Of a post or t w o u p
ea ch river w a s gradually conti nu ed ever further
s outh , ever further w est a s th e requ irements of
th e fu r trade necessitated , there the c om pany
pu shed i n a nd follo w ed thei r ow n a g a bl ood
red grou nd w i th H B C i n w hite block letters
i n th e center
T hi s a g i s k no w n from L abrador to th e
Paci c a nd from the S t L a w rence river to the
A rcti c regions
S everal w oul d b e w it s have
given these mysteri ou s letters O d d m eanin gs

A mong severa l I ca ll to memory Here B efore

C hri st
Hu ngry Bel ly C ompany and Here

Before C olumbu s

THE H U DS ON s B A Y

C O M P AN Y

T w o sh ips vi si ted th e Bay each s um m er

bri ngin g su pplie s for th e next w i nter and tak
i ng bac k t o E ngla nd the furs a nd oi l c ollected
durin g the pa st season
T he comi ng of th ese
sh ips , one to York Fa ctory and th e other to
M oose Fa ctory, w a s th e event o f the yea r a s

they brough t th e onl y ma il th e W i nterers r e

c e i v e d from fri ends a nd relative s i n fa r a w ay
O ld E ngla nd
N avi ga ti ng the B ay w a s done pretty m u ch

by th e rul e o f Thu mb
N ot w ith sta ndi n g i ts
being one Of th e most da ngerou s bodies Of w ater
i n A meric a i t i s w onderfu l ( no w tha t th e Bay i s
fairly w ell charted a nd sh o w s u p m ost O f th e
dangerou s ree fs a nd shoa ls ) h o w fe w a cci dents
these Old navigators ha d i n taki ng thei r sh ips
i n and ou t of the Bay
M uch depended o n th ose sam e sh ips reachi ng
thei r desti nation
S ta rvati on w oul d c onfron t
the O i ce r s a nd serva nt s i n the cou ntry and th e
w a nt Of th e retu rns i n E ngla nd du ri ng those
early days Of th e ventu re w oul d have bee n a s e
ri ons setba ck to thei r credi t W h i l e th e ships
w ere i n the roadstea d u nloa di ng a nd loa di ng i t
w as a n a nxi ou s tim e to th e captai n a nd the O i
c er a shore for a s th e w ork ha d to b e don e by
li ghters ( the shi p l y i ng three m i les from th e
land ) there w a s al w ays the da nger of a strong
w ind springin g u p I n su c h events th e boa ts
'

10

CA NAD I A N

W I LD s

scurried a sh ore w hi le th e sh ip sl ipped her cabl e

a nd pu t to s ea ti ll fair w eather
I n parti ng w i th thei r cha rter to th e C ana
dia n G overnment the compa ny reserved certai n
a creages about ea ch a nd every one of thei r forts
and p o sts besides t w o secti ons i n ea ch to w nshi p
from th e L ake O f the W oods t o the R ocky M ou n
ta i ns a nd from th e i nternati ona l bou ndary li ne
to the n orthern edge o f the Ferti le Belt T hese
res erves of la nd sol d to the i ncomin g settlers as
th e cou ntry i s l l ing u p i s a grea t source Of
revenu e to th e share holders a nd are becomi ng
m ore a nd m ore valuabl e each suc ceedi ng yea r
I h e r e m ost of th e O l d prairi e posts stood i n

th e Old days the com pa ny no w have S al e

S h ops f or th e w hites a nd a t these pla c e s they

are successfully meeti ng c ompetition , by the
superi ority a nd cheapness of the goods they
su pply
I n Old C anada th e fur trade had a l w ays been
the p I I I l C l p a l commerce O f the country a nd a fter
th e Frenc h regime severa l S cotch mercha nts of
M ontrea l prosecuted i t w ith m ore vigor tha n
heretofore
Th i s they di d u nder th e nam e Of

T he N orth w est C om pany

Their a gents a nd

C ou r i ers des B oi s w ere ever pu shi n g w est

w ard a nd h ad posts strung from O tta w a to the
R ocky M ountai ns a nd a l l th e pelts from that
.

'

T H E H U DS O N s B A Y

C O M P AN Y

11

i mm ense cou ntry w ere brought year l y t o t h e

headquarters i n M ontreal
T he Hu dson s Bay C om pany after h aving
i nhabi ted a l l th e territory tha t they c ould ri ght
l y c la im u nder th ei r cha rter , began to oppose
th e N orth w est C om pany i n the c ou ntry th ey
had i n a w ay discovered
The Hudson s Bay
C ompany a fter ge t t ng ou t of th e Bay found the
N orth w est C ompany s peopl e tra ding on the
R ed , A ssinibo i ne a nd S a skatche w a n , a l l r ivers
tha t they c ould cla i m by ri gh t Of thei r cha rter
see ing they a l l dra i ned i nto Hu dso n s B ay and
then bega n o ne O f the keenes t a nd most bloody
commercia l w a rfares i n hi story
M igh t w a s right a nd w herever furs w ere
found the strongest party, fo r t h e ti m e being ,
took them
R etal iati on w a s th e u n w ri tten l a w
of th e cou ntry a nd w hat w a s thi s w eek a Hud

son s B ay pos t w a s next w eek oc cu pi e d by a

party of N orth w esters or vi c e ve rsa
T here i s
hardly a pla ce i n w ha t i s no w t h e pea c efu l a nd
la w abidi ng M a nitoba a nd t he w estern p rovin ces
bu t w hat , i f i t c ou ld tel l th e tal e, h a d w i tnessed
a t som e tim e i n its early h istory sangui nary
c oni cts bet w een th e t w o p o w erful and riva l
companies
Th ings got to su ch a pa ss that the h ea ds of
the t w o fur pa rties i n L ondon a nd M ontreal sa w
t hat somethi ng had to be done to stay th is los s
.

12

CA NAD I AN W I L D S

Of l i ve s a nd goods A rrangements w ere there

fore made tha t th e maj ority of the stockholder s
Of both companies should m eet i n L ondon
Thi s conventi on h ad i ts rst meeting on th e 1 9t h
of
M ay, 1 8 2 1 , a nd severa l other a ssembli es Of
the t w o fa ctions took pla ce before al l the points
a t i ssu e w ere m utual ly agree d u pon
B y w i d e mi ndedness and a liberal amount Of
give and ta ke bet w een the t w o c ontending par
ties a fu ll u nderstanding w a s agreed on O ne Of
the poi nts u pon w hi ch a strong Obj ecti on w a s
m ade w a s th e si nki ng of one of the i dentities ,
but th i s knotty poi n t w a s eventually settled A
c oali tion of the t w o c ompanies w a s formed u n

der th e ti tle of The Hudson s B ay C ompany ,

th e rst O fcial year of the j oined parties da ting
rst of June , 1 8 2 1 , a nd th e rst governor M r

G eorge S im pson , after w ards S ir G eorge

M r S impson w as knighted by Q ueen V i c
tori a for havi ng traveled from M ontrea l to L on
d on by la nd w i th the excepti on of crossi ng Beh
ri ng S trai t and the E ngl ish C hannel by boa t
S ir G eorge S im pson held the positi on of

G overnor of the fur trade O f the Hudson s B ay

C ompany for very many years a nd w a s foll o w ed
by G overnors D allas , M c TaV I sh , G raham and
S i r D onald A S mi th ( no w L ord S trathc ona )

a fter the latter s term of O fce th e ti tl e of t his

position w a s a l tered t o Th e C om missi oner

.

TH E

H U D S ON s B A Y

C O M P AN Y

13

Th e rst gentlema n t o h ol d th e managemen t un

der thi s ne w titl e w a s M r W r i ggl ey, w h o a fter
servi n g t w o term s of fou r yea rs ea ch , retired
a nd w a s succeed ed by M r C C C hi pma n w h o
i s stil l i n o fce and bri ngs u s do w n t o th e p res
ent day
T here ha s a l w ays been a G overnor a nd c om
mi t t ee i n L o ndon w here the rea l headquarters
ha s ever been , w h ile the C om m issioner s head
pla ce i n C anad a i s situated i n W i nnipeg

Th e w h ole of the G reat C ompany s c ollecti o n

Of furs i s sh ippe d to E ngla nd a nd sol d by a u c
tion three ti mes a yea r , i n Ja nua ry , M arch and
O ctober B uyers fro m a l l over E uro p e a t tend
these sale s
.

C H AP T E R I I

TH E

F REE T RADER

Th e ori gi n of th e term Free T rader dates

back considerably over three quarters O f a cen
tury a nd w a s rst u sed a s a disti ncti on by th e
Hudson s Bay C om pany bet w een their o w n
traders , w h o traded directly from thei r posts
a nd others w h o i n m ost ca ses ha d been form erly

i n thei r employ , bu t ha d tu rned Free Traders

M en w i th a smal l outt , w h o roamed a mongst
th e I ndia ns on th ei r hu nti ng grou nds and ba r
t e r e d necessa ry arti cles tha t th e hu nters w ere
general ly sh ort O f
T h e outt m ostly consi sted O f toba cc o pow

der , ball , i nt s possibly on e or t w o nor w est

g uns , w h ite , blu e a nd red strands for th e m en s
leggi ngs , s k y blu e second c loth for th e squa w s
ski rts a nnel Of severa l bri ght col ors , m ole ski n
for trou sers , a fe w H B cloth ca pots , fancy
w orsted sa shes , beads , ribbons , kn i v e s , sci ssors ,
re steels , etc
S om e of th e foregoi ng a rti cles
m ay no t be c onsidered necessa ry requirements ,
bu t to the I ndian of those days they w ere s o

l oo k ed u pon an d a Free Trader comi ng to an

-

14

TH E F R E E T RADER

15

I ndi an s cam p w h o had th e furs , a trade , mu ch

to th e tra der s prot w as generally done
I n those a w a y bac k days th e Fre e Trader

w a s a l w ays outtt e d by the G rea t C om pany

H e e ndured a l l the l abor , hardshi ps a nd priva
ti on of follo w ing th e I ndians to thei r far o
hu nti ng grou nds and O f a ne c e s s i t v charged
high for h i s goods
B eing a former serva nt Of
the compa ny h e got h i s outt a t a red uce d pri ce
from w ha t the I ndia n s w ere charged at the
posts Th e barter tari ffs a t ea c h O f the post s
w a s m ade out i n t w o colum ns , i
I ndia n Tar
i ff and F ree M a n s Ta r i
S ay , f or example , a
pou nd of E ngli sh tobac c o w a s ba rtered to th e
I ndia n a t th e p osts fo r one dol lar a pound
the Free T rader w ou l d get i t i n h i s outt for
7 5 cents , and w hen h e bartered i t to som e h un
ter , probably h undreds O f mi les O ff , he w ou ld
charge one a nd ha lf to t w o dol lars for the same
p ou nd o f t oba cco
I mention , to i llustrat e th e am ount i n d ol
lars a nd cents , bu t the currency of th ose days
all over the north w est a nd i nteri o r w a s the

M ade B eaver
A s a round am ou n t th e M B
w a s e qu ivalen t t o 5 0 cents of ou r m oney of to
day A t al l th e posts O n Hudson s B ay th e c om
pany ha d i n c oi nage of their ow n, made of brass
Of fou r a mounts ; a n eight , quarter , ha l f and
w hole Beaver Th e goo ds w er e c har ged f or a t

CANAD IA N W IL D S

16

many or pa rts of M ade B eaver a nd the fu r s

l ike w i se valu ed at th e sam e cu rrency
L ike m ost u neduca ted me n w h o have to r e
member da t e s , people a nd places , these Free
Traders ha d w onderfu l m emori es O ne w h o
ha d bee n a w ay on h i s venture for ei gh t or ten
month s cou ld on openi ng h i s pa cks , th o there
m ight be t w o or three hundred skins i n hi s c ol
l ec tion , i f SO requested , tel l from w hat pa rtien
la r I ndia n h e re c eived any ski n picked out a t
h aphazard
O bservation a nd remembra nce entered i nto
every pha se o f thei r l ives a s i t does i nto that of
th e pure I ndia n T heir very l ives a t t imes de
pended on thei r fa culties a nd o ne migh t sa y al l
thei r bumps w ere bumps of loca l ity a nd these
hi gh ly developed al l the w ay ba ck from chi ld
h ood
O f their nat ionali ty they w ere mos t l v F rench
C a na di a ns or French hal f breeds , a nd a s a rul e
w ent on thei r tra di ng expediti ons a ccompanied
T ime w a s
b y their I ndia n w ives a nd ch ildren
of nO Object a nd a s th ey travel ed the y trapped
a nd hu nted a s they w ent T hei r very l ivin g
a nd subsistence depende d on th ei r guns a nd
nets L oaded a s they w ere w ith goods t o trade
a nd th ei r necessa ry bel ongings th ey could not
take i m ported provisi ons A fter thei r ha rd
shi ps Of s evera l m onths , after the breaking u p
so

TH E F R EE T R AD E R

17

Of th e l akes a nd rivers , they once m ore fou nd

themselves a t the post fr om w hence they r e
c e i v e d thei r outt
From the fa ctor do w n to th e Ol d pensi oners ,
the people of the fort w ent do w n t o w elcome the
Thei r advent w a s heralded by
ne w arrival s
the ri ng O f g uns on rou ndi ng the poi nt a t
w h i ch they rst ca m e i n vie w of the post
On
la nding a genera l ha ndsh a ki ng w a s gone thru
by the t w o parti es , th e fa cto r m enta lly e s t i ma t
in g th e probable c ontents o f the ri ch pa cks
T he m en , enga ged serva nts , of th e post , car
ried u p t o the h ouse th e peltries , w h ile the F ree
Traders foll o w ed th e fa ctor to th e trade sh op s
w here a plu g of toba cco for the m en a nd sugar
for th e w omen w ere given out by the clerks a nd
w ith a generou s t ot of ru m i n w h ich to cem ent
thei r c ontinued friendsh ip , th e Free Trader
took hi s departu re to pu t u p h i s tepee a nd get
hi s fam i ly a nd belongings u nder c over
L ater on th e servants brou ght h i m pork ,
lard , ou r a nd tea enou gh for hi m a nd h i s fam
ily for supper a nd breakfa st N O a ccou nts w ere
gone i nto on the day O f a rrival The next m orn
i ng , h o w ever , th e T rader repa ired to th e store
w i th the fa ctor a nd h i s cl erk , the la tter ca rryi ng
hi s ledger a nd day blotter Th e pads b ei ng u n
l ac ed the d i er ent kinds of ski ns w ere placed i n
.

18

CA NAD I AN W IL D S

sepa rate piles a nd then cla ssied a ccording to

value T he s u m total bei ng a rrived a t the
a mount of hi s ou tt a nd suppl ies bei n g de

ducted h e w a s given a bon on th e tra de shops

for hi s credi t bala nce
S hortly a fter the F ree T rader a nd hi s w i fe
w ould be seen i n th e shop decki ng themselves
ou t w i th ner y, bri ght a nd gay c ol ored cl othes
a nd xi ngs w ere the rst consideration A fter
i f there sti l l remai ned a credi t l uxu ri es i n the
eati ng w ay w ere i ndulged a nd that nigh t a feast
given by the Free T raders to th e em pl oyes and
hangers on a t the post
Y e s , they w ere a j olly, ch ildli ke ra ce of men
a nd a s i mprovident a s a n India n for th e r e
I have d escribed the
q ui r e m e nt s Of tom orro w
Free T rader O f the pa st , a nd no w I propose to
describ e th e Free T rader of today, a nd a s h e
ha s bee n for the last t w o decades
The bui lding o f the C a nadia n Pa ci c trans
conti nental roa d brough t i n i t s tra il a cla ss o f
very u ndesirable m en
A ll rules have e x c e p
ti ons
I m u st therefore be j u st a nd not c on
dem u al l bu t the m aj ority O f them w ere tough s
and w hi skey peddl ers They w er e the foreru n
ners O f th e Free T raders O f th e presen t day ,
from M atta w a i n the ea st to th e shores of the
Pacic on th e w est They w ould s tart from
som e t o w n ba c k ea st w ith a k eg of th e strong
.

TH E F REE T RADER

19

alcoho l , a fe w cheap gil t w atches , som e fancy

ribbons , c olored sha w l s and i mi tation m eer
schau m pipes , a nd i f they fou nd thei r bundle s
w ould b ea r a li ttl e m ore w eight , th ey general ly

pu t i n a l ittle more w hiskey

They c ould a l

m ost al w ays dead hea d their w ay u p the l i ne

A ny pla ce w here they
on a constructi on trai n
sa w a fe w camps Of I ndians 0 r hal f breeds they
dropped Off w ith thei r stoc k i n trade
S uch I ndia ns a s they fou nd along th e li ne
w ere not hu nters but they c ou ld a ct as gui des
to th e Free Trader , and for a gaudy sh a w l or a
fe w bo ttles of w h iskey h e c ould generally enl ist
one Of them i n hi s servi ce
W i th a n Old ca noe
( furni shed by th e I ndian ) som e ou r , pork , t e a
a nd su ga r , they could push thei r w ay u p som e
r iver t o a favorable point kno w n by th e I ndian ,
a nd w ai t the canoes of tra pper s c oming do w n
o n their w ay t o one of the H udson B ay posts a t
the m outh O f t h e rivers
Th e route of the ra il w ay cutti ng th e l a rge
navi gable rivers a t righ t angles , a t som e parts
o f th e li ne , a s m u ch a s a c oupl e O f h u ndred m i les
inland of ou r posts gave th e Free T raders a
grea t advantage a s they coul d i ntercept th e I n
dians comi ng do w n from th e height of land
E ven to those I ndian s w h o ha d never tasted

liquor th e very w ord r e w ater had a cha rm

and an a llurement not to be resi sted Probably
.

20

CA NA D I AN W IL D S

the w h i skey t rader could keep th e I ndia ns

camped a t th e pla c e they rst m e t for t w o or
three days O nce h e had got them to take the
second gla ss h e cou ld nam e hi s ow n pri ce for
the vil e li qu or a nd pu t h i s ow n va luati on on
thei r furs
I have heard O f an I ndia n givi ng a n otter
ski n fo r a bottl e O f w hi skey Th e ski n w a s
w orth $ 1 5 a nd the w hiskey possibly thi rty cents
I kne w posit ively of a tra pper w ho gave a ne w
overcoa t w orth $ 6 f or a second gla ss of w h iskey
a nd w hen thi s took e ffec t on h i s bra i n , for a
thi rd glass h e gave a heavy Hudson Bay bla nket
tha t had cost hi m $ 8
T he trader seeing he h a d
nothing else w orth deprivi ng h im Of turned h im
out Of doors on a bitter February m orni ng
S inc e these men have overru n th e country
the Hudson B ay C om pany ha s spent hu ndred s
of thou sa nds of dol lars tryi ng to protect th e I n
dian s aga inst themselves Th e la w s of th e
D om ini on are stri ngent enou gh a s they are s e t
do w n i n th e blue book of the I ndia n D epart
m ent , bu t they are very seldom enforced
Th e
d i i c ul t y i s t o get su ffi ci ent evidenc e to s ecu re
j udgm ent or commi tta l of th e O e nd e r
T he H udson Bay C ompany seei ng the giving
o f l i quor to India ns abased a nd im poveri shed
h im , aboli shed i t by a l a w passed i n commi ttee
i n 1 8 53
They sa w tha t sel ling liqu or t o a n I n
.

T H E F R EE T R ADE R

21

di a n p u t h i m s o m u c h sh ort of ne c es s ary art i

cles to ma ke a proper hu nt , i t w eakened h i s
c onstitu tion , lai d th e seeds of di sea se , a nd fro m
a busi ness p oi nt O f vie w , w a s bad pol i cy
T o m ake thei r posts perfectly free fro m
l iqu or , th e very yearly a llo w a nc e t o thei r of
cers c lerks a nd serva nts w a s di scontinued a nd
ea ch employe w a s given the equ ivalent a s a c ash
bonu s at the en d of each year
I m u st s a y a
w hite m an or t w o am ongst a dru nken ba nd of
I ndians ra n considerable ri sk ; seve ra l have
pai d for the ir greed of gai n w i t h th eir li ves
A mongst th e I ndians ma ny l ives have been sa c
r i c e d thru th e liqu or cu rse , shooti ng , stabbi ng
a nd dro w ni ng being th e pri n c ipa l resu lts Of
thei r fata l debauches
I t i s a m ost piti fu l Si gh t for one to trave l
on th e C P U l i ne and see a t the stati ons along
th e i nterior th e ragged bodies a nd ema ciated
features of the I ndia ns w ho ha ng abou t the sta
tions These are som e of th e good hu nters Of
t w enty ve yea rs a go a nd their descendants

Ba ck i n th ose days a n I ndia n s advances w ere

only lim i ted by hi s demands on th e com pany
He took only w hat , u nder or d i nary l u ck , h e
c ou l d p ay for
T o day hardly one of them c an ge t tru s t f or
a
dolla r They pa ss their summer hanging
about t h e stations , th e w omen doi ng a l ittl e sh
.

22

CA NAD I AN W I L Ds

i ng to k ee p body and sou l together , and wh en

the c old of w i nter drives them to th e shelter O f
th e forests , th ey have nothi ng necessary to
prosecut e a h u nt even i f th ey ha d the strength
a nd energy to w ork I f one O f their children
or w ives i s l u cky enou gh to tra p a n a nimal , the
nobl e head Of the fami ly tra m ps off to th e nea r
e s t Free T ra d er a nd ba rters i t for toba cc o a nd
w h i skey
C om ing ba ck to th e Free Traders I m u st
menti on the exception to the genera l ru n of
them
I n di fferent part s of ou r territory or
ga ni z e d pa rties O f t w os or fours have tried t o op
pose th e com pany by tra di ng i n a stra igh t w ay,
that i s , givi ng th e I ndia n good strong cl othi ng
a nd good provisi ons i n exchan ge for hi s furs ,
bu t w i th very fe w exceptions th e l i fe Of these
smal l c ompa ni e s ha s been shortlived a nd I
only kno w O f one or t w o w h o made m oney by
thi s t ra di ng
T h e rock u pon w hi ch th ey i nvariably c om e
to gri ef i s giving credi t t o I ndian s A pla u sibl e
story i n the sprin g a s to w hy they ca nnot pay i s
general ly a ccepted by the Free Tra der and a se c
o nd outt given th e next a utum n w ith th e idea
o f enabl i ng them t o pay a t the close of a nother
hunt ing season
The Trader bei ng cal led u pon
to pay u p h i s suppl ies i n either M ontreal To
ronto or W i nn ip eg c auses a sudden stoppage to
.

T H E F R EE T RADE R

23

t hei r adventures and th e eld i s open for som e

other party to go a nd have , m ost l ikely, the same
disastrou s endi ng
N o , I say i t w i th u nbi ased mi nd that the
opening u p Of th e cou nt ry to outsiders w a s a
sorry day f or th e I ndia ns W h il e they w ere
deal t w i th exclusively by the Hudson B ay C O DI
pa ny, they h a d th e care a nd gu ida nc e of a par
ent , bu t th e progress Of settlement cannot be
st ayed a nd the end O f the I ndia n i s i nevitable ,
a nd , l ike th e bu ffalo , they w il l i n a very fe w
years be of the past
The G reat C om pa ny , w ho f or t w o a nd a quar
ter centuri e s ha s b ee n identied w ith the fur
trade, i s rapidly becomi n g a c om pany Of sh o p
keepers i n the ne w to w ns a nd vi lla ges of the
w est W i th th e di sappea ranc e Of th e I ndi an
w i ll go the last Of the class Of men w h o c au s ed

h i s u ndo i ng, Th e F r ee Tra d er

.

C H A P T E R II I

O U T FI TT I NG I N D I AN S

I n these days of k ee n oppositi on i t i s only a t

the rem ote i nla nd posts tha t w e ca n supply the
I ndia n s w ith system ; tha t i s , a s to a m ount of
debt and a xed tim e for sendi ng them to t he
hunting grou nds
Taki ng L ong L ake Post , north Of L ake S u
perior , a s a sampl e t o i l lustrate ou r manner i n
ri ggi ng out hu nters , I w i ll say w e appoi n t th e
1 5 t h Of S eptember a s th e rst d a v of suppl ies
O n tha t day , ea rly i n the morni ng the ch ief a nd
h i s w i fe a re cal led i nto th e store al l oth ers are
excluded ; thi s i s done f or t w o reason s r s t
th e I ndia n h im sel f does not like th e others to
kno w w hat they take, or th e a moun t of th ei r
debt ; a nd , secondly, w e nd that w hen others ,
w ho a re o n ly o nlookers are i n th e shop they
di stra ct the a ttenti on of th e I ndian , w h o i s ta k
i ng t h e outt a nd delay u s i n our w ork Th e
rst thi ng done a fter the door i s c losed a nd
l ocked i s to ta l k over t he pros a nd c ons w ith th e
I ndia n a s t o w here he i s going t o hu nt a nd h i s
prospects , a nd from th is a n am ou nt a gr ee d u po n
a s to the extent O f h i s ne w debt
.

24

OU T F I T T I N G I N DI A N s

25

T hi s s ett l ed , w e su ggest tha t, rst of all ,

necessary arti cles should be m arked do w n ; these
w e mention one by one and h e repl ies i f he has
su ch a lready, good enou gh for a nother year , or
i f w e a re to m ark do w n the arti cle T he rst
e s s e nt i on, O f course , i s ammu niti on ; so ma ny
pou nds of shot a nd po w der a nd so m any boxes
Of
percu ssion ca ps
N ext on th e l ist of hi s
w a nts w ou ld b e a n axe, or axes , a n i ce chi sel ,
steel traps , t w i ne for a s h net , a fe w sh h ooks ,
t w o or three m i ll s a w l es ( to sharpen h i s i ce
chisel and axes ) matches , a cou ple Of b ottles Of
pain ki ller and the sam e Of casto r oi l , and some
thread a nd n ee dles , ( glovers and round )
Then c omes th e i mport ed provi si ons TO an
ordina ry fami ly of a m an , h is w i fe and t w o or
three ch ildren, h e w i l l take 2 00 pou nds ou r ,
5 0 pou nds c om pound lard , 1 0 pou nds tea , th e
same Of tobac co 2 pound cart O f soda , 2 5 pounds
suga r , a nother perha ps 1 2 or 1 5 pou nds por k
Th i s latter mu st be pu re fat , m e atless and bone
less
W hen w e get thi s fa r i n h i s su ppl ies , a pause
i s called and h e a sks u s to add u p h o w mu c h
th e foregoing comes t o
S ay th is amou nts to
$ 1 00 and t h e am ou n t a greed u pon i s $ 2 00, h e
thu s u nderst a nds h e h as $ 1 00 yet to get , o r a s
much a s w ha tever th e bala nce may be T hen

h e begi n s ove r a gai n by tak i ng h eavy Hud s on s

.

26

CA NAD I AN W IL D S

Bay blankets ; these w e keep i n al l sizes from

one to c over a n i nfant up to w hat w e cal l four
poi nt thi s latter i s large enough for a double
bed a nd big enough for the ma n a nd w oman to
tuc k themselves com fortably i n
O f bla nkets
he may take t w o or th ree
T he next on th e l ist i s h eavy strou ds , blu e
for the w oma n and w h ite f or the man s leggi ngs ;
foll o w i ng thi s w i l l be a w arm cloth skirt f or
h is w i fe a nd enou gh E s t o ff e d u pays for hi s
pa nts a pa i r O f ready made mole ski n pants for
i c e w a lkin g du ri ng th e excessive cold of J anu
a ry and F ebruary , severa l yards O f E ngli sh
annel , c ol ors a ccordi ng to thei r taste ; w e keep
i n stock w hite, cri mson , yello w , s k y bl ue , navy,
a nd bri gh t green ; th is i s for u nder w ea r for the
fam ily t w o pairs Of heavy w ool socks for the
man a nd t w o pai rs long w ool f or hi s w i fe A
ha lf dozen red spott ed ha ndkerch iefs , these
are put t o several u sages su ch a s tying u p th e
hair , a s a mu f er abou t th e neck , tying u p thei r
l ittle belongi ngs a nd ma ny other u sa ges a part
from w ha t a w hit e ma n w ould apply a ha nd
kerchief
S everal yards also a re taken of a strong cot
ton for dres s u se, or outsi de skirts ; th is i s i m
port ed by u s direc t a nd goes u nder the nam e

Of S tripped Ya rm ou th D ruggets
I t i s very
durab l e a nd stands the rough w ear and t ear
,

O U T FI TT I N G

I N D I AN S

27

O f t h e bu sh
S hould h i s proposed h unting
grou nd s b e rem ot e from a deer c ou ntry he
w ou ld take dressed leather for mits a nd moc
c a s i ns, parch ment deerskin for h i s sno w shoes
S no w shoes, of course, each one o f hi s fam ily
mu st have, a nd supplyi ng hi mself w ith thi s
leather , makes qui te a hole i n the amou nt of hi s
deb t
Here a ga i n another addi tion of gures i s
made ; perhaps a fe w dollars yet remai n to c om
He a nd h i s w i fe ,
p l e t e th e agreed u pon s u m
on th e oor of the sh op , ha ndl e ea ch a rti cle
they have received and th i nk thei r hardest to
remember som e forgotten necessary arti cl e tha t
m ay h ave escaped thei r memory W e a lso ,
from long u s e to the I ndia n s requirements ,
c ome to thei r a ssi stanc e a nd sometimes su ggest
somethi ng quite overlooked , but very necessary
A further a ddi ng u p i s no w made ; they have
positively al l they require for the w inter
m onths , and yet a fe w dollars rema i n to make

u p the amou nt , a nd then th e I ndia n s w eakness

sh o w s i tself a nd h e says : O h "

w el l give suga r

and lard f or the rem ai nder

Then he and h i s
w i fe make a ll th e purcha ses up i nto one or t w o
blankets ; a n order on the provisi on store i s
given hi m a nd h is account i s m ade u p a nd giv
en h i m i n the fol l o w i ng m anner
.

'

28

C ANA D I AN W IL D S
P a pa
-

m os , dr to Hudson s Bay C O
.

L ong L ake Post

X X X X X X X X X X
x x x x x x x x x x
S ept

15,

1 8 95

T hey don t genera lly u ndersta nd gures , but

they a ll u ndersta nd that X stands for 1 0 A s
the I ndia n ki lls h i s furs he adds them t o h i s
pa c k i n s a i ts Often a t th e sam e tim e scori ng
ou t one Of the crosses on hi s debt sl ip A fter
a ll h a s been c ancel led h e then hu nt s a fe w m ore
ski ns t o c over a ny m isva luati on on h i s part or
to have somethi n g extra to barter for ne r y
A fter th e chief l eaves th e sh op a nother ma n
a nd w i fe a re cal led i n a ccordi ng to thei r stand
i ng i n th e band , and thu s i t goes on ti l l w e rea ch
the last one S i x t o eigh t fam ilies a re abou t
a l l w e ca n get thru i n a da y, a s there i s s o
m u ch tim e w a sted i n talk
I f w e begi n on th e M ond a v , w e genera lly s ee
the gra nd departure take pla ce on th e foll o w
i ng S atu rday He only i mport the best of ev
e r yt h i ng a nd the I ndia n buyi ng from ou r stores
i s a ssured of th e purest provisions a nd th e
strongest a nd m ost d urabl e goo d s T hi s i s no
.

O U T FI TT I NG I N D I AN S

29

boast for w here w e have no oppositi on th e I n

dians a nd ou r i nterests are identi c al , a nd th e

compa ny s agent at such p osts ha s the I ndians

w elfare a t heart
O n th e fronti er w e are obl iged by other buy
er s a nd c ircumstances over w hi ch w e have no
c ontro l to take common ou t of season ski ns
A s the Indian s nd sal e for ski ns of a ny ki nd ,
they hu n t a c tua lly ten m onths ou t of t h e
t w elve A t ou r i nteri or posts , w here ou r w ord
i s la w , w e a p poi nt th e 2 5 t h of O ctober t o b egi n
hunti ng a nd t h e 2 5 t h of M ay to ni sh ; exc ept
for bears , a nd these they are a llo w ed to hu nt
u p to th e 1 0th of June W hat a s a d sight i t i s
for a n o f cer com i ng from som e i nteri or distri ct
to a frontier post , w here h e left w ell clothed
contented I ndia ns to nd those s w i ndled by the
u npri nci pled traders , i n ra gs , drunken a nd th e
seeds O f c onsum p ti on marked i n their fa c e s

C H A PT E R I V
.

O F TH E N O R TH

TB A C K ERS

I V h at

appea rs ma rvelou s and positiv ely u n

ca nny to a to w n person i s simple t o a bushma n
Ye ars of c ont i nu ou s Ob serva t i on d eve lo ps
the bu mp Of l oca li ty , eve ry obj ec t ha s a pla ce
a nd meani ng t o a tr a pper ; hi s eye i s ever on the
a ler t , a nd w hat h i s eye see s i s photographed on
t h e brai n a nd rema ins there f or fu ture re fer
e nce a t a ny tim e he may requ ire i t
T his bum p of loca li ty i s h i gh l v develope d i n
al l India ns a nd w h ites w h o have passed m any
years i n the bu sh
I V i t h ou t t he fa c ul ty O f r e
me mb e r i ng Obj ec t s a bush ma n c ould not nd hi s
w ay th rough th e dense fore sts
Providi ng the t ra pper ha s onc e passed from
he i s pretty su re t o nd
one pla c e to a nother
hi s w ay th rough the sec ond time, even i f yea rs
shou ld have elapse d bet w ee n the t ri ps E ve r y
Obj ec t from start to nish i s a n i ndex nger
poi nt ing ou t the right pa t h A slopi ng pa th a
lea ni ng tree a m oss covered rock a sli gh t ele
vation i n land a cut i n the h i lls the w ater i n a
c ree k, a n O d d l ook i ng stone , a bla sted t re e
.

30

TRA C K ERs

O F TH E N O R TH

31

a ll h el p a s guides a s the observa n t trapper

m a kes h i s w ay th r ough a pathless forest
O f course , thi s tax on the m emory i s not
requ ired of trappers abou t a settl ed part of th e
c ou ntry, bu t I a m te l li ng of w ha t i s absolutely
necessary f or the safety of one s l ife i n the far
a w a y w i lds O f th e N orth , w h ere to lose one s
s e lf m igh t possibly mea n de ath
I follo w ed an I ndi an guide on ce over a t ra il
of 2 8 0 mi les, w here on w e sno w sh oed over m ou n
tai ns , through dense bush , d o w n rivers a nd over
lake s T o test my po w ers of a rete nt ive mem
or y, th e follo w i ng w i nter , w hen di spatches aga in
had t o be taken t o headquarters , I aske d the
Indian to allo w m e t o a c t as guid e, he foll o w i ng
O n t hat long j ourney of ten or t w elve days
al w ays w a lki ng and conti nua l ly th inking ou t
t h e r oa d , I w a s i n doubt only once
W e w ere
sta nding on the i ce ; a tongue of la nd s tood
ou t to w a r d u s ;
The por t
a bay on e ithe r side
age leavi ng the lake w a s a t th e bottom of one
of these b ays , bu t w hi ch "
Th e I ndian had halted
a lmos t on th e tai ls of my sno w shoes , a nd en
j oyed my h esitati on , bu t sai d no thi ng To be
a ssu red of no mi stak e I had t o pa ss over th e

w hol e of last w i nter s tri p i n my m ind s eye u p

t o the poi nt on w hi ch w e stood
O nce t h e r e
t r os p e c t caugh t u p w ith u s th ere w a s no furth er
troub le O ur rou t e w a s d o w n th e le ft hand bay
.

CA NAD I AN W IL D S

32

hen th e India n sa w me start i n that d i r ec

Y e s , yes , you
tion h e sa i d : A a k e p u k a ta n
a re
T he m ost di fcul t proposition to ta ckle i s a
b l ack spru c e s w a mp The t rees a re m ostly of a
uni form size a nd h e ight , the surfa c e of th e sno w
i s perfectly level , a nd a t t imes ou r rou te l ies
mi les t hrough such a cou ntry , a nd sh ould there
be a du ll leade n sky or a gentl e sno w fal l i ng ,
there i s nothing f or th e guide t o depe nd on bu t
hi s abi lity t o w a lk stra igh t
I t ha s been w ritten time a nd a gai n tha t th e
t endency w hen t here are no la nd ma rks i s t o
w a lk i n a ci rcle
By consta nt pract i c e th ose w h o are brou gh t
u p i n th e w i lds a cqu ire th e abi lity t o w a lk i n a
stra igh t l i ne
They begi n by beating a tra i l
from poi nt t o poi nt on som e l ong st retch Of i ce ,
a nd i n the bu sh , w h ere a ny tree or obstru ction
bars t h e w a v they make up for a ny devia t i on
from th e stra i gh t cou rse b y a give a nd take pro
c ess s o tha t th e gene ra l li ne of ma rch i s st raigh t
D uring forty years i n th e c ountry, I never
k ne w a n India n or w hite bu shman t o carry a
c om pa ss
A par t from a black spru c e s w am p ,
i t w ould be no u se w ha tever
I n goi ng from one pla ce t o a nother , the c on
t ou r of the cou ntry ha s to b e consi dered a nd

very frequent ly the l ongest w ay rou nd i s the

'

O F T HE N O R TH

TRA C K ERs

33

shortest w ay h om e
A ridge of m o unta ins
might lay bet w een th e pla c e of starti ng a nd the
obj ec t ive p oi nt , a nd by maki ng a detour ro und
the spu r of same , one w oul d ea sier reac h h i s
desti nation rather tha n t o c limb u p one sid e
a nd do w n th e other
O n the rst day a fter my arriva l i n L ondo n
( the only ti m e I ever crossed the w ater ) a gen
t l e m a n took m e ou t to s e e som e o f th e sights
He l ived on the S urrey si de, a nd t ook m e direct ,
or , I should s a y crooked i nto the c ity across the
Thames
A fter w alki ng m e arou nd several
blocks and z igzaggi ng c onsiderab ly about h e

N ow , he
ca m e t o a sudde n stop a t a c orne r

sa id , Hu nter suppose I w a s t o disa ppea r al l

a t once , do you thi nk you could nd you r w ay
bac k to E lm T ree L odge " I have al w a ys h eard

that you bushmen ca n nd you r w ay a ny w he re

N o w , a lthough there w a s no n ecessity f or i t ,
my years Of sch ooli ng had cau sed m e to Obse rve
every c onspicuo u s obj ect , a nd every tu rn w e
had m ade si nce leavi ng h i s residenc e ; a nd there
fore I repl ied , w i th th e u tm ost c onde nce,

W hy, to return to you r h ouse from here i s a s

simp l e a s falli ng O ff a l og
L o oki ng a t m e w ith th e greates t i ncredu li ty

h e sa id , I f you ca n nd you r w ay back u nai ded

I w i l l pay for the bes t h at i n L ondon

W ell , my d ear si r , my n umber i s 7 , and I

.

CANAD I AN W IL D S

34

a n t i t soft fe l t a nd da rk b ot tl e gree n
No w
follo w m e , a nd you can get th e ha t i n the morn

i ng
W ithou t goi ng i nt o detai l s su fce i t to s ay,
I condu cted hi m t o h i s ow n door a nd a m ore
perplexed m a n w a s no t i n L ondon ; so much
s o, h e had t o ca l l i n hi s w i fe , h i s m other i n la w
a nd h is next door n ei ghbor t o t el l them of my
a chievemen t
A t la st I had to cut sh ort hi s ow of w ords
by sayi ng my gu idi ng h im h ome w a s a most
simple thi ng It w a s m erely th e resu lt of oh
servi ng a s I w ent a long a nd r unni ng th e obj ec t s
ba ck w ard a s I came t o the h ou se

I f I w a s t o t el l you a s a fact , my dear s i r ,

t ha t a bu shma n sees th e tra ck of som e w i ld a ni
m al i n th e sno w , h e ca n tel l you not only the
na m e Of the a nima l , but i f i t w a s ma l e or femal e ,
w ithi n a n hou r of th e tim e the t racks w ere made
i f i t w a s ca lm or blo w i ng a nd the di recti on of
th e w i nd a t tha t time and m a nv other m inor
t hi ngs you w ould think thi s w onde rful
Yet ,
a s w onderful a s thi s may a ppea r a nd ha rdly t o
be credited , a n Indi a n boy of te n or t w elve ca n
rea d thi s page from nature a s easy a s one of us

ca n read a page of pri nt

w

l
c

he n the c old n i ghts of th e latter end Of

Octob er h a d s et i n and th e leaves w ere cri s p
'

T RAC K E R S O F

TH E

N O R TH

35

u nderfoot , I decided t o g o and s e t u p a li ne Of

marten traps through a stretch of green ti mber,
bet w een t w o large lakes T h e distanc e w a s c on
s i d e r ed abou t ei gh t m i les
I took a n India n youth a s c ompa ni on , f or i t
i s lonely w ork setti ng trap i n the deep gloom
O ur b lankets , axes , t w o
o f th e forest alon e
days provi sions , a square of co tton tha t w e ca ll
a canopy, to kee p off t h e w i nd , and my ri e ,
m ade u p ou r ne cessary equipment , w i th a fe w
baits t o s t art w ork u pon
D uring th e summe r I had got a n I ndia n t o
leave a n Old ca noe on the shore Of the bi g lake
w here w e expe c ted to com e out ; this w ou ld save
o ur c om ing back on ou r t r a cks , a s w e cou ld r e
turn by th e ca noe rou t e , w hi ch w as considerably
longer , bu t m u ch ea sier
W e w or ked a w ay al l th e day w e l eft th e post ,
a nd w hen campi ng tim e cam e w e fou nd a pretty
sh e l t ered pla ce, th e back of a l arge, a t si ded
bou lder Ten fee t i n front of thi s lay a large
fallen pi ne tree , agai nst w hi ch w e bui l t ou r re
T hen w e cu t a l ot of pitch pi n e dry w ood i n
short l e n gt h s a nd spli t , rea dy to replenish th e
re from tim e to t im e duri ng th e a utum n ni ght
I t i s ch eerfu l w he n one w akes du ri ng the
n ight to have a brigh t blaze i n a fe w m oments
T he b oy had w orked pretty ha rd a l l day , and ,
after eati ng t o r e ple ti on , rolled him se lf i n h i s
.

CA NAD I AN W IL D S

36

bla nke t a nd fel l asleep

I V i t h m e i t w a s di f
f e r e nt
I lay back hal f rec li ning hal f sitti ng
enj oyi ng the congenia l h ea t a nd w ondering w hat
l uck w e w ou ld have from th e t ra ps w h e n w e
made ou r rst vi si t
M y ri e l ay a longside of
m e on th e balsam bru sh , w ith the m uzzl e poi nt
i ng to w a rd th e re, a nd , u nconsciou sly my hand
graspe d t h e st ock a nd my fore nger t oyed w ith
the trigger I m e ntion a l l th ese deta ils t o sh o w
ho w easy w ha t fol lo w ed cam e t o pa ss
T he spar ks had a l l gone ou t of t h e w ood a nd
o nly a brigh t glo w remai ned enough , h o w ever ,
t o ligh t up th e tru nk of the pi ne l og a nd a c on
Al l
s i d e r a b l e dista nc e ea ch side o f th e replac e
a t once I h ea rd t h e c ru shi ng of dri ed leaves and
th e breaking of t w i gs , a t som e li t tle distanc e O H
i n t he fores t T he sou nds w ere evide nt ly made
by some large a nima l , a nd I soon rea li zed i t w a s
com ing slo w ly w ith steady steps t ow ard the
camp
M y rst thought w a s t o chuck on som e fresh
fuel t o scare w hateve r i t w a s a w ay ; but th e
nex t moment I decid ed t o k ee p quiet a nd a w a i t
developments
W ith my thu mb I dre w ba ck the hamm er of
the rie and w ai t ed I kept my eyes stead fast
in the di rec ti on w henc e th e sou nds came , a nd i n
a m i nute ( i t appeared a n h our t o me ) I s a w t he
h ead a nd forequart ers of a n imm e nse blac k
~

T RAC K E R S

OF

T HE N O R TH

bea r, w hi ch stood gazing do w n on t h e camp

from beh ind the fallen tre e
T o rai se my ri e a nd sigh t it point bla nk a t
B ru i n s chest w as the w ork of a n i nstant C rash
w ent the bullet, tru e to the m ark , a nd th e bea r
fel l back w a rd , maki ng th e w oods echo w i th i t s
d eath roa rs
Th e b oy sprang to hi s fee t i n a s tu pi d , b e
w i ldered w ay, askin g w hat w a s th e m atter
I
di d not take time to a ns w er hi m , bei ng occu pied
i n getti ng a fresh shell i nto t h e barrel for one
never kno w s w he n a b ea r i s re ally dea d The
safest w ay i s t o have you r gu n ready a nd sta nd
o ff a t a r e a s onb l e di stance a nd w ai t u nti l he
ki cks h imsel f sti ff
I n th i s case , h o w eve r , i t
w a s soon over w i th its bearshi p , f or the bul let
had gon e right through th e hear t
Th e j oy of th e India n boy kne w n o bou nds
wh en h e s a w t he result of t h e sh ot, f or he sa w
m any gorges a hea d of h im
I had a l w ays bee n l ed to bel ieve that smoke ,
or the blaz e from a cam p r e , w ou ld keep a w ay
t h e denizen s of t he C a ndia n forests , a nd w hen
I told th i s bear adventu re to O l d hu nters they
si mply listened a nd gave a poli te smi le
I n thi s instanc e i t m u st have be e n a case of
i nordi nate c uriosi ty , a ccou nt ed for i n a manner
f ro m the fa c t of i ts bei ng a fema le bear
.

C H A PT E R V

P R O V ISI O N S F O R TH E W I LDERN E SS

A ll over the Hudson s B a v terri tory, i n m a k

i ng tri ps be i t i n w i nter or summer there i s a
scale o f provi sions u pon w h ich a sa fe result ca n
F o r ea c h person o f th e pa rty , per
be a ssured
diem , th e fol lo w in g i s all o w ed , a nd that i s m u l
t i p l i e d by the su pposed number of days tha t the
tri p i s li kely to last
M oreover , fo r ea ch seven
days ca lcul ated on, a n extra full day s ra tion
i s thro w n i n, th i s i s for sa fety i n case of some
u nlooked for a c ci dent
P rovi si ons per man , per day : 2 pou nds of
ou r ( or
pounds o f sea bi scu i ts ) , 1 po und
o f fat mess pork , 2 ou nces of su ga r ,
ou nce of
tea , 2 Ou nces of pea s ( or sam e of barley ) ,
ou nc e of carbonate of soda , a nd Ou nce O f sal t
Th e pea s or ba rley a re i ntended t o be cooked
du rin g the ni gh t s encampment w ith a ny gam e
th e route m a v have produced throu gh the day
i th su ch rati ons I have traveled w ith larg e
a nd smal l parties sometimes w ith I ndians only ,
a nd a t Others w ith I ndia n a nd C a nadia n v oya g
ers m ixed ; have penetrated the w i ldest parts of
,

38

P R OVISI ON S

F O R THE

W I L D ERNE S S

39

provi nces , i n ca noes a nd on sno w sh oes , a nd

w as never Short a m eal
I adm it that w i th th e
w a steful a nd improviden t chara cter of the I n
d i ans , th e leader of th e party mu st u se du e care
a nd w atchfulness over h i s out t a nd se e i t i s
not w rongly u sed
Take, f or i nstance , the provi si ons for a party
o f seven m en for fteen days , the w eight a g
gr eg a t es 3 4 7 pou nds , a nd i s of formi dable bulk ;
and w hen t h e necessa ry campi ng para phernalia ,
tents , blankets , kettles a nd fryi ng pans , ar e p i l e d
o n the bea ch a longside th e eatables , th e sigh t
i s someth i n g a ppal li ng a nd th e cre w i s a pt t o
th ink w ha t a n u nnecessa ry qu a ntity O f provi s
ions ; b u t before th e j ou rney i s over w e hea r
nothi ng abou t there being t oo mu ch grub L ong
hours , ha rd w ork a nd the keen , bra ci ng atmos
p h er e gives th e men appeti tes tha t fai rly as
tonish even th em selves
I f a party i s to return on th e outgoi n g trail ,
and a fter bei n g o ff a fe w days nds i t i s u sing
w ithi n the sca le of provi sions , i t i s very ea sy to
c a c h e a porti on for th e h om e j ourney w ith a

certai nty of ndi ng i t after ma ny days , that

i s , if properly secured
I f i n th e depth o f w i n
ter a nd there i s a l ikel i hood O f w olves or w ol
veri nes c omi n g tha t w ay a good a nd safe w ay
i s t o cu t a hole i n th e i ce some di stanc e from
th e shore on some big lake , cutti ng alm os t
tw o

40

C A NAD I AN

W ILDS

through to th e w ater I n thi s trench put w h at

i s require d to be left behi nd ll ing up w i th th e
chopped i ce , tram p thi s w el l do w n then pou r
severa l kettles of w at er on top Thi s free zes a t
once, makin g i t a s di fcul t t o gna w or scratch
i nto a s w ould b e th e Side of a n i ronclad
I
have c ome on such a c ac h e a fter a n absen c e O f
three w eeks to nd the droppi ngs of w olves a nd
foxes abou t , b u t th e c ontents u ntou ched
O ne
c ould not hel p smi lin g on seein g thes e si gns ,
i magi ning th e profound thinki ng th e a nima ls
mu st have exerted i n tryi ng to gure ou t a plan
to rea ch th e tooth some stu ff u nder th a t har d ,
glaz ed surfa c e
A t other sea sons of t h e year a good c a c h e
i s made by cut t i ng a nd peel ing a l ong l ive ta m
ara c pol e Pla c e th is bala nced over a stron g
c ru tch , t ie w ha t i s t o be left secu re to t h e small
end over w h ich pla c e a b irch bark c overi ng t o
keep O ff th e r a i n ( or fa i l ing t h e proper pla ce
or sea son for getti ng ba rk a very good p r ot e c
ti on i s made w i th a tha tch of bal sa m bough s
pla ced s y mmetri ca l ly a s shingles ) a nd t y i ng a l l
i n pla ce ti p u p th e sma ll end w ei ghti ng do w n
the but t w ith heavy l ogs or stones ; a nd possess
you r m i nd i n pea c e
Tw o of th e best au xil iaries to a Sh ort su pply
of provisions tha t a party ca n ta ke on a ny tri p
i n the w i lds of O ntari o or Q uebe c , are gi l l ne t
.

'

P R O V ISI O N S F O R

T HE

W I LDE R N E SS

41

a nd snari n g w i re A s food produ cers I place

these before a gu n
M ost o f th e i nterior lake s
contai n sh o f som e sort a nd a successfu l haul
one nigh t ca n be smoke dried to la st several
days w i th ou t spoili ng even i n h ot w ea ther S O
long a s th ey a re done u p i n a secure manner i n
birch bark to kee p ou t blue ies , th e greatest
da nger o f thei r goi ng bad i s prevent ed
A nother very good w a y to preserve a nd u ti l
i ze sh i s t o scorch a smal l p ortion O f our
( abou t one third th e qua nti ty ) a nd m ix w i th
pou nde d u p smoke dri ed sh , previ ou sly
clea ned of b ones
Th i s m akes a l igh t a nd s u s
ta ini ng p emm i can easily w armed u p i n a fry
i ng pa n a nd i f a l ittl e fat ca n be added i n th e
w a rm i ng process , one can w ork on i t a s w el l a s
o n a m eat diet
A dm itti ng that there are years o f plenty
a nd years of sca rci ty w i th rabbits , there m ust
be a dea rth i ndeed w hen one or t w o ca nnot be

snared i n som e creek bottom n ear th e ni ght s

cam p A gu n on the oth er ha nd may be only
a n i ncumbra nce on a long j ourney A chan c e
shot may w el l repay the person carrying it bu t
very frequently a gu n i s quite u seless
W e crossed the cou ntry som e years a go b e
t w een S t M au ri ce a nd L ake S t Joh n I t w a s
a t th e very best t ime of th e year to see gam e ,
being i n th e m onth of M ay, w hen every l iving
,

42

CANAD I AN W I L D S

th ing i s fu ll of l i fe and m ovi ng about T h e t r i p

took u s seven days goi ng ; comi ng bac k by a n
other route w e ga i ned one day O n th e w h ole
o f that j ourney through bu sh , lakes a nd rivers
w e only red t w o cartridges , w herea s our smal l
gill net gave u s splendid sh each c am ping
pla ce
A nother tri p I rem ember , th i s tim e i n th e
w i nter , ac com panying th e men w h o carried th e
w i nter despatches bet w ee n Pi c R iver an d M i ch
i p e c ot e n, a dista nc e o f 1 2 0 m i les ea ch w ay
I
w a s preva i led u pon t o take a ri e, a s th e route
w ent over a very h igh m ounta i n w here deer
( caribou ) w ere seen every year by the men
W ell , I suppose they told the truth ; bu t I car
ried that gu n 2 4 0 m iles w ithout ri ng a Sh ot
N o , a s a possible help to stave o starva tion ,
c ommend m e t o a net a nd snare i n preferenc e
to a gun

In my younger days i n th e Hudson s B ay

C om pa ny s servi ce I put i n m any years i n w hat
w e call th e M oose Belt i n Q uebec tha t i s ,
from the S t M a u ri ce R iver on the ea st t o L ake
N i pi ssi ng on the w est from th e K e p e w a on th e
south to near th e h eight of land on th e n orth
A ll i nside these boundaries w a s teem ing w i th
m oose T hey w ere kill ed i n th e m ost w a nton
manner by A lgonqui n I ndians a nd the lumber
.

P RO V ISI O N S

FOR T H E

W I L DER N E SS

43

men , i n ma ny i nsta nces only t h e h ide being

taken , a nd the m ea t left O ur o w n I ndians ,
w ho l ived yea r i n a nd year ou t i n th e c ou ntry ,
never w asted a parti cle of mea t I f they ki lled
more than the fam ily could consum e duri ng th e
w i nte r m onth s before the w arm days of A pri l
i t w a s carefully c ollect ed , c ut i n stri ps
s et i n
a nd smoke dri ed for summer u se
Wh ile a t
tending to th e curi n g of th e meat , th e th ri fty
squa w dressed the h ides
T hese w ere cu t u p
a nd made i nto m occa sins a nd traded a t ou r
store duri ng their stay about th e post i n s u m
mer A n ordinary Sized hide w ou l d cut u p i nto
abou t t w enty t w o pa irs O f sh oes ( w ith out tops )
a nd c omma nded
per pa ir , w e selli ng them
for th e same pri ce i n ca sh t o l umber concerns ,
m aking ou r prot O n th e goods ba rtered
The you ng I ndia n the yea r prior to getti ng
ma rried a l w ays exert ed hi mself t o Sh o w h o w
many m oose he c ou ld kil l
T hi s w a s thei r
boast a nd pride to Sho w they w ere good p r o
v i d e r s o f food
T he I ndia n natu re to kil l w ould
ma nifes t itsel f a t thi s t ime a nd the nu mbers
ki lled by som e of the you ng sl ips i s hardly to
b e credited
O lder m en w ith fa m i lies never
kil led for th e sake of kil li ng
I k ne w a young I ndia n personal ly w hose
mother had been left a w ido w w ith a large fa m
.

44

CANAD I A N W I LD S

i ly H e w a s t h e el des t of th e ch ildren , and th a t

summer bega n to stru t abou t th e post i n ne
cl othes a nd m ix w i th the men of the trib e Thi s
i s one of the trai ts tha t sh o w s i tself before ma t
r i mony i s contemplated
Th e ki lli ng o f m any
m oose w a s sure to fol lo w th ese si gns Tha t
you ng boy a ctua lly ki lled to hi s o w n gu n n i nety
moose A veragi ng the bu tchered meat of ea ch
m oose a t th e l ow esti mate o f 6 00 pounds , w e
have a gross w ei ght of
pou nds of good ,
w holesome food
Thi s secti on of cou ntry w a s i n those days , I
venture to s ay, the richest i n gam e on the c on
t i ne nt o f A meri ca
E very li ttle cree k or l ake
had i ts beaver l odge and even on the m ai n
rou tes of travel one w ould see beaver s w imm ing

t w o or three times i n th e course of a day s

paddle
A t th e posts w e l ived on sh , gam e and pota
toes O ur a l lo w a nc e of ou r w a s onl v 1 00
pou nds for each m an for the t w elve m ont h s ,
a nd w e u sed to spi n thi s ou t by eati n g only a
pa ncake or s o on S undays and a puddi ng on
C hristmas

h
T e ch oic e bi ts of the m oose
the tongue
and m uzzle the I ndians brough t u s i n q uan

titi es , the trade pri ce of each bei ng hal f a made

beaver , equa l to a supposed sum of fty cents

.

P R O V ISI O N S F O R T H E W I LDERN E SS

45

T h i s w a s pa id i n goods , a nd w oul d be further

redu c ed by 1 00 per c ent ou r advan ce for trans
p ort a nd prot
O ne canno t but l ook back w i th regret to
those days a nd t hi n k s u c h s lau ghter w a s m ur
der
.

C H A PT E R V I

F O R T S AN D PO S T S

T he H udson s B ay C om pany s estab l i s hm ent s

c ompri sed t w o Fac tori e s , severa l Forts a nd nu
m e r ou s posts , ou t posts a nd smaller ones cal led

ying posts
I a m w riti ng of th e days gone
by for no w si nce t he c ou ntry i s opened u p ,
forts , a s th ey w e re then kno w n , no l onger exist
Th e s o called fa ctories w ere not pla ces i n w hi ch
fabri c s or oth e r goods w e re ma nu factu red but
more righ t ly Speaking grea t depots w h ere an

ent ire yea r s suppl ies w e re stored i n a dva nc e i n

ca se of a misha p to either of the Sh i ps
T he c ou ntry w as subdivided i nto th e N ort h
ern D epartmen t a nd S out hern D epartment
York Fa ctory su pplying th e re qu i rement s Of
the form er a nd M oose Fa ctory th e latter A t
these places the summ e r months w a s thei r bu sy
sea son , for not only did they receive the n ext
yea r s outt from the sh ips bu t num e rou s bri
gades of boa t s and canoes w ere conti nua lly l oa d
i ng a nd departing f or the far a w ay i nla nd posts
and fort s
W i t h th e e x c eption of one or t w o whic h w er e

46

F O R T S AN D PO S T S

47

bu il t of stone , th e fort s a nd posts w ere con

structed of heavy he w n logs w h ich , be ing placed
a t t o at , w ere bolte d w ith strong t reenai ls
every second o r thi rd tier u nti l th e desired
heigh t of w a l l w a s atta in ed Th e w i ndo w s w ere
mere n arro w sl its i n the w al ls a nd as fe w a s
po ssible on th e grou nd oor
A l l the bu ildings w ere made i n th e sam e
strong w ay and c onsi sted i n a n ordi na ry fort ,
o f th e maste r s h ous e ( or chi e f Ofc er s d w ell
ing ) ; thi s w a s the most pretenti ou s bu i lding
i n th e lot , for no t only did th e fa ctor a nd h i s
fami ly occu py i t but i t al so l odge d the clerks
a nd o ther petty O fi c i a l s , be sides furnish i ng a
spac iou s mess or di ni ng r oo m and a gu ard room
i n w h ich th e o f cers lounged a nd smoked a nd
th e sma l l a rms w ere sta c ke d ready for u se
W ithi n t h e enclosure w ere the fol lo w i ng
o the r bui ldi ngs , sim ila r i n constru ction t o the
grea t house A store h ou se i n w hi ch w a s kept
the bul k of the ou tt a nd th e fu rs gath ered A
trade shop i n w hich th e I ndia ns ba rtere d thei r
pel tries A men s h ouse or serva nts qu a rters
A w ork Shop i n w hich a l l ne cessa ry repai rs w ere
made on guns , harness , etc , a nd a stabl e to
house the stock a t night They pa stu red , u nd e I
guard , ou tsid e the w all s during th e day
These bui ldi ngs w ere genera lly i n th e form
of a hol l o w s q ua re a nd the w hol e s urr ou nded
.

48

CA NAD I AN W IL D S

by a picket st ockade te n or t w elve feet h igh

Thi s protec t ion w a s made from t rees of abou t
seven i nches i n diameter , brough t to a Sha rp
point a t the u pper e nd a nd pla nte d deep i n the
ground , tou chi ng one anoth e r Here a nd there ,
i nside , th e stockade w a s reinforc ed by strong
braces , w h ich added to i t s solidi t y, sh ou ld a
combined force of men be brough t agai nst it
A t ea ch of th e fou r c orners o f t h e squ are
s trong bl ock to w er w a s erected w i th e m
a
bra sure s cu t th erei n for sh ooti ng from I n som e
O f the la rger fort s sma l l cannon w ere pla ced
th a t commanded each side of th e squa re a nd
a l l a rou nd th e i nside of th e pi ckets ra n a raised
platform on w hi ch men sta nding w ould be
brea s t h igh t o the to p of th e pro tecti on Th i s
gave them a grea t advan tage i n sh ooti ng on
c oming enem ie s or repelli ng s eal e r s
S uch pla c e s w ere only i n th e pra iri e country
w he re th e w a rl ike a nd turbu len t B la ck Feet ,
B loods , P e ga ns a nd S i oux roamed
A mongst
the bu sh or s h eating tribe s less seve re p r e c a u
ti on w a s requi red a ltho th e m ost of them w ere
enclosed by th e pi cket st ockad e and su ppli ed
l ibera l ly w i th m usket s cut la sses and si de arm s
W hi le th e I n d i an s w ere payi ng th ei r sem i
an nu a l trading vi si t s t h e d w e llers O f th e forts
w ere c onned pretty w el l indoors a nd th e stock
h obb l ed c lose t o th e stockades , for i t w a s n ot
.

F O R T S A ND PO S T S

49

a l w ay s safe f or a sma ll party t o be cau ght far

aeld G r ea t ma s s i ve , barred ga t e s ope ned i nto
the fort , i n th e leaves of one side a w i cke t p laced
f or th e ent rance a nd departure of men afoot ,
a nd i t w a s thru thi s w icket an I ndi an and hi s
w i fe w ere adm it ted w ith th ei r furs to trade
W hen they w ere ni shed barte ring a nd de
parted , t w o other s w ere al lo w ed i n and s o i t
w en t on
Th e trade shop w a s so constru c te d t ha t the
I ndia n a nd hi s w i fe di d th e i r barter a t the end
of a long narro w passage, a t t h e end of w h i ch a
square hole w a s cut i n th e l ogs , beh i nd wh i ch
the trade r stood w i th a n assistan t t o fet c h the
g oods required by th e purch aser T h e di splay
o f goods on th e shelves w a s i nvi sible t o th e I n
dia n , bu t i t w a s not necessary h e shoul d s e e
th em i nasmu ch a s there bei ng n o great varie ty,
everyt hi ng b ei ng sta p le a nd the sam e from yea r
t o year , ma nu factured of the best materia l ex
pressly for th e C ompany
The tra de sh o p w as al w ays bui l t near the
gate a nd the gua rd a t th e w i cke t , a fte r a d
m i t ti ng the w ou ld b e purchaser of su pplies ,
locked a nd barred th e gate and condu cted them
t o th e ent ranc e of the passa ge w ay a long w h i ch
a l l th ey had t o do w a s to tr a ve l u nti l t h e y
reached th e tra d er a t t h e end
'

CANAD I AN

50

W I LD S

SO

t h a t th e I ndia n mi gh t kno w the a mou nt

O f h i s m eans o f trade t h e furs w ere taken i n
rst a nd va lued at a certa i n w e ll kn o w n curren
c y o f tha t pa rt icular part of th e c ou ntry i n

w hi ch he resided , i e ,
M ade Beaver or s o

many M a rtens
I n som e pla ces h e w a s give n
the gross amount i n c e rtai n q uill s a nd about
the B ay i n brass t okens O f thi s latter coinage
the C om pa ny ha d quarters ha lve s a nd w hole
M B
O nce th i s w a s m u tu
( M ade B eaver )
ally adj usted , t rade commenced
T he Indian
w ou ld ca l l for a gun and pay s o ma ny M ade
Beaver , a sca lp kni fe , po w der Shot a nd S O on,
payi ng for ea ch art i c le as he received i t i n either
qui lls or to k e ns

T he outposts or yi ng posts w ere more i n

th e bush cou ntry , w here the I ndians a s a rule ,
l ived peaceably w ith one a nother and th e w hi tes
Th e sma ller of these t radin g plac e s w e re only
k ept Open duri ng the w i nter m onth s and w ere
gene ra lly bui lt f or th e a ccommodat i on of the
I ndia n s a nd supplied w ith absolute nec e ssit i es
only T hi s enable d th e hu nter t o keep c loser t o
hi s w ork a nd not travel long di sta nces , w hen
furs w ere pri me, for some posi tive re qui r e ment
su ch a s th e replaci ng of a broke n gu n
Th e
keepers of these sma l l post s w ere i n m ost ca s e s
guides or deservi ng and trust w orthy servants
O f long standi ng i n th e e mpl oy
W i th thei r
-

F O R T S AND PO S T S

51

fam ilies a nd a ma n or t w o th ey departed from

the fort s i n S eptemb e r , taki ng th e supply of
trading stu ff w i t h the m
Th ese sm al l parties w ere sel f s u s ta i ni ng , be
i ng given one day s provi si ons t o ta ke them
a w ay from the fort A fter th a t u nti l th e next
M ay they l i v ed on sh a nd t he sm al l game of
t h ecou ntry, w ith probably a n od d w ood caribou
T he men of the party tra pped furs w h i le hu nt
i ng gam e f or the i r s u b s t e na nc e Th e proceeds
f or the persona l w i nter t r a ppi ng of each serv
a nt w a s a llo w ed h im a s a bonu s ove r a nd abov e
hi s w ages C ash w a s no t given , bu t they h a d
perm ission t o barter th e ski ns for w ha t t hey
chose ou t o f th e trade sho p and th ey w en t
pri ncipally i n toba cc o f or the me n a nd ner y
for the w omen
W here sh a nd rabb i t s i n thei r season w a s
the ma instay w ith the se pe ople , pr odigiou s num
bers w ere re qu ired a nd consum e d t o sust ai n
life T h irty or forty w h ite sh or th e sam e of
rabbi ts w a s a n ordinary da i ly consumpti on of

the d w ellers a t one of these yi ng posts , bu t

th e reader m ust remember they ha d no a ux il
i ar i e s to h el p ou t thi s p la i n straigh t food
N O butter , lard , pork , sugar or vegetab l e s
j us t rabb i t or w hi te sh t w ic e a day and noth
ing else Th i s w a s w ash ed do w n w i th bou ill on
i n w hi ch the food w a s c ooked S pri ng a nd fall
.

'

CANAD I AN W IL D S

52

they had a variety i n du cks geese beaver a nd

an occa s i ona l be ar a nd then they l ived i n the
t al les t ki nd Of clover w h ile i t la sted
A s no i nsuranc e c om pa ny c ould be found
w h o w ould take re risks tha t c ou ld only be
represented to th em on pa per by th e i ntereste d
p a rtie s , th e H udson s Ba v C ompa ny began
years ago to t a ke certa in sum s of m oney out
Of ea ch year s prot s and created a mari ne a nd
re a ccount ou t of w h i ch fund a ny l oss b v s ea
or re i s met a nd th e dist ric t or depart ment
w here the a cc ide nt oc curred i s recouped for i t s
l oss
Fi re s a t th e forts and p osts h ave been
of very rare occurrence a s th e u tm ost care a nd
precau tion ha s eve r b een exerc ised i n prevent
i ng such by the Ofce r i n cha rge
S elf pre servati on i s th e rst la w o f nature

and t h e d w eller s of these far a w ay Hudson s

B ay post s kne w of no greater ca lami ty t han
tha t of bei ng burnt ou t a nd th ey l ooked to i t
tha t a s fa r as prec a u ti on w ent th i s sh ould not
o ccu r
,

C HAP T E R V I I
A B O U T I ND I AN S

The w ay i n w h i ch th e Hudson s B ay C o m
pany managed the I ndia ns of C anad a ha s ever
been admi red b v the peopl e of th e Outside w orld
Thei r fundamenta l ru le a nd stri c t orde r t o t he i r
se rva nts w a s never t o break fa ith w ith a n I n
dia n
A s ti m e w ent on t he I ndia ns bega n t o
realize fully tha t the com pany w a s i n t h e c ou n
try for thei r m utua l be ne t , not as aggressors ,
land grabbers or peopl e t o take a w ay th e i r
vested rights
I t soon became kno w n th at a ny p rom i s e
m ade t o them by a H udson s Bay O fcer w a s a s
good a s fu llled
O n the o ther ha nd , w hen

N o w a s sa id i t m ean t N o every ti me and th e re

w a s never a ny va s c i l l a t i ng policy
Just and

Fi rm w a s th e m otto i n al l th e C om p any s deal

i ngs w ith th e natives a nd w h i l e th ey w ere a t a l l
tim e s prepared , a s fa r a s they cou ld be, t o m eet
any trouble, yet they never provoked enmi ty
T o d o s o w ou ld hav e bee n a ntagonist i c to th eir
in terests even i f j usti ce a nd h uma ni ty w ere pu t
a sid e
.

53

54

CA NAD I AN W I L D S

E a c h oi c er of the posts ha d the w el fare of

th e I ndians a s mu ch at hea rt a s a father ha s
for hi s o w n ch ildren I n sicknes s th ey a ttended
them , i n t radi ng they advi sed them w ha t goods
w ou ld be m ost benecia l a nd lasti ng to thei r
requ i rements and a s fa r a s th ey cou ld i n a p a
c ic w ay they a dvised them w hen troubl e arose
bet w ee n a ny members of the tribe
I n those days w h e n th e C ompa ny had th e
c ou n t ry u nde r thei r excl usive s w ay, no cheap ,
s hoddy go od s w ere i mported i n th e trading
f ort s D urabi lity w a s looked for , not a shy n
ery T hese came w i th th e opening of th e c ou n
try a nd the a dvent of peddlers a nd u np r i nc i
pa lled t raders W e s ee the results of thi s t oday
at any of th e stati ons w here ou r t r a ns c ont i
ne nt a l tra i n stops
B ands of th e once w ell con
d i t i one d , w ell clothed , sober I ndia n s a re no w re
pla ce d by ra gged ema ciated vi c e m arked d e
s c e nd a nt s of these , hangi ng a rou nd i n i dleness ,
a n Obj ec t lesson of w ha t s o ca l led c ivi lizati on
ha s brough t t hem t o
E xce pt i n s om e fa r ba c k
i solated posts the I ndia n s w ord goes for noth
i ng They have l ost th e onc e binding obligati on
t ha t thei r promise carried a nd the t rader ca n
no l onger depend on th em
As th e w ri ter kne w th e pagan a nd u nc i v i
li z e d I ndia n som e forty years a go he w as truth
ful , s ob e r, h ones t a nd m ora l
I w on t s ay t he
.

ABO U T

I N D I AN S

55

wh ite ma n ha s w i lful ly made hi m other w i se tha n

w h a t h e w as , but a s a fa ct he i s I t ha s been a
transforma tion i n w h i ch t h e I ndia n has fallen
t o m ost of th e w h ite ma n s vi ces a nd a dopt ed
very fe w of h i s vi rtu es
M y experi enc e has been
over considerab le of th e c ou ntry and amongst
seve ra l tribe s and my observati on ha s told me
that abou t the M i ssio n cente rs ( be th e d e nomi
nation w hat i t may ) i s to be fou nd the grea te st
debau chery and ra scality i n th e I ndia n a nd tha t
right a t thei r very ga t es
Pri or t o 1 8 2 1 both th e H udson s Bay C om
pa ny a nd tha t of th e N ort h w est gave l iquor t o
the Indi ans , bu t a fte r the coali t ion of the tw o
c om pa nie s a w ise poli cy w a s i nau gu rat ed a nd
liquor w a s st opped t h r u ou t t h e va st country
The C ompany s p eopl e s a w tha t li qu or t o the
I ndia n w as laying the s e ed s of i llness a nd death
a nd im poveri shi ng h i s fam ily, bu t th e C o m p a ny
did not take a w ay t h e grog ( w h ich ha d be en
given i n m ost ca ses a s a bonu s on their hu nt )
w i thout givi ng a n e qu ivalent i n va lu e a nd the
cash va lu e of l iqu or t o e a ch h u nte r enti t led t o
a nv w a s given i n the shape of a ny goods h e chose
from th e trade Sh op
E ven the servants w h o
h a d heretofore received a S aturday ni gh t a l
lo w a nce of spi rits received i n l i e u th e reo f t w o
pou nds sterl ing p er annu m add ed to t he i r
w age s
.

'

56

CA NAD I AN

W I LD S

T he I ndian i n th e olde n days se ldom stayed

abou t th e post s l onger tha n t o barter hi s furs
and got ba ck t o h i s hu nti ng grounds w i th a s
little delay as possibl e
T h ey w ere s h a nd
esh ea ters , a lmost every river a nd lake
abounded w ith the form e r a nd th e surrounding
w oods furni shed the latter a nd the I ndia n got
hi s l ivi ng from day t o day w ith very li t tle ex
e r t i on
Th e India n ha s no i dea of h ordi ng u p
the trea sures of thi s w orld a nd i n only\ t w o i n
sta nces did I kno w one to have a b a nk a c c ount
They have a n i mpli c i t a nd abiding fa ith i n ki nd
provide nc e t o supply their w a nts a s they go
th ru li fe a nd rea son tha t w h a t i s su fc ien t f or
them w i l l b e forth coming f or thei r sons a nd
daughters
A s a n a gr i cu lturi st th e I ndia n i s a fai lu re
Th e li fe i s too ha rd a nd hu mdrum fo r one w hose
a ncesto rs from a w ay ba ck have l ive d a nomad
l ife H i s sphere of a cti on on a farm i s too ci r
c u m s p e c t a nd h e pi ne s a nd l ongs f or th e free
dom of the w i lds I t i s a sad a nd not a su ccess
fu l measu re , t hi s corra lling of th e onc e lords
of th e cou ntry o n restricted re servations w hi ch
i n plai n E ngli s h i s no better tha n a pri son t o
them
T he India n i n h i s native sta t e i s h ospitable
to a degre e
T he stranger w ho c omes t o h i s
w i g w am i s give n th e best a nd choi cest p i e c e s
.

A BO U T I N D I AN S

57

w ha t hi s larder contai ns
The s oftest a nd
best b ed i s m ade f or h i m furtherest from the
door
W hen he arrive s no i m pert i nen t qu e s
tion s are asked a s t o hi s busi ness , desti na ti on
A ny such i nfo r m a
o r h i s success i n th e hu nt
t ion tha t h e thi nks t t o i mpar t i s given vol u n
t a r i l y ove r a pipe of p ea c e before rolli ng u p i n
h i s robe or blanke t
I t i s not c onsidered go od form to a sk qu es
tions , even a member of th e fami ly c omi ng h ome
at nigh t i s not a ske d a s to w ha t suc cess h e ha s
had i n th e cha se Hi s bu ndle or gam e bag i s
thro w n i nside the door and re mai ns the re unti l
h i s m other ha s pla ced food be fore h i m W h i l e
partaki ng of thi s h i s m otli er ( or w i f e i f i t hap
pen s t o be th e fath er ) ope n s hi s b ag a nd takes
o ut
piec e by piece, th e conte nts I f h e h a s
killed a deer th e h ead and h ea rt only a re
brought to cam p I f a bea r , the fou r p a w s , if a
m oose , th e tongue a nd m u zzle
T he India ns are very supersti t iou s a s t o
h o w they trea t the e sh a nd bones of th e la rge
gam e they ki ll B eaver bone s are never th r o w n
t o th e dogs , bu t are care ful ly c ollected a nd
sunk i n the l ake or river , thu s retu rni ng them
to th e elemen t from w h ich they cam e A bear
ki lled by a n I ndi an i s a l w ays addressed a s c ou
si n a nd a ha rangu e i s given h im by the hu nter
and hi s pardon a sked for th e n ecessi ty of ta k
of

58

CANAD I AN W I LD S

ing hi s l ife Th e bones , e s p ec i a l l v the sku ll , a r e

hung u p at th e exa c t Spot w here h e fell , j ou r
n eys from camp often be i ng taken w ith the ex
press purpose of c a r r v i ng ou t thi s sa cred duty
D eer a nd m oose a ntlers a nd Sh ou lder blades
are gene ral ly found on s tak es or dry kno ts o f
t ree s a t the discharge of s om e bi g lake on mai n
canoe route Th e re a r e certai n pa rt s of the esh
and insides of thes e a ni m l as tha t th e w om e n
are n eve r allo w ed t o pa rtake of , suc h a s the
head , h eart a nd pa w s of the bea r
L ike w ise i t i s i nfr a d ig f or a ma n t o carry
w a te r t o th e cam p , chop w ood or dry h i s ow n
m occasi ns
A fte r th e kil li ng of big gam e i t
rests w i th the w om eh a nd chi ldren t o cu t u p
th e mea t a nd tobogga n i t t o cam p
The ma n
m erely w a lking a head t o Sh o w the w ay a nd 10 11
i ng a bou t a n open re w h i le the w ork of bu tch
ering a nd loadi ng sle d i s goi ng on
Physiqu e and Hea lth
B efore th e I ndi an
Cam e i n cl ose c onta c t w ith t h e w hi tes h e l ived
O n th e produ ce of th e c ou nt r v a nd remai ned
c lose to nature He w a s of a w i r e y a nd healthy
sta ture a nd l ived to a ri pe ol d a ge N o w from
the i r acqu ired t a ste of th e w hite ma n s foods ,
love o f l iquor , i ns u i c i e nt clothi ng and early

marri a es , the w hi te pla gu e ha s t a ken r m

h o l d i n e very ba nd a nd a fe w decade s w i l l see
.

A BO U T

very f e w
f or

of

I N D I AN S

59

the G overnmen t w ards to b e c ared

How fe w

th e th ou sands of i mmigrant s
now o w i ng i nto th e cou ntry p a u se to consider
tha t once th ese beauti fu l lak es , rivers , prairi es
a nd mounta ins w ere t h e re sort a nd homes of a
rac e of G od s p r I m i t i ve ch ildren
Thei r w ant s
w ere supplied w ith a lavi sh generosi t y by a
G reat S piri t and paga n s th o they w e re sai d t o
be th ey cas t thei r eye s h e a ve n w a rds and thanked
tha t G rea t S piri t f or b l essi ngs received
A nd
the translation afte r death tha t they looked for
w ard to, t o th e Happy Hu nti ng G rou nds , w ha t
a re these but ou r G od a nd our H eave n 9
Poor fa st disappearing ra ce " I have l ived
w i th them , h unted w ith them a nd w alked the
l ong t ra i l a nd from my c i ty hom e I often yearn
f or the Ol d l i fe i n t ha t N or t h C o u ntry
of

C H A PT E R V I II

W HO LE S O M E F OO D S

M en are governed , or prej udiced very mu ch

f or , or against , thi ngs by a ppeara nces or nam e s
A nd thi s I nd h olds even w ith practi cal men
a s are hunters , traders a nd tra ppers m en w h o
a s a ru le rea son m uch a nd a re endo w ed w ith
c onsiderable common sense
T here are many food meats tha t th e w oods
furni sh that are ta booed from the h unter s bil l
of fare si mply by the name of the ani ma l tha t
furnishes it The ski n i s ta ken bu t the esh
i s cast a w ay, and this for n o other reason b u t
the name th e beast i s general ly kno w n u nder
Take , f or i nsta nce , the w ater rat , m usqua sh ,
or the m ore general ly u sed name of musk rat
Here w e h ave certai nly nothi n g agai nst i t b u t
the nam e B ecau se did w e of th e fraterni ty of
hu nters pause t o consider , a nd reason , w e mu st
s e e tha t a mu squash ough t not , and ca nnot b e
Th ey are i denti cally
d i e r e nt from a beaver
the sam e i n every detai l except th e form at ion Of
the tai l They live on the same food , roots ,
grasses , a nd t w igs , a s the beaver does and to th e
.

60

W HO LE S O M E F OO D S

61

eye they are ( barri ng th e tai l ) a smal l beaver

i n m i nia tu re
M usqua sh , l ike a l l a nimal s i n col d cou ntrie s ,
a re a t thei r best co nditi on i n th e a utum n
L et
my hunt er fri en d take one of th e above despised
a nimal s selec t a ni ce mi xed esh a nd fat one ,
clea n i t a s you w oul d a beaver, spli t i t u p the
front i m pal e i t on a sh a rp poi nted stick i ntro
duce th e poi n t near th e root of th e ta i l , a nd
bri ng i t u p to th e i nside o f th e h ead Pla nt
you r scre w er i n fron t of you r camp re , gi vi ng
it a n oc ca si ona l t w i st , w h i le getti n g you r tea
and other th ings rea dy VV h e n don e stand i t
ba ck from the excessive h ea t f or a sh ort w h ile
to cool a nd har d en
Fi ll you r p a nni c a n of tea ,
sprea d out you r b iscu its , c u t O ff a quarter s e c
ti on of your roast su ckli ng a nd fal l to , a nd a
hundred to one you never ate a nythi ng m ore
deli ci ou s
I kno w prej udi ce ha s t o be gotten

over , I have been there myself

I starved o nc e f or a day a nd a ni ght , di d
ha rd paddli n g and porta ging al l day a nd w en t
su pperless a t nigh t , simply becau se I c ould not

get over t h e idea of rat

W e had about a
dozen w i th u s , a n d my I ndia n com panion
roa sted a c oupl e each mea l a nd dem ol ished both
h imsel f w i th sati sfaction a nd rel ish ; f or myself
the th ough t of th e name w as enou gh
T ake a gai n th e C anadia n lynx W ere th i s
.

'

CANAD I AN W I LD S

62

name a l w ays adhered to , there w ould be l ess

room for prej udic e , bu t u nfortu na tely i t i s m ore
frequently ca lled ca t I admi t i t has al l th e a p
p e a r a nc es a nd ma nners of th e ea t bu t let som e
o ne , unkno w n to you fry some fat cu tlets from
th e ha m of a lynx, a nd fty to one you w i l l rel
i sh i t a s very ne vea l a nd you canno t b e con
T here a ga i n i s th e p or
v i nc e d to the contra ry
cupine I thi nk sometimes kno w n a s th e hedge
hog W hen they are i n good conditi on , ni cer
or m ore j uicy mea t a hunter ca nnot pu t hi s teeth
i nto W hen pro perly prepared a nd properly

cooked , the w h ite ma ns rarebit , th e suckling

pi g ca nnot prove its points
T he a rcti c or sno w ow l i s a bird tha t gives
a s ne a avored esh , a nd th e same i n col or
a nd appearance a s a fa t capon B u t w h ere one
i s s e t a ga inst i t i s w hen served u p i n I ndi a n
fash i on , boi led w hole , i t ha s the n th e a ppear
a nce of a young baby, a nd one w ould al most
have to be a professiona l ca nn ibal t o ta ckle th e
Object Th e th ick plum p thi gh s , th e rou nd
bald head m akes the appeara nce to a you ng i n
fan t almost startli ng Ho w ever , i f one closes
h i s menta l eyes t o th i s simi litude , the esh i s
most toothsome
I com e no w to a nother tha t occurs to m e a s
being m uch despi sed tha t i s th e festive a nd
highly perfumed skunk W e look on a skunk ,
.

W HO LE S O M E F OO D S

63

be

i t ma n or bea st , a s the mea nest kind of t h I ng,

bu t I a ssure you th e sku nk ( the fou r footed
one ) i s not to be despised o r cast a si de w h en
one i s hungry or desires a cha nge from th e ever
la sti ng ba con and bi scu it A skunk , shot and
prepared w i th care , makes very good eatin g
T w o of th e a nimal s of ou r forest I never
c oul d stoma ch a nd very fe w I ndia ns e a t them ,
be they ever S O mu ch pushed for food , a nd th ese
are : th e otter and m ink
T hei r esh i s oi ly ,
blac k and high ly avored , resembli ng th e meat
of seal
only m ore s o " T he I ndians a s a rul e
l ook do w n w ith c ontemp t on a fell o w I ndian
w h o eat s otter or m ink , w hether from necessity
or from a n a cqu i red a nd perverse taste
I venture to opi ne my l ittl e sketch w il l set
m any of my h unter friends th inki ng a nd per
hap s ma ke a fe w converts Y ou w on t repent i t
.

X
'

F orty

'

years ago, b e fore the c ou ntry w a s

opened u p t o civi lizati on and the u sua l provi s
i ons Of th e w hite ma n w ere i mported i nto th e
w i ld s , the grea t stapl e food s of the territories ,
f ro m the L abrador A tlant ic seaboard to th e P a
c i c , consi st ed of bu ff al o , c aribou , w hi te s h
a nd rabbits A c cording t o the parts of th e
c ountry w her e these a nimal s resorted , th e I n
i
d an s, t rad er s a nd trap p ers , lived a lmost excl u
.

CA NAD I A N

64

W I LD S

thei r esh , either i n th e fresh , dri ed

o r pem ica n state
A l l foods not im ported , w ent u nder the
name of country produce, a nd a s our i s the
sta ff of l ife t o th e w h ite ma n , so w a s bu ffalo
caribou , rabbi t or w h ite sh to the d w el lers of
the north c ou nt r v B eaver , partridge , porcu
pine and other sma l l prey a ki nd o f entree or
side di sh , got only a t od d ti mes , a nd not t o be
depended on f or regular three t imes a day diet
The qua ntity of a nv one O f th ese fou r foods
requi red to su stai n , even a fa mily of s i x, dur
in g a l ong northern w i nter , w a s something t o
make a layma n i ncredul ou s
The I ndia ns livi ng about th e plains of t h e
l o w er S a skatche w a n a nd foothi ll s of th e R ock
ies not onl v l ived on the bu ff alo , but ma de u p
i mmense qua nti ties of pemican , w h i ch w a s
parched i n summ er ski n bags , w ei gh ing about
sixty pou nds ea ch , a nd traded f or ammu niti on ,
c loth beads , h atchets , etc , a t the forts
From these ba ses of suppl y the ba gs of mea t
w ere sent t o posts farther north and used for
tripping a nd feeding th e men abou t the post
L arge quantities w ere oated do w n ea ch spring
from F ort E lli s , Q u A ppell i a nd other plai n
forts , by the A ssi niboine to F ort G arry a nd from
there i n larger boats to N or w ay H ou se , on L ake
W i nni p eg, w h i ch i n t h os e d ays w a s th e r ec e i v
s i ve l y o n

W HO LE S O M E F OO D S

65

i ng a nd distributin g factory fo r al l the c ou ntry

north a nd east , and had th e di st i ncti on Of bei ng
th e pla ce O f counci l ea ch yea r
T h e peo pl e inhabiti ng th e cou ntry embraced
by the M ackenz i e R iver , G reat Bea r L ake , and
the coast of L ake W i nni peg , subsisted almost
entirely on w hite s h
T hese w ere killed in
grea t numbers each spa w ni ng sea son , not only
f or the i r ow n food , b u t for thei r tea m dog s a s
w ell , th e posts putti ng past from ten t o one hu n
dred thousa nd , a c c ordin g to th e i mportan c e of
th e pla ce a nd th e m ouths to feed
T he sh w ere h ung i n number on ske w er s as
ta k en from th e w ater , th e sharpene d stake b e
i ng ru n throu gh the sh nea r the tai l
T h e stri ng of ten s h on a ske w er w a s calle d

a percer , a nd w a s hung head do w n from l ong

horizonta l poles , a s high a s a ma n c ould reach ,
a nd the length of these traverses w ould ae c om

mod a t e one hu ndred

Th e great
p e r c er s
stoc k of sh w as surrou nded by a high pi cket
stocka de open t o th e w eathe r, w i th one entra nce ,
w h ich w a s kept stri ctly u nder loc k a nd key , and
opened each eveni ng by the p ost master , i e ,
ste w ard , w h o gave ou t th e requ i rements f or the

next t w enty fou r hours c onsum pti on

The expendit ure w a s kep t posted u p ea ch
ni gh t , sho w i ng fo r w ha t u se th e sh ha d been
given ou t , u nder th e fol lo w i ng headi ng s :
.

'

66

CANAD I AN W I LD S

M ess A ccount
M en s R ati ons
Indians vi siti ng th e post
D og R ati ons
T hu s , a t any tim e the fa ctor c oul d tel l the
e xac t numbe r Of sh c onsumed and number yet
on ha nd
M any of th e posts w ou ld have a n ex p e nd i
ture of a th ou sand sh a w eek for al l purposes ,
w hi ch w ou l d be abou t thirty thousand for th e
w i nte r
I n the cou ntry lyi ng south of L ake W i nnipeg
t o L ake of the W oods and eas t a s fa r a s th e O t
ta w a R iver, th e stapl e food w as th e harm less
li ttle rabbi t I t i s a dispensa ti on of Providence
tha t the rabbi t i s a proli c a nima l , f or they are
the li fe not only of th e people , bu t of ma rtens ,
lynx , foxes , erm i ne, o w ls , ha w ks a nd ravens
A n ordi nary fam ily of I ndians , l iving on
pla i n boi led or roasted rabbi ts , require about
t w enty a day , a nd even tha t keeps thei r vitali ty
a very l ittl e above zero
There i s no doubt bu t
w ha t th e food a ma n eats makes or lo w ers h is
va lo r a nd endura nce
N 0 one ever h eard of th e sh or rabbi t eat
i ng I ndia ns going on th e w a r path , w hile on the
other ha nd , th e buff a lo ea ters w ere fearl ess m en
both a s horsemen and ghters
Th e L abrador Pen insula , bound ed by t h e
.

W HO LE S O M E F OO D S

67

S aguenay river on the w est , Hu dson s B ay and

S tr a its on th e north , the A tla nti c seaboard on
the east a nd th e G ulf of S t L a w rence on the
south , a country a s large as E ngland , France
a nd A u stri a combi ned , i s th e h om e of th e C ari
bou or w ood deer , w h o m igr a te north and sou th
i n countless herds spri ng a nd au tum n , and are
follo w ed by bands of roaming I ndi ans c onti nu
a lly preyi ng on them
As i n th e case of th e pem i ca n , these N asca
pies , M on tagnai s , and C re e I ndians bri ng i nto
the posts dri ed meats, m arro w fat a nd tongues
to barter , a nd on thi s the post d w el lers l ive
W i th the I ndians of th e present day armed
w ith modern ri es a nd th e grea t depl etion i n
the cal f crop m ade by th e maraudi ng of w olves ,
the day ca nnot be far O ff tha t the caribou w il l
be of th e pa st a s the bu ff a lo i s
In their m i grat ions north a nd sou th , at cer
ta i n pla ces w ell kno w n to th e natives th e deer
have to cross rivers
Taki ng the cross i ngs the
m ob of deer w ou ld com pac t i tsel f s o m uch that
th e traverse w ould b e blac k w i th their bodies
T he I ndians w h o had been w ai ti ng for som e
days th e passi ng o f the herd , w ou ld a tta ck them
from u p and d o w n th e river i n th ei r ca noes ,
shoot i ng th em w i th arro w s spea ri ng a nd axing
the poor frightened brutes i n t h e w at er till the
.

CANAD I AN W I LD S

68

lo w er w aters w ere covered w ith oati ng car

casses
M uch meat and m any ski ns w ere spoiled f or
the w an t of qui ck attention A fter th e batt l e
th e I ndians gorged th em se lves t o su ch a state
of repletion , that i t rendered th em u nt for ex
er t i on b u t a j u st G od frequently puni shed them
during th e bi tter w eather of the foll o w i ng w i n
ter by starvati on , a nd w h ol e fam ilies su ccu mbed
f or w an t O f th e very food they so w antonly
w asted i n the autumn
Th e Hudson s Bay C ompany h ad a post
years a go on L ake M i s a k a m a right on the ta
h l e l a nd b et w een U ngav a bay and th e C anadian
L abrador c oast, for the trading of deer Ski ns ,
bot h dresse d and i n th e parchm ent state O n e
year the ski ns w ere i n su ch numbers that the
boat s of th e brigade could not c a rry the w hol e
to th e c oast, and bales of th em had t o be w i n
t e r e d over to the next yea r
Th e L abrador has been for m any years the
base of supplies f or sh and rabbit di stricts
w here the natives have no deer to m ake m o cca
sins , mi tts and Sh irts , and th e parchment for
their sno w sh oe knitti ng
These deer Ski n s take a round abou t rou te to
reach their destination , bei ng i n the rst place
shipped from U ngava , or N i gol e t t e , to L ondon ,
and aft er p assi n g t h e w i nter i n L ondon , are r e
.

W HOL E SO M E

69

FOO D S

shi p p ed to M ontreal , vi a the S t L a w rence , a nd

from tha t depot sent w ith the ne w outt t o posts
t hat have requ isi ti oned them the previ ou s yea r
O n e w ou ld thi nk w i th th e i ntrodu ction of
ou r , pork a nd other i mported provi si ons tha t
the slaughter w oul d be a th ing of th e pa st , but
th e killi ng goes on a s before a nd n o w only the
s ki n i s t a k en , th e mea t r em ai ning t o r ot
.

C H AP T E R

IX

O FFI C ER S ALL O WAN CE S

readers of H T T de sc ri ptions of m ode s

be as
of l ivi ng i n b y gone days w i ll , n o doub t
i nteresting a s a ctual hu nti ng or trappi ng
I
therefore subm i t a remini scence o f days i n the
early sixti es , gon e never to retu rn
Transport the n t o th e fa r i nla nd posts w a s
so tediou s a nd c ostly tha t i t w a s im possible t o
freight heavy stu ff s o fa r a w ay , and the e m
p l oye e s of th e c ompany had t o l ive o n w hat th e
com pa ny i n w h i ch they w ere stationed produ ced
H o w ever , a sca le of a llo w ance s of a fe w del ica
c i es w ere all o w ed , and these w ere made u p every
yea r a t t he depo t o f ea ch d istri c t a nd w ere f or
one yea r
Th e laborers or common people abou t
th e post got nothi ng i n th e w ay of im ported p r o
vi si ons , exc ept w hen a t th e h ard w ork o f tri p

p ing The o ff ice rs sca l e w as a s follo w s , be he

a marri ed ma n or a single m an i t made n o di f
ference Th eir severa l grades w ere a s follo w s :
C hief Fa ctor , C h ief Trader , C h ief C lerk , A p
p re ntice C lerk , Post M a ster
A P ost M as ter did not mean a m a st er of a
To

70

O F FI CER S

A LLO W ANCE S

71

post , bu t w a s general l y a l ong serv i ce l aborer ,

w ho c ou ld supe rvi se th e general w ork about the
post a nd ac t a s i nte rpreter i f requ ired H e al so
received a mi ni mu m a l lo w ance from h e a d q ua r
t ers , b u t Of fe w e r arti cle s tha n tha t of c lerks
a nd Ofcers A C hief F actor , bei ng of th e h igh
e s t grade i n th e servi ce , rece ived th e l a rgest
allo w ance, w hi ch w as a s foll o w s :
T hre e hu ndred pou nds ou r, 3 3 6 lbs s ugar
1 8 lbs bla ck tea , 9 lbs green tea , 4 2 lbs ra i sins
6 0 lbs butter, 3 0 l b s ta llo w candles , 3 lbs mu s
t ard , 6 % gal port w i ne, 6 % sherry w i ne, 3 gal
brandy

E xa ctly one h al f of t h e F act or s a llo w ance

w a s th e Sha re o f the C hief T rade r , and a half
Of the latter s port ion w a s the scal e f or a C hi ef
C lerk or A pprenti ce C lerk A Post M a ster
h o w ever no t receivi ng the fu l l li st , I w i l l g i ve
i n de tai l
Fi fty s i x pou nds sugar , 3 lbs blac k tea , 1 %
lbs green t ea , 7 l bs ri c e, } lb pe pper , 3} lb
pime nto
A t every post w h ere i t w a s possibl e t o gro w
potatoes they w ere given the greate st atten ti on
a s t hey constitu t ed a very m aterial pla ce i n the
fe edi ng o f th e post peopl e
They w ere , h ow
ever, kept u nder lock and key a nd a w eekly
a llo w a nce given ou t by th e Post M a ster A t
post s w h ere cattle w ere kept t h e a l lo w an c e of
.

72

CAN AD I AN W I LD S

butte r w as not suppl ied by headquarter s , a s w e

w ere supposed t o make ou r ow n
Th e a llo w ances never cam e u p w i t h th e gen
era l outt , but w ere sen t u p i n bulk to th e h ea d
qu arters of the distri ct, a nd there parceled out

Th e
f or each post i n th at Fa ctor s territory
c lerk s or of cers i n ch arge of thes e ou t p ost s
w en t t o h eadquart ers abou t th e 1 5 t h of A ugust
w ith a ha lf sized canoe
This being a special
tri p , m ade e spec ial ly for th e a llo w a nce of any
smal l t h ing tha t might have been overl ook ed i n

the i nde nt , w a s ca ll ed Th e A l l o w ance C a noe

A w eek w a s generally spe nt at hea dquarters
i n fri endly i nte rcourse w ith th e sta ff th ere The
prosp e ct s for t h e ensui ng yea r w ere talked over ,
a nd the requ i si t ion f or th e next yea r s ou tt
read carefully over , a nd a ny a rt i c le req u iring
explanati on or comm e nt w a s th e n gone i nto by
the F acto r w hi l e h e ha d th e fram er of the indent
a t ha nd
Th i s w as th e only t ime of th e year t hat a ll
the office rs of that distric t met t ogether, their
respec t ive post s bei ng ea st north an d w est , and
hu ndred s o f mi le s of forest a nd stream separa t
i ng them Th is reu ni on w a s a red letter w eek
a nd no sooner w ere w e ba ck to ou r posts but
w e looked for w a rd to th e nex t meeti ng I doubt
very mu ch i f t oday such a self re lia nt , hard y
.

O FFI CER S

ALL O WANCE S

73

a nd ea si ly sati sed body of men could be fo u nd

t o ll simi la r ci rcumsta nces
I t w a s eti quett e not t o a rrive a t h ea d qu ar
t ers before th e date appoi nted O c casi onal ly a
ca noe from som e post w ou ld h ave made extra
g ood ti me comi ng ou t , probably gai ning a day
or part Of a day, a nd w ou ld cam p back of som e

poi nt a lmost i n sigh t Of The F ort

A noted
last pla c e of cal l before reachi ng t he fo r t w a s

c alled Poi nt a l a B a rbe

Here a genera l clea n u p t ook plac e , f rom a
shave t o c lea n l inen a nd store cl othes A s t h e
lake upon w h ich the fort i s b ui l t w a s th e m a i n
dropping i n thorou gh fare from severa l p art s o f
the i nt e ri or , often t w o or three canoe par tie s

w ould be at th e Point a l a B arbe a t once

A start w ou ld be made from th e re together
a nd w h en t h e rocky poi nt w hi ch ha d h i dden

th e m from vie w w a s rou nded a e e de j oi e

w as red from each canoe , th e paddle seiz ed
a nd i n u nison w ith th e qui ck stroke of the

paddle f or th e avenu e,
the u sua l
one
of
F re nch cano e songs w a s su ng by the voi ces O f
th e c ombi ned ee t ti l l t h e ro cky shores re p ro
d u c ed i t from cl i ff t o cli ff
A lmost w i th the ring of th e rst shot t h e
p e opl e a t th e post w h o w ere on the l ookou t ran

u p the glori ou s Old Hudso n s Bay ag to the

ags ta ff h ead , a nd a n a ns w ering vol l ey w a s r e
.

74

C ANA D I A N W I LD S

turned T h e ha ndshaki ng, tal k a nd laught e r

w hen the canoes beach ed w as never t o be f or
gotten
M ost of those at th e fort had relatives or
friends a t one or other of th e outposts , a nd i f
they w ere not present a nxi ou s i nqu i ries w ere
made a nd a ns w ere d on th e beach Possibly some
loved one had b ee n cal led a w ay since t he last
Opportu nity of commu nica t ion w i t h th e fort ;
in such a ca se i t devolved on som e person of th e
ne w arriva ls t o b r e ak t h e s a d ne w s or receive
bad tidi ngs hi mself I n that case no w ords w e re
ne cessa ry, th e do w ncast look a nd th e prol onged
c lasp of the hand t ol d a s w el l as w ords th e b e
r e av e me nt
I have w itnessed such mee tings ,
a nd kno w i t w as only hours a fter t h e meeting
tha t th e de ta i ls w e re i mparte d by w ords and
that ni gh t fa r i nto the smal l h ours cou ld be
hea rd th e death cha nt of the sorro w i ng relative
E ve ry nigh t during o ur stay a t h ea dquart ers
ou r cre w s congrega ted a t t h e m en s guard room ,
a nd the re h oe d do w n the R ed R iver R eels , and
entered i nto oth er harm less pas tim es ti l l w ell u p
D ur i ng tha t w eek th e former
t o m idnigh t
rigi d di sci pli ne of the fort Wa s c onsiderably re
l ax ed i n h onor o f th e strangers
I n t he days of w h i ch I w rite l iqu or h a d been
aboli shed for th e serva nts a nd t rade throug h
ou t th e c ou ntry, a nd a fe w years after even th e
.

O FFI CER S

AL L O W AN CE S

75

allo w ance of w i ne a nd bra ndy w a s cu t

off , s o these danc es w e re not a t tended by a ny
di scord or disturbanc e
W hen the ru m a l lo w a nc e w a s don e a w ay
wi th to the se rva nts, they re ceived i n lie u t here
o f t w o sterling per a nnu m added to the ir w ages ,
a nd to th e I ndian w h o had bee n i n th e h abi t of

getti ng a gi ll of rum for every ten m ade beaver

trade d , w a s given one ski n for every ten t raded ,
taki ng w hateve r h e ch ose , t o th e a mou nt of th e
aggregated ski ns , i n goods
For tha t one good deed al one , S i r G eorg e
S impson deserved the tha nks of a l l throughout
the territori e s w hen h e aboli she d li qu or as a
s ti mu lant to th e m e n and a veh ic l e Of trade w i th
th e natives
The O fcer s received no equiva len t w h en
th e i r a l lo w a nc e w as di sconti nued
It w as
brough t abou t by the bad u s e one o fce r m ade
of h i s allo w a nc e , a nd the oth ers su ffered there

by
A clerk s al lo w ance of w i ne and brand y
w a s done u p i n three oak kegs, ea ch w i ne k eg
holding
ga llon s and th e brandy one gal l on
T hese w ere la ced togethe r w i th stou t ra w hi de

lashi ngs , a nd th e piece w a s ca lled a M acc r ow ,

a nd a very a w k w ard pi ec e i t w as t o portage
Th e m aj ority of th e Offi cers m ade i t a poi nt
of h onor t o debark th e M a c c r ow u nb roached a t
t hei r respe ct ive posts , and m ake the content s
ofcer s

76

C A NAD I AN W I LD S

spi n re l igiously t hrough the next tw e l v e

month s S om e cou ld not w ithstand th e temp t a
tion of sam pling the li quor enroute , a nd had
very li t t le w h e n they reach ed h om e
It w a s one of these ge ntleme n w h o w a s the
cause of the al lo w anc e be i ng cut O ff A peti ti o n
w a s sen t i n to the G overnor aski n g that w e
shou ld receive the equiva lent i n m oney for the
disconti nuanc e of w i ne a nd bra ndy, w h i c h
amou nted to sevente en dollars a t cos t pr i c e, bu t
n o a ns w er c a m e , a nd w e had t o bear ou r loss
and o ff er u p som e nightly w ords i n favor ( or
other w i se ) of th e person w h o had made a n
a bu s e of his a ll o w a n c e
.

C HAP T E R X
I N LAN D P AC KS

P r i or t o 1 8 6 5 furs at i nla nd posts w ere ma d e

u p i n packs of ni nety pou nds f or transport to
the frontier, bu t som e Of the you ng ca noe m en
w e re not sufci ently strong t o ha ndle such a
w e igh t i n deba rki ng or loa ding them i nto the
canoe s a nd a pack sli ppi ng from thei r grasp
i nto the w ater a nd b ecomi ng w et i nside c aused
delay t o th e w h ol e brigade
A stop h ad to b e
m ade a nd th e d a maged pack u nlac ed , dried a nd
repaired be fore th e j ourney cou ld be resu m ed
A bou t the yea r m e ntioned a t op pack slipped
o ff a m a n s back w hi le bei ng ca rried ove r a side
portage a nd before the ma n cou ld save i t h a d
bou nded do w n th e h i llside i nt o th e rapid , and
w a s lost
T h i s happened to be a very va luable pack
age a nd i ts l oss being reporte d called forth the
next yea r, from h eadqua rters , a genera l order
to reduc e t he w e igh t from ni nety t o ei gh ty
pounds per pack , a nd t o m ake e a c h pack a ge of
p ure ski n s i e ski n s of only on e kind
T h i s or d er t o di s conti nu e the mi xi ng of sk i n s
,

77

CANAD I A N W IL D S

78

w a s not pleasing t o pos t m anagers , i na sm uch a s

a small e r a nd bet ter pack can be constru c ted o f
m ixe d skin s tha n of only one ki nd
F or th e i nformation of trappers of to day I
w i l l give a summary of h o w ma ny of each kind
of skins made up as nearly a s possibl e, the pre
scribed w eigh t of eigh ty pou nds , thu s
F orty la rge beavers a nd 2 0 smal l b eavers
made 8 0 pounds
E igh t large bears a nd 4 small b ear s made
8 0 pounds
Five hu ndred spri ng rats , 8 0 pou nds
S even h undred and t w enty la rge and smal l
rats , fal l , 8 0 pou nds
T w o beavers , large, f or t op a nd bottom c ov
ers , and 6 0 lynx ski n s made 8 0 pou nds
T w o be avers for c overs a nd 3 0 otters made
8 0 pou nds
T w o beavers for c overs a nd 5 0 f ox ski ns
made 8 0 pou nds
W e had orders to gather su ch fu rs a s she r ,
ermi ne , w ol f, w olveri ne sku nk and a ny broken
or damaged ski ns , a nd make up i nt o a separate
pa ck
T he ne and del icat e ski ns , a s marten m ink ,
si lve r a nd cross foxes , w ere to be packed i n
boxes th irty i nches l ong by t w enty i nch es
square, and i nto thi s Smal l c ompa ss th e m artens
and m i nk , a fter bei ng tied i n bu ndles of te n
.

I NLA ND P AC KS

79

ski ns each , w ere packed t o t he nu mb e r of fou r

hundred ski ns
Thi s m ade a very valuable package, a nd t h e
greates t care w a s taken of i t th e w hole j ourney
V a lui ng th em a t only $ 5 each , one of these boxes
represe nted th e s u m of
W e a ll sa w tha t thi s mode of packi ng w ou ld
not la st ; a s , taki ng the b e st of ca re, a ccidents
w i l l h appen , a nd t hey bega n th e very year a fter
th e order cam e i n forc e L eaving a di sagreeable
j ob to th e last , th e m e n a t ea ch carryi ng plac e
avoided th e se boxes , a nd there w a s a st ru ggle t o
Th e sh a rp c or
s e e w h o w ou ld not carry them

ners abr a ded th e men s backs , a nd w hen ca rri ed

o n to p of a pack they hurt th e ba ck o f the h ead ;
so , as a ru le , th ey w ere generally left t i l l th e
l a s t load , a nd then taken w i th bitter comm e nts
a nd a fervent w i sh tha t the promu l ga tor of th e
order fo r su c h package s w ere h imsel f present t o
porta ge th em ove r th e carry
T w o O f t hese mart e n boxes w ere l eft by one
o f ou r cre w s i n th e m i ddle o f a b r ul
I n ma k
i ng th e former tri p som e care le ss fello w mu st
have thro w n do w n a h a lf burnt match ; i n a fe w
m oment s dense cloud s of smoke a rose i n th ei r
rea r
Th e country w a s a s dry a s t i nder a nd
i n the spa ce of a very fe w m inutes th e am es
s w ept to the oth e r e nd of th e porta ge, li cki ng
u p i n pas si ng t h ose va luab l e b oxe s and c ontents
.

80

CANAD I AN W I LD S

W e , guratively, locked the door f o r th e ba l

a nce of th a t trip a fter the horse h ad been stolen ,
f or th e rema i nin g boxe s w ere stored each night
i n th e ofc e r s t ent , a nd during the day a r e
s ponsible person w a s on guard over them
I t w a s a severe loss ou t of th e re turn s of
o ne post
N o one, pe rhaps c oul d be blam ed for
i t, bu t i t had t he desire d e ff ec t of repea li ng t h e
order , a nd w e w ere told t o pa ck a s i n th e good

Old c orn mea l days and mix ou r furs

T o a rrive a t a n average of ea ch ki nd of ski ns
through each a nd every pa ck , w e c ounted th e
w hole returns a nd est i mated th e gross w ei gh t ,
a nd th e n d ivided so ma ny of ea ch ki nd O f furs
t hrough th e severa l pa cks , som ethi ng like thi s :
1 0 beavers 2 bears 4 0 m art en , 1 0 m ink , 1 00
rats , 4 foxes , 4 otters 4 lynx
8 0 pou nds , or a s
t h e average m i ght c ou nt ou t
P revi ou s to pa cki ng, th e ski ns w ere neatly
folded , pla ced i n a pile and w eighted do w n for
They w ere t he n bui lt i n the desired
a w eek
pac k shape a nd u nder w ent a severe w ed ge press
ham meri ng t o reduce th e bulk then t ied w ith
three st rong c ross lashi ngs , ei ther of ra w co w
hide or t w enty four threa d cod li ne , a nd w hen
a ll w a s se cu re , the w edges bei ng released , t h e
p a c k tumble d ou t complete less the latera l t y
i ngs , w hi ch w ere tw o i n numb er, O f eigh t ee n
t hread c od li n e

I NLAN D P AC KS

81

The Size of one of these packs , ready for

transportation , w as 2 4 i nches l ong , 1 7 i nch es
broad , a nd 1 0 i nches thi ck Th e expa nsion of
the com pressed ski ns w ould , a fter a fe w days ,
give i t a rou nded shape i n th e m iddle , bu t w hen
rst ou t of the pre ss i t w a s a lmost perfect l y
squ a re, and i t w a s th e pride of e a ch post ma n
ager t o outdo t he oth ers i n th e beau ty and sol i d
i ty of hi s packs
A w el l m a de pack w ould w ithstand the i ll
u sage a nd th e hu ndreds of ha ndli ngs i n maki ng
a j ourney of fou r or ve hundred m iles from an
i nteri or post , and w ou ld rea ch the r s t s t e am e r
or trai n of cars w ith out a tyi ng givi ng w a y
In my young days I have se en a pi le o f 2 96 o f
t h ese packs on the be a ch a t one portage
A n ane cdote rel ati ng t o th e care of su c h a
va luable cargo may b e here a ppended A n ol d
factor w h o had not l eft the i nterior for t w enty
Seven ye ars, applied f or a nd received l eave t o
visi t civi liz ation w ith the u ndersta ndi ng that
h e w ou ld t ake care of the furs i n t ransit Thi s
h e did duri ng a j ou rney of days and w eeks c om
ing do w n the grea t river , sta ndi ng at each port
age ti ll every pa ck w a s over a nd ch ecki ng them
O ff by numbers and the a ggregate
A t la st he reach e d steamboat na v I ga t i on,
shi pp ed h is pac k s , and had th e b i ll of lad i ng i n
.

'

82

CANAD I AN W I LD S

hi s pocke t
Havi ng sh i pped the furs h e took
pa ssage on th e sam e boa t D uri ng the m idnigh t
hours the ca pta in i n maki ng h i s rounds w a s
surprised to nd a ma n si tting among the ca rgo

h o w a s th i s bu t M r S , sti ll keeping hi s fa ith

fu l w atch Th e capta i n a sk e d w hy h e w as not
abed i n hi s stateroom

h e repli ed , I saw rough deck hands

goi ng abou t th e pa cks , a nd though t i t b e tter to

keep a n eye on them

T he captai n l a ugh ed
W h y, ma n , h e said ,

w e have signe d bi ll s of lading for th ose goods ,

a nd w e a re responsible for t heir sa fe del ive ry

G o t o b ed , M r
h e c onti n ued , a nd rest i n
pea ce f or even you h ave no righ t to t o uch one
of th os e pa cks , n o w they a re ab oard thi s v e s

sel
Th a t w a s i n 1 8 73 , and I bel ieve tha t old ge n
He ret ired many years ago
t l e m a n i s alive yet
and settled i n O ntari o
.

'

C HAP T E R X I

I N D I AN M O DE O F H U N T I NG B EAVER

Kej i c cam e over t o the post e arly

W
o ne O c t obe r , and said h i s boy ha d cu t h i s foo t ,
a nd tha t he h a d n o on e t o steer h is ca noe on a
proposed beaver hu nt
N o w ni c e , fa t be aver ,
j ust before t h e i c e take s , i s one of th e t idbi ts
tha t come to th e trader s tab le, and havi ng Spare
t i m e j ust th e n I volu nteered to accom pa n y h im ,
k no w ing I w ould get a share of the game
A S w e made ou r w ay over th e several sma l l
portages bet w ee n th e large lake on w hi ch th e
post i s bui l t a nd the one i n w h i ch h e had l ocated
the beaver , h e told m e there w ere t w o l odge s
on the lake t o w h ich w e w e re m aki ng o u r w ay
W e pitched ou r ten t on th e last portage , so
a s not to make a re nea r th e b e aver Beavers
have very poor eyesigh t , bu t very acute heari ng
a nd smell , and onc e th ey are frightened the
S port for tha t night at al l eve n t s i s ni sh ed
W e had someth ing t o e at a nd then started
f or th e lake , leaving ou r tent a nd th ings ready
t o return to afte r dark
S moki n g and talki ng
are forbidden w hen one i s i n a beaver lake ; care
a sa
-

83

84

CANAD I A N W I LD S

al s o m u st be taken tha t the paddl e doe s no t ras p

the side of th e ca noe
T h e b eavers ha d bu il t a n immense da m
a cross th e discharge of th e lake, and l eft a smal l
cu t i n the m iddle for th e ove ro w t o pass Here
W a s a Kej ic pla ced a N o 4 N e w h ouse tra p i n
abou t 4 i n Of w a te r O n a t w i g 9 i n h igh a nd
s e t bac k abou t a foot from th e tra p h e pla ce d a
sma l l pi ece of c as tor u m Th e sm e l l o f thi s a t
tra c t s a beaver Then h e l engthe ned th e trap
chai n w ith three stra nds of N o 9 t w i ne, tyi ng
i t to a stou t pole, w h ich he pla nted very , very
securely i n deep w ater , out from th e dam
T he beaver, w hen h e nds h im self caught ,
spri ngs ba ck w a rd i nto t h e deep w a ter a nd dive s
to t he bottom ; here h e struggled t o get a w ay
u nt i l Shortness of brea t h compe l s h im t o rise
t o the surfa c e , a nd th is i s repeated unti l the
w eigh t of the trap i s t oo m u ch for hi s ex h a u st e d
c ondi ti on , a nd h e di ed a t the bottom , fro m
w henc e h e i s h auled u p by th e hu nter w h e n
next vi siti ng h i s trap s
A fter pla cing th e t ra p on the dam W a s a
Kej i c Opened a nother ready for setti ng tied the
poles , and had everyt hing ready ; then givi ng
m e impl ici t i nj unctions not to make t h e least
noi se t old me to stee r the ca noe qui etly t o th e
lodge, w h i ch w a s xed i n a sma l l bay ou t i n the
lake W hen w e reache d th e b eaver s h ouse , h e
.

I ND I AN

M ODE

OF

HU N T I N G

B E AVE R

85

c arefu l ly p l a c e d th e tra p i n the s a m e depth Of

w ater a s he had done th e prev i ou s one , w ith
t hi s di ff erenc e, tha t h e om itted t he c as t or u m,
becau se , as h e told m e after w ard , the beavers
w e nt on t op of th e house every night , the you ng
ones t o sli de do w n i nt o th e w ater, and the ol d
o nes t o do a ny nece ss a ry plasteri ng
A no ther t ra p w as s e t a t th e nex t house, an d
from t here w e paddled th e canoe a consi derabl e
di sta nc e from th e beaver w orks , and gurat i vely
rested on ou r oars u nti l su ndo w n
W e w ere now goi ng t o try s til l shooti ng
them Before nigh t sets i n abou t su ndo w n eac h
ne evening i n the fal l th e beavers l eave th e i r
lodge, rst , to ea t th e youn g w i ll o w s along th e
shore , and after satisfyi ng thei r hu nger to patc h
the d am , plaster thei r h ou se s a nd cu t you ng
trees to store up for th e i r next w i nter s food "
T hey come t o th e su rfac e on l eav i ng th e
lodge , and u nle ss s omethi ng fri ghte ns them s w i m
o n the surface i n and ou t along t h e borders of
the l ake u nti l they see a favorable spo t to go
a shore ; and her e they se t to nibbli ng the bar k
Of you ng bi rch or popul a r , a nd i f the hu nte r i s
carefu l h e m ay b e Shot a t close range
A s I said before , ta lki ng w h ile hu nti ng bea
ver i s forbidden ; a nd the hun ter conveys h i s
w ishes t o the stee rsman by si gns , thu s : To dra w
hi s a tte nt i on h e oscillate s the c a noe sli ght l y ;
.

86

CANAD I AN W I LD S

m ove th e c anoe ahead the m o ti on of p ad d l i n g

made by thro w i ng th e Openi ng hand i nboard ;
t o a lter the c ourse o f the cano e i s done by sign
i ng w it h t he ha nd e i ther t o the ri ght or to th e
left , a s de sired ; to stop th e canoe s he ad w ay
w hen ge tting t oo close to the gam e i s done by
gent le do w n w a rd pa tti ng of the hand , etc
B ei ng a lready versed i n th is dumb language ,
w e sh oved a w ay a nd took u p a positi on nea r the
l odge , b ut to the lee w a rd of i t a nd w a i ted Th e
sun h avi ng a lready gone do w n behi nd the for
est , on the other side of th e lake w e h ad n ot
long t o w ai t u nti l a beaver broke w ater and
s w a m a w ay i n a dire ction from u s I a s a Kej ic

shook h i s head a s m uch a s t o sa y, W7 e w i l l go

a fter tha t fel lo w later on

Th e rst w a s fol
lo w ed qu i ckly by a second a thi rd a nd a fou rth "
Th e n , a fter w a iti ng for fully fteen mi nutes a nd
n o othe r appea ri ng W a s a Kej ic made Signs to
go ahead ; thi s w e did Sl o w ly, w ithou t taking
the sha rp bladded paddle from the w a ter
P resently w e hea rd a noise a s i f a p i g w ere
su ppi ng u p from a trough Th i s w a s one of th e
beavers cru nchi ng u p young t w i gs i n th e w a ter
Th e c ano e w a s edged Sl o w ly to w ard th e la nd ,
w it h W a s a Kej i c on th e a lert , b oth d ogh ea d s
full c ocked a nd re ady for acti on Presently t h e
do w n w ard m oti on of t he hand w a s given , the
gun brough t deliberately up to th e shoulder, a nd
to

'

I N DI A N

M O DE

OF HU N T I N G

B E AVE R

87

th e n ex t i n st a n t th e e x pl os i on , f o ll o w ed a lm os t
a s one sho t by th e se cond barrel " A th ic k
smoke hu ng bet w een u s a nd the shore bu t w e
cou ld hea r kicki ng a nd spla sh ing of th e w ater ;
that t old th e sho t w a s true
The beaver had
c eased to struggle by th e ti m e w e reached th e

shore
B u t f or w ha t w a s th e other shot "
I ask ed W a sa Kej i c

h e a ns w ered , pointi ng to an
F or tha t ,
other beaver ston e dead on the ba nk ; a nd then
he laughed , for th ere w a s no nec essity of kee p
i ng qu iet any longe r , for th e shot s ha d frigh t
ened a ny oth er beave r i n th e vi ci ni ty

V
I e may a s w ell go to cam p no w , c ontinued

W a sa Kej ic , a nd w e w i l l s ee ou r tra ps i n th e

morning
From the fa c t of our havi ng com e a sh ore
late, a nd perhaps m ore because of t he hearty
suppe r w e made o ff of ro a st bea ver , w e did not
a w ak e u nti l th e s u n w a s high W e i mm edia t ely
partook O f a hasty breakfa st of te a G a l lette a nd
por k a nd w e nt to s e e th e traps

Fortu nate " W ell ye s "W e found one i n

ea ch trap ; a nd return ed du ri ng the a fte rnoon
t o the post Th e I ndia n gave m e th e m eat o f
t w o beavers for mysel f
H e left hi s traps set t o V I S I t a t some futu re
time because there w ere severa l a nimal s yet
i n th e l a k e
,

88

C A N A D I A N W I LD S

D e sc r i b i ng th e

m ode Of ki l l i n g be ave r w ou ld
not be c omplete u nless w e explai ne d t ha t o f

trenching
Thi s m eth od of ki lli ng them i s
large ly pra cti ce d by th e Indi ans a fter t h e lakes
a nd rivers a re froze n over I c annot do be t ter
t han to describe a smal l lake tha t W a sa Kej i c
and I w ent t o trench i n D e cembe r Thi s beave r
l odge I h ad fou nd the very last day of Open
w at e r, f or tha t ni gh t t he w i nd tu rned rou nd
north a nd froz e up everythi ng "A s i t w a s c lose
t o th e post , a nd I had fou nd it , I simply made
a bargai n w i th W a sa Kej i c to do th e trench ing
for a pou nd of tea I n those days tea w a s tea
i n t he remot e i nt eri or, and m eant many a cheer
i ng cu p t o th e I ndi an
W a s a Kej i c w h istl ed h is dogs afte r him
w hen w e left camp i n th e m orni ng The lake
l ay i n the hol lo w Of a m ou ntai n of consi derable
h eight , a nd cou ld b e c ompared to a n i nch of
w ater i n th e bottom of a tea cu p
B e fore w e
w ere half do w n the precipitous sides w e s a w the
dogs n osing a round the shore, scenti ng f or the

beavers i n their w ashes or breath ing holes

W a s a Kej i c , w hen he ca st h i s eye a rou nd the

small body of w ater , said , Th i s I s a n ea sy lake ,

a nd th e beaver w i ll soon al l be dead

H e no w produced a n ordi nary socket ch ise l
o f 1 % i n poi nt , a nd i n a fe w m i nu te s h ad thi s
handl ed w ith a young tamara k abou t 6 ft long
.

I N D IA N M O D E

HU N T I NG

OF

B E AV E R

89

W e ea c h c arr i ed a n axe a nd th e r s t order I go t

w a s t o cu t s ome dry st i cks that stood a t th e d is
c harge ea ch sti ck t o be abou t 4 ft l ong T hese ,
a s fast a s c u t , th e I ndian drove across th e c reek ,
afte r he ha d c u t a trench i n th e th i n i c e from
shore t o shore Thi s w as to p revent t h e beaver
from goi ng do w n the creek
The next t hi ng w a s to brea k Open th e l odge
from th e top Thi s w a s done t o scare the be a
vers out i nto th e lake a nd make them re sort to
the w ashes Th e beave r w ashes have thei r e n
trances u nder w ater, a nd go u p someti me s a
considerabl e di stance from the Sh ore t er mi na t
i ng general l y u nder th e root s of a tree
Th e
beavers e e from w a sh to w a sh a s th e h u nter
nds them out , and a s ea ch w ash i s d isc overe d
by the dogs ( w h ich scen t th e beavers through
th e frozen sur f ace ) th e hu nter stakes u p the
entra nc e t o preven t them from returni ng
B eaver w a she s va ry i n nu mber a ccordi ng to
th e forma tion of th e lake from t w o t o three u p
t o t w en ty
T he pra cti ce d eye of th e h unte r tells
h im a t onc e i f t h e lake ha s fe w or many A nd
thi s i s w hy W a s a Kej i c sai d w e w ou ld soon
ki ll the beaver A t last th e thre e dogs remai ned
poi nti ng a nd li steni ng abou t 1 2 ft from th e
sh ore u nder a spru ce of c onsider able s i ze T he
I ndia n s e t t o w ork t o stake u p th e entrance,
w hi ch h e did a s fas t a s I c ou ld furnish t h e
,

'

i nk s

90

CA N AD I AN W I LD S

O n t h e sh or e of t his barr i cade h e cl ear e d

a w ay th e i ce a nd sno w , making a n opening
abou t the size of a barrel h ead a nd then he

pau sed , and poi nti ng t o th e w ater, sa i d

S ee

"
tha t " T ha t s the b e aver breath ing
Th is w a s
sho w n by the w a ter s surfa c e gent ly ri sing a nd
falli ng
H e no w t oo k O ff h i s coat , a nd bar i ng h i s
ri gh t a rm u p t o th e shoulder h e gave m e t h e
i ce ch ise l a nd told m e to pi erce th e grou n d
w here th e dogs w ere p ointing
I had ha rdly
gi ven a bl o w or t w o before I sa w W a s a Kej i c
stoop over t he hol e and plunge h i s naked arm
i nt o th e w ater
I nsta ntly i t w a s w i thdra w n ,
a nd a b ig fa t beaver , se curely sei z ed by th e tail
w a s st ruggling i n h i s gra sp A bl o w of hi s axe
on the spi ne ni sh ed h im i n quick order , and
thi s w a s repea ted from tim e t o ti m e a s I c on
t i nu e d t o enlarge th e h ol e w here th e b eavers
w ere h uddled together u nder t h e roots
W e got six out of th i s w a sh , a nd t w o ou t of
another , w h i ch consti t uted a l l tha t w ere i n th e
lake T w o ea ch made a very good loa d for u s
goi ng h om e , a nd th e next day I sent a ma n w i th
a at sled t o bri ng h om e the remai ni ng fou r
The th re e pri nci pal m odes of killi ng beavers
are by shoot i ng , tra ppi ng, trenchi ng
,

I N D I A N M O DE OF HU N T I N G

91

B EAVE R

A s a hau n t a nd ho m e o f t h e musk rat , I v en

ture to s ay th at C umbe rla nd on th e S a sk a t c h e
w a n, i s the banne r produci n g post on th is con
F or m i les a nd m i les abou t th i s trading
t i ne nt
plac e th ere are i mme nse grassy marshes , cu t up
a nd i ntersected by w a t er w ays a nd lagoon s i n
every directi on From a h u ndred to a h undred
a nd fty t housand m usquash ski ns w as th e
u sua l returns from th e post a fe w years ago
T hree t imes duri ng th e year the hu nters mad e
thei r h arvest , rs t i n O ctober w hen th e li ttle
anima l s w ere busy ma king t h ei r funny l itt l e
cone m ud h ouses and cutt ing bu nches of long
gra ss for th ei r w int er s food
A t tha t tim e th e I ndia n w ou ld s e t h is bunch
o f N o 1 ste e l traps before sundo w n a nd th en
l ay off i n hi s ca noe a t a sh ort distance fro m
th e shore i n som e pond a nd shoot a t those s w im
mi ng pa st u nti l i t became too dusk t o re Then
he w ou ld make to some pla c e to dry grou nd , hau l
u p h is cano e , make a re and have h i s supper
W h e n h i s a fter mea l pipe Wa s ni sh e d h e w ou ld
si lently sh ove h i s ca noe i nto the w ater and m ake
hi s rst vi sit W hen setting h i s tra ps h e w ou ld
take t he precau ti on to pla c e on th e e nd of th e
pole t h at the chai n w a s fa stened to , a pi e ce of
pa per, a bu nch of gra ss or a piec e o f bi rch bark
Thi s enabl ed hi m to nd h i s traps i n th e da rk ,
a s th e Sign w ould Sh o w on th e sky l ine a s h e
,

C ANA D I A N W I LD S

92

p add l ed Slo w ly a l ong sitt i ng l ow do w n i n h i s

canoe
The l ooki ng a t h i s tra ps a nd resetting
Of t hem w ould take h im a n hour or t w o , the n
he w oul d c om e back t o h i s r e pla ce, thro w the
rat s h e ha d cau ght i n a pi l e, repleni sh th e r e
a nd st retch ou t f or a noth e r smoke A bou t ten
O clock he w oul d m ake a noth er vi si t a nd on h i s
return m ake a lasti ng re, rol l hi msel f i n h i s
H udson s B ay blanket a nd Sleep ti l l morni ng
O ften t w o visits w ere made i n th e m orning,
one j ust a t t he screec h of d a y a nd the la st one
a ft e r h e had h a d h i s breakfast
T raps w ere
take n u p a t thi s rs t vi si t t o b e s et i n som e
other loca lity tha t a ft ernoon , and th e hu nt e r
w ou ld paddle a w ay for h i s lodge, w here h e
w ou ld sleep a l l th e forenoon w h ile hi s w i fe and
ch ildren w ere ski nning a nd stretchi ng th e pe lts
T h e next a nd every nigh t w oul d be spen t i n t h e
sam e w ay u nti l th e i ce took , a nd th en a n o ther
m ode of sport I w i sh t o describe w ou ld take
pla ce
I ce i n one nigh t on the se shal lo w w ate rs w a s
s ufci ently strong t o support the w eigh t O f one
m an A rmed w ith a long barbed spea r a c ou ple
O f feet i n length , la sh e d to a stou t pole , a ba g
on hi s ba ck t o pu t th e rats i n , a nd som etime s
fol lo w ed by a boy a t a dista nce th e India n, w ith
hi s brigh t steel Skat es rm ly bu ckled on w ou ld
n
d
o
u
li
de
d
o
w
n
and
i
n
a
the
s
e
sk
ate
la
ne
s
t
g
.

'

I ND I AN M O DE O F H U N T I N G B EAVER

93

l ooking f or ra t hou s es P ra cti c e and e xperie nce

taugh t him t o ge t over the i c e i n the least noi sy
w ay I nstead of stri king ou t one f e e t a fter th e
o th e r , h e skated a s the people of H olla nd do
by a m o ti on Of th e h ips
It i s not a gra cefu l
w ay, b ut i t i s easy on the Skater of long di sta nces
on ne w glare i ce S lidi ng , a s i t w ere , do w n t o
one Of the mud c ones w i th spear rmly gra sped ,
he w ou ld drive i t do w n i n t o the c e n ter, a nd very
rare ly m issed t r a ns x i ng one a nd a t ti mes t w o
Of th e high ly perfumed little a nimals
Th e i nterior of a ra t hou se i s a sau cer l i k e
hol l o w i n the c e nter, j ust a l ittl e above th e leve l
O f t he w a ter
F rom th e edge of th is there may
be three or four sl ide w ays i nto dee p w a ter A t
the lea st a larm th e ra t s tu mb le do w n these in
a m i nute a nd only return w hen a ll da nge r i s
pa st W hen th e i nhab ita nts of a si ngle h ou se
numbe r eigh t, ten or t w elve and they hudd l e
toge ther f or w a rmth , t h ey are often one on t op
of a nothe r , a nd thu s the sp ear pa sse s th ru t w o
a t one thrust
The yet u nfrozen m ud i s torn
a w ay a nd the spea r w i th th e rats l ifted out , d i s
patched and placed i n th e bag , a nd t he hu nter
bears do w n t o a noth e r h ouse a nd so on thru th e
day W he n th e ba g bec ome s t oo heavy it i s
em ptied out on the i ce and the hun t c onti nued
To w ard s night the India n retrace s h i s road and
pi cks up the pi les h e left earl ier i n th e day H is
.

94

CANAD I AN W I LD S

l eath e r bag i s converted i nto a sled , the e nds of

h i s long w ai st ed sash are tied t o the bag , a nd
w i th th e lou p ove r h i s sh ou lder h e strikes out
a road straight for h i s ca mp , w el l pleased w it h
hi s day s sport and hi msel f Kno w ledge of the
architecture of the m usqua sh s h ouse ( f or they
ar e al l m odeled i n th e sam e w ay ) enables a
bush ma n to kno w j ust w h ere th e l i t t le fami ly
a re h uddled
Th ere i s yet a nother w ay nu mbers a re k il led
j ust after the i ce takes a nd before th e mud
hou ses becom e too hard froz en ; tha t i s to skate
do w n on them sh ot gun i n ha nd and re right
i nto th e c one of m ud Th e e ff ec t i s not k no w n
ti l l the earth i s pu lled a w ay
The sh ot bei ng
red a t su ch c lose range there i s , not u nf r e
qu e ntly, t hree or fou r d ead rats O ne can not
help t o m oral ize h o w cru el i t i s f or ma n t o
destroy a t a m om ent th e l abors of long nigh t s
of th ese i ndu stri ou s littl e a nimals , a nd c au se
the rem aining one t o patch up th e brea k a t a
sea son w h en it ca n neve r be a s good and w arm
a s w hen th e w ork i s done du ri ng ope n w ea ther
Th e hu nte r the refore sets h i s tra ps , so a s t o
keep them empl oyed , but h e ki ll s th e grea t e r
number w ith h is gu n A very sma l l charge of
po w der a nd sh ot i s re qu ired a nd i f the h unter
ke eps perfe c t ly qu iet i n hi s ca noe a nd i s bel o w
the w i nd , he c a n cal l th e ra t t o w i th i n ten feet

I N D I A N M O DE O F H U N T I N G B EAVER
of

95

his gu n
I have pu sh ed by ca noe out from
the shore of a sma l l lake a nd ca lled , j us t about
sundo w n a nd h a ve cou nted no fe w e r tha n six
rats com ing from a s m any d i e r e nt di re ctions
O ne w a i ts ti l l they get s o cl ose tha t they s he er
O ff , a nd t h e n r e si de w ay s at t he h ea d

C H AP T E R X I I
I N D I AN M O DE O F H U N T I NG

L YN x

AN D M AR T E N

S nari ng i s th e pri nci pa l w ay i n w h ich the

lynxes a re kil led by the N orth A meri ca n I n
dia ns A fter a h eav v fa l l of sno w , ho w ever , i f
a n I ndia n crosses a fresh lynx tra ck , he i mm e
di ately gives cha se, even i f h e h as only h i s belt
axe
The hu nter only foll o w s v e r v fresh tra c ks ,
a nd i n a sh ort t ime comes u p w i th t h e bi g ca t
A s soon a s th e a nima l kno w s i t i s pursu ed , i t
either cli mbs a tree or crouches under some
thi ck sh rub
I f the hu nter nds i t u p a tree,
h e sets t o w ork a t onc e t o cu t do w n the tree
( that i s i f h e h as no gu n ) A S soon a s the tree
totters h e makes h i s w ay i n the directi on w h i ch
i t i s t o fall
Th e lynx cl ings t o th e tree u nti l
near the ground a nd then Spri ngs clea r W h i le
he i s ou nderin g i n th e sno w, th e I ndia n brave
l y ru ns i n and knocks hi m w ith hi s axe
Of
c ourse i f h e ha s hi s gu n , h e sim ply sh oots the
cat a nd i t tu mbles dea d t o the foot of th e tree
T he feat of ru nni ng do w n a lynx a nd sh oot i ng
him w ith a bo w and arro w i s w hat a ll In di a n
.

96

M O DE O F H U N T I NG L Y N X AN D M AR T E N

"
9t
1

youths ai m to a ccom pl ish ; they are then c ons i d

ered hunters
L ynxe s a re a l w ays fou nd i n greates t nu m
bers w here thei r natural food supply i s m ost
plentiful
T hey fee d u sually on rabbits a nd
partridges , a nd these are to be fou n d i n you ng
gro w th of su ch tree s a s pitch pi ne, birch a nd
popla r
T h e India n a lso , w hen h e i s dependent on
rabbits , l ives on th e borde r o f such a cou ntry,
a nd ha s long l ines of snares w h ich h e V i sits t w o
A long thi s snare road
or three ti mes a w eek
a t certa i n distances he ha s hi s lynx snares ,
w h i c h are noth ing d i e r e nt from th ose s et f or
r a bbits , excep t bein g m uch la rger Y e s , there
i s another di ff erence : I nstead of th e snare b e
i ng tied to a tossi ng pol e , it i s simply tied to a
stou t birch sti ck , 3 or 4 feet l on g by about 2
i nc he s i n d iameter T he extrem e ends of th i s
a re lodged on t w o forked sti cks , a nd th e snare
hangi ng do w n i n th e m iddle i s then Set , tied
to smal l dry t w igs on each side to keep i t i n
position
A t the ba c k of the snare , a t abou t 2 or 3 feet ,
the hea d a nd s t u e d ski n of a rabbi t i s xed u n
de r som e brush
The Ski n i s lled w ith m oss ,
o r pi ne bru sh , and i s xed s o a s to look a s mu ch
as possible l i ke a l ive rabbi t i n i ts for m The
.

98

CANAD I AN W I LD S

hea d bei ng t o th e ski n gives it th e natura l sha pe

a nd smell a nd the lynx w alki ng lei surely a long
th e sno w sh oe tra ck noti ces the game an d makes
a spri ng for i t throu gh th e snare I n h i s head
lon g bound h e carri es snare a nd cross sti ck
a long w i th h im , a nd a s soon a s he feels the cord
tigh teni ng abou t h i s neck he not i nfrequently
becomes hi s ow n executioner by getti ng hi s fore
feet on the sti ck a nd pul li ng ba ck w a rds a s har d
a s h e ca n
T he m ore h e struggles , t h e madder
he gets , and pulls the ha rder to free him sel f but
thi s i s, on th e contra ry only m aki ng matters
w orse T h e loo p of th e n oose get s matted i nto
the soft, th ick ha i r of th e throa t , a nd there i s

no sla ck a fter that ; i n a f e w m om ents the

gre a t ca t i s dead
S ometimes the lynx carries th e cross sti ck in
hi s m ou th a nd climbs a tree Th is i s i nvariably
th e last tree he ever cl imbs , becau se once u p t h e
tr ee h e lets th e sti ck dro p a nd i t ha ngs do w n ,
genera lly on the opposite Side of th e limb from
tha t on w h ich th e lynx i s A S th e cat goes
do w n th e tree on one side th e cross stick goes
up to w a rd the l imb on the other and gets xed
i n th e crotch A s soon a s the c ord ti gh tens
abou t hi s neck h e tries th e ha rder to get do w n ,
a nd is c onsequ ently ha n gin g h im self
L ynxes are very stu pi d They w il l even put
th e i r foo t i n t o an o p en a n d ex p o s ed steel tra p ;
,

99

M O DE O F H U N T I NG L YN X AN D M AR T E N

th e better o ff I ndia ns often u s e smal l N O

1 tra ps i nstea d of snares
Thi s , h o w ever i s only
done la tterly, a nd by the very w ell off I ndians
A s a rul e I ndia ns only have trap s for beaver ,
otter , f ox a nd bea r
L ynxes a re very ra rely seen i n summer , k e e p
i ng c lose to th e th ickest bu sh I n a ny ca se , th e
skin i s then of n o va lue, a nd they a re fa r fro m

bei ng a thi ng o f beauty, w ith no t hi ng bu t a

bare ski n
I n the prime sta te th ey a re largely u sed on
t h e c ont i ne nt a s l i nings , a nd ea ch Ski n i s w ort h
abou t $ 4
a nd

T here are three ki nds or qua lities of marten s

recognized by the trappers
Fi rs t The pine marten that i s fou nd i n th e
cou ntry c overed by soft w oods , such a s pi ne ,
Spruc e, w h ite r a nd b irch
Thi s i s th e m ost
numerou s a nd consequently the ski ns are of
l east valu e Th ey are of yell o w ish bro w n color
o n the back a nd orange on th e throa t , changing
do w n to pale yel lo w or w h ite on the bel ly
S econ d Th e roc k m arten ; th i s i s fou n d i n
a country w i th stunted gro w th of spru c e ti m
ber , a very m ou ntai nou s district , th e ch ief fea
tures of w h ich a re great crevi ces and boul ders
S ome O f t he ski n s O f t h is variety are Of grea t
.

1 00

CANAD I AN W I LD S

beauty, be i ng dark on bac k, an d th roa t an d si de s

of gray or stone colo r
T h e third ki nd , w h i ch i s t h e scarcest , a nd
consequently of most va lue, i s th e marten fou nd
i n the black Spruc e cou ntry, or s w am ps of north
ern L abrador Th e fur of thi s variety i s of a
deep bro w n color throughou t the pelt , a nd a t
times th e t ips of the h a i r s on the rump a re sil
ver gray or golden bro w n
Th e latter are very
rare, a nd such ski ns have been sol d i n the L on
d on fur ma rket f or 5 a piece " They a re a lso
mu ch larger tha n the other ki nds , th e s ki ns of
the mal e often bei ng from 2 4 to 3 0 i nch es l on g ,
exclusive of th e ta i l
The proper a nd m ost successfu l time for
hu nti ng i s i n th e latter d ays of N ovember a nd
th e w hole m onth of D ecember They are hu nted
agai n i n M arch , b ut by that ti m e the s u n has
bl ea ched ou t th e color of the ha ir , w h i ch causes
a deprec iati on i n va lue
A s a bu si ness trappi ng i s th e only m ode of
k i lling m artens T hey are rarely seen to be
shot at , a s they pa ss the days i n thi ckets or h ol
l ow stumps , only emergi ng after nightfal l to
hu nt their food , w hi ch consists of m ice, birds ,
you ng pa rtridges , etc
W ooden traps a re made i n th e w el l kno w n

gu r e of f ou r
shape, and are se t eithe r on
.

M O DE

0 F HU N T I N G L Y N X

A N D M AR T E N

1 01

stump s or on t he s no w , attened do w n wi th the

s no w shoes , a nd the tra p bui l t th ereon
I t i s consi dered a very good day s w or k i n
D e c ember for a trapper to c onstru c t , bai t a nd
se t u p tw enty v e such traps
A rea l m arten
hu nter ( nothi ng t o do w ith my name ) camps
ea ch nig h t a t th e end of hi s day s w ork u n ti l he
has from 1 5 0 to 2 00 traps s e t " H e generally
v i sits them on c e i n ten days or a fo rtni ght , a nd
i f the catch averages one m a rten to ten traps i t
i s c onsidered very fai r
I t takes the hunte r t w o fu ll days to reba it ,
clean ou t and freshen u p such a li ne W hen
small stee l traps are u s ed i nstea d of th e dead
f a ll , th e hunter ca n cover m ore grou nd i n a day
a nd do better w ork than by m aki ng al l w ood
traps
T he steel traps are mu ch m ore fortuna t e

than th e w ood ones

I n th e gu r e of four
traps , before th e a nim al i s cau ght i t mu st s eize
the b a i t w i th i ts teeth and pul l strong enough
t o s et O ff the t ra p, w hereas w ith the steel tra p
the m ere fac t Of h i s com ing to the door w ay t o
smel l i n s ure s h i s pu t ti ng h i s foot i n i t , and i n a
m omen t u p h angs M r M arten or Mr M i nk , a s
th e c as e m ay be "
O f course the st eel trap s have th i s d i sa d va nt
age they are w eighty ; that i s , w hen you have
fty and over on you r back , bu t th e ma n w h o
follo ws trappi ng a s a bu si ness ca n very ea s ily
.

CA NA D I AN W I LD S

1 02

over c om e th is di fcul ty by placing catch es of

traps a t di ff erent places by ca noe near w here h e
proposes to have h i s l i ne i n the w i nter ; a nd he
ca n then branch off no w and agai n for a ne w
supply a s h e i s setti ng u p h is trap road
This leavi ng th e ma i n road a t righ t angles
o nc e i n a w h il e m igh t even be a source of prot
to th e trapper , for h e m ight come a cross a bear
den or a beaver lodge , or fal l on deer tracks , a nd
i f h e su cceeded i n kill in g a deer som e of th e
si ne w y parts w ould come i n to bai t hi s traps
The taki ng O f th e ski ns of these l ittl e a ni
m al s i s very sim pl e The kni fe i s u sed only
abou t th e hea d ; once back of the ears th e ski n
i s dra w n steadi ly u nti l t h e ta i l i s reached , the
core of w hi ch i s dra w n ou t, either by a spli t
sti ck or by the sti ff thu mb n a i l o f th e trapper
Th e ski n i s then dried on a t ( three ) spl i nts ,
and w hen dr ied s u i c i e nt l y to preven t i t spoi l
i ng i s tied u p w i th others to th e number of ten
i n ea ch bundle, a nd are thu s taken to the trader
or fu r dealer
T h e rst purchaser fro m th e trapper gener
ally buys them a t a n average pri ce bu t h e sel ls
them to the ma nu fa cturer S elected ; that i s , get
ting a h igh pri ce f or the dark and a lo w pr ic e for
th e yel lo w or pal e
.

C H A P T E R X I II

I N D I AN M O DE S O F H U N T I NG F OX E S

T h e fox a s a ru l e i s a m ost w ily a ni ma l , and

numerou s are th e stori e s of hi s cu nni ng to w ard
th e I ndia n hu nter w ith h i s stee l traps
S ta rvation make s them cat ch i n deadfal ls ,
bu t they m ust b e very sta rved i ndeed before
th ey pu ll a pi e c e of frozen bai t a nd have a
w eigh t fa l l on th ei r ba ck Th e ski n s of foxes
ki lled durin g starvation a re never s o va luabl e,
a s the h ai r then l acks the ri ch gloss
W hen
sma l l gam e i s plenty, su ch a s rabbits a nd part
ridges , and foxes a re fe w , th e ski n s a re of a
deep ri chness not seen u nder oth er ci r c u m
stances
T he re are severa l di fferen t a nd di sti n c t c o l
or s of foxe s of th e north cou nt ry
They a re a ll
of th e sam e fami ly, w ith th e si ngl e excepti o n
These a part from
of th e w h i te or a rc ti c fox
thei r di fferenc e of color , d i e r very mu ch i n
thei r chara cteri sti cs They are not c unni ng ; on
th e c ontra ry , they are posi t ively stupid They
w il l readi ly ca t ch i n dea dfalls , and w i l l w alk
i n t o an open , uncovered ste e l tra p i n day l igh t "
.

1 03

104

CA NAD I AN

W I LD S

A gai n t h e esh of th e a rcti c fox i s eaten as

readily a s that of the hare or w hite partridge ;
all other foxes are c a rrion ; even a starving I n
dian w ould give th e m th e go b y
O f th e other or tru e fox w e have many col
or s a nd shades of c olor , and I give t hem i n thei r
ca sh va lue rotati on , beginni ng w ith th e black
or pole fox ; Fi rst , b la ck o r pole ; second , bl ack
si lver ; th ird , silver gray ; fou rth , black cross ;
fth , da rk cross ; sixth , ordi nary cross ; s e v
e nt h , ligh t cross ; e ighth , dark blue ( i
e , l ea d
color ) n inth , li ght blue ; tenth bri gh t red ;
e leventh , ligh t red ; t w e lfth , arc t i c w h i t e ; thir
t e e nt h pal e red
N umber th i rtee n i s th e poorest qu antity of
the fox fa mi ly, a nd i s w ort h less tha n the a rc ti c
w hite fox
Ja nua ry i s th e best m onth for t ra pping
F i rst , beca u se t h e f u r i s the n at its p r i m es t and
se cond , food i s harder to get a nd the fox c ons e
quently m ore likely to enter a trap
O f course , a ny number of traps w i l l catch a
f ox , bu t not every t ra p w i l l hold him
There i s
such a thi ng a s th e tra p bei ng t oo large a nd
strong, a s w el l a s t oo sm al l and w ea k "I V h e n
t oo large a nd strong i t catches t oo high u p the
leg, a nd bei ng t oo strong i t breaks th e bone a t
th e s a m e t im e ; a nd then i n cold w ea ther i t s
only a question of a fe w mi nutes f or the frozen
-

I N D I AN MO DE S O F HUN T I N G

FO X E S

1 05

sk i n a nd m u sc l es of th e leg t o be t w i sted O ff a nd
M ast er F ox runs a w ay on th ree legs , eve r afte r
t o be t oo c unning to be ca ugh t i n a trap O n
the o ther ha nd , i f the trap i s too sma l l and w ea k
i t catch e s th e fox by the toes a nd h e either pull s
h i s foot c lea r a t onc e or the toes , becom ing
frozen a nd i nsensible t o feeli ng, are t w i sted O ff :
a nd thi s , i f a nyth ing i s a harder fox t o c ircu m
vent tha n the on e w i th ha l f a leg
The prope r tra p to u se i s a N e w hou se N o
2
Wh en properly s et i t catches j u st above a ll
t he ngers , a s i t w ere , or w here the pa w or foot
w ou ld c orre spond w ith th e th ick part Of the
hand T here i s a good , solid h old of m us c l e s
si ne w s , et c
T here , onc e th e j a w s a r e xed
they hold th e f ox t o th e death
F ox hu nters are very part i cu lar t o k ee p
everything connected w i th the trappi ng a w ay
from t h e hou se or c am p , even w eari ng a n out
side pai r of m oc cas i ns , w h ich a re peeled O ff a nd
hung u p w it h th e s no w sh oes
Th e hunte r genera lly pla ces hi s trap or tra ps
on som e b a r e p oi nt j utting ou t i nto th e l ake , or
some narro w s , or nea r a clum p of w i l lo w s a t th e
edge Of barren grou nds , or a ny other pla ce h i s
j udgment tel ls h im a fox i s likely to pa ss Th e
fe w er signs th e bet ter ; t he refore i nstead of t he
chai n bei ng tied to a picket a st ick 4 o r 5 ft
l ong i s s lipped through th e ri ng on th e chai n u p
.

1 06

C ANAD I A N W I LD S

to th e m idd l e H ere i t i s s ecurely fastene d , so

that i t w on t sli p e i th er w ay
A trench th e
length of the stick i s cu t do w n i n th e sno w w ith
the hea d of th e axe , and the po le la id therei n
ab ou t a foo t beneath the surfa ce S no w i s th en
pi led i n a nd the w h ole packed hard
T h e tra p i s no w opened , and the sno w packed
d o w n w ith the back of the ma n s m itt large
enough t o l ay the tra p a nd spri n g there i n T he
trap i s now ope n and abou t 2 i n lo w er t han
the surrou nding sno w T h e hu nter no w begins
careful ly t o lay ne at balsam bo w s or clusters
o f needle s from the pa late ou t t o the j a w s u nti l
the w hole i s covered ; then very ge ntly he eith e r
dusts l igh t s no w over thi s u nti l i t has th e sam e
a ppeara nc e a s th e rest or h e ta kes u p t w o large
p i e ces of froze n sno w a nd rubs th em t ogether
over th e t rap u nt i l a ll i s c overed
C h opped u p frozen mea t or sh , a su pply of
wh i ch th e trapper i s provided w ith , i s now
spri nkled or thro w n about , begi nning 1 5 or 2 0
ft off a nd gra dua lly getti ng m ore plentiful a s
th e trap i s neared
W i th a bru sh broom t he hu nter dust s h i s
sno w sh oe tracks full a s h e recedes from th e
t ra p u nt i l he i s O ff 3 0 or 4 0 f t ; after tha t no
further precauti on i s n ecessary for a n ordinary
fox B ut f or an ex tra ordi nary one I c ould r e
late a hundred di ffere nt w ay s of se tt i ng tra ps
.

'

I N D I AN M OD E S

or

HUNTIN G

FO X E

1 07

ba i t t o overrea ch the w i ly ol d fello w ; bu t

i n most ca ses i t i s ti m e w aste d , th e fox ea ti ng
the ba it a nd tu rning th e traps over nigh t a fter
ni gh t , m u ch to the v exa ti on of th e hu nt e r
I t i s a pretty sigh t to see a bla ck or Si l ver
gray fox j umpi ng i n a tra p on the pu re w h i t e
sno w I w ent one t im e w i th W a s a Kej i c to see
hi s traps i n t h e barren grou nds ba ck of the post
I w as follo w i ng i n h i s sno w sh oe t ra cks steadi ly ,
and w e w ere j u st t oppi ng a sma l l s w el l i n th e
c ou ntry, here a nd there c lumps of bla ck w i ll o w s
A l l at onc e he stopped s o sudde nly i n hi s tra cks
tha t I fel l u p a ga inst h i m

There
h e said
loo k a t tha t " M y eye
follo w ed h i s nge r , a nd t h e re , j um pi ng and
struggli ng t o get a w ay, w a s a l arge bla c k fox "

L e t m e shoot h i m , I exclai m ed , dra w i ng

my gun cover a s I spoke

O h no , h e re pl ied , We w i l l only d o tha t

i f he pu lls h imsel f c lear o f th e trap

A nd w it h
that he dre w h i s be l t axe and w alked w ith a
steady st ep do w n on the fox Th e c lose r h e got
the m ore the fox struggled bu t h e w a s w e l l
and freshly caught , a nd the t ra p held h im fa st
W a s a Kej ic gave h im a ta p on th e nose w i th
the helve o f th e axe w hi ch had th e e ffe ct of
stu nni ng h im Th e India n then sei zed h im w ith
hi s lef t ha nd by the th roa t , a nd w i th hi s righ t
h an d fe l t f or h i s hear t ; th is h e dre w gradually
and

1 08

CA NAD I A N W I LD S

do w n t o w ar d th e stomach u nt i l the h ear t s t r i ng s

g ave w ay ; th ere w a s a qu iv er , a nd th e fox w a s
thro w n do w n on th e sno w limp a nd dead
W ha t a plea sed l oo k th e I ndia n w ore as h e
stood there evidently obl ivi ou s t o m y prese nce
for th e mome n t , a s h e gazed do w n on th e m ost
valuable ski n i t w a s possible for hi m to trap
W ha t a number of necessaries and luxuries thi s
w ou ld procure f or h is family
H e w ou ld ge t
from the fa ct or a t th e pos t $ 8 0 for th a t one
si ngle ski n "W hat a number of any o th er ski n s
i t w ou ld ta k e t o a m ou nt t o th a t sum "
.

C HAP T E R X I V

I ND I AN M O DE S O F H U N T I NG O TT E R AN D

M U S QUAS H

W ith steel or w ooden traps i s th e o nly sys

T hey
t e m a t i c a l w ay o f hunting these a nimals
a re, O f c ourse, hu nted f or thei r pelts i n th e north
c ountry of C a nada , a nd not f or sport, a s i n S cot
l a nd A fe w are shot , but these are met w it h
by chance
N ovember i s w hen th e I ndian sets hi s traps
f or otters
T hey have then thei r fu ll w i nter
c oat s on ; and i t i s j ust before the smal l lakes
a nd rivers s e t fast
T heir resort i s generally i n som e cha i n c f
s ma ll la kes w i th creeks c onnecti ng th e cha i n ,
a nd thei r home , i f they ca n nd one , i s a n empty
beaver l odge They prefer su ch a place a s a f
ter the i ce i s taken i n shi ng al ong shore , they

carry th e sh i nto one of th e w a shes , w here

they c a n breath e a nd ea t w i th safety a nd c om
fort
Th e o tter i s a grea t enemy of th e beaver , bu t
never w illingly c ourts a n encou nter ; yet , every
t ime they m eet , there i s a terrible battle I r e
m em ber years ago c omi ng ou t on a s ma ll l ake
.

'

109

110

CA NAD I A N W I LD S

a b ou t su ndo w n , a nd seei ng a great com mot i on

on th e surfa ce of th e w ater a fe w h u ndred yards
ou t , j um ped i nto my canoe a nd qu iet ly paddled
A s I dre w nea r , I noti ced t w o bla ck ob
ou t
j e c t s enga ged i n a deadly coni ct A lth ou gh
they mu st have Observed the canoe , they pai d n o
attenti on , bu t c onti nued the ght sometime s
disappearing beneat h th e surface, fast t o each
other for a fu l l m i nute
W hen w i th in gunsh ot , I made out the c om
batta nts to be a n otter a nd a beaver , and could
have despatched the t w o w ith one sh ot , only I
could pla i nly see they w ere both very m u ch ex
hansted , a nd I w i shed t o s e e w h i ch w ould ga i n
t h e day
T he en d w a s nearer tha n I ex pected O nce
m ore they di sappeared beneath th e w aters ea ch
mai nta i ni ng the sam e deadly gri p of th e other s
neck ; a fe w m oments later the beaver oated to
the surfa c e on i ts ba ck , dead
I looked about
for the otter , a nd sa w h im s w imm i ng to w a rd th e
shore, bleeding profusely from ma ny w ounds
and evidently hu rt to th e death
I follo w ed ,
ho w ever , w ith my gun ful l c ocked , ready i f need
be t o sh oot h i m ; but the beaver s long Sharp ,
spade l ike teeth ha d done thei r w ork w el l for
the otter a l l a t once rose half out of th e w ater ,
p a w e d a b out f or a m inute i n a b li nd w ay, t u rn ed
.

H U N T I NG OTT ER A N D

M U SQ UAS H

111

over on hi s side, gave one convulsive qu iver, a nd

he also w a s dead
A N o 3 N e w h ouse tra p i s genera lly u sed
I n fa c t , th is nu mber i s cal led throu gh ou t th e

c ountry otter trap

T hese traps a re s et a t the
overo w of beaver dams a nd otter slide w ays
during the Open w ater a nd a t littl e portages
used by w a ter rats crossi ng from one bend of a
smal l river to another
N o ba i t i s u sed ; the
tra p i s s et i n abou t 4 i nches of w ater w i th a
picket ou t i n deep w ater t o ti e the c ha i n to a nd
a sma l l piec e of c as t or u m on a forked sti c k
The Odor of the beaver ca stor ha s a ve ry a l
luri ng e e c t on m ost a l l a nimal s , a nd i s greatly
u sed by the hu nter
Traps f or otters a re s et i n the follo w ing w ay,
under the i c e : A pla c e i s selected i n som e small
creek , c onnecti n g t w o l akes , w here signs o f ot
ters a re fou nd
These signs are noti ceable at
th e discharge of the lake, w here th e lake i ce thi ns
O ff i nto open w ater , for th e i ce i s s o th i n tha t
th e otter readi ly breaks a hole to c ome out on
the i ce to eat the sh The otter i s a s h eating
a nimal , a nd i s very expert i n catch ing them
T hei r sl ide w ays are genera lly made on some
m oss covered rocky promontory , j u tti ng out
i nt o a lake Here they w i ll cl imb u p one si de
and s li d e d ow n t h e oth e r f or h o u r s at a t i m e
.

1 12

CA NAD I AN W I LD S

O tters , w hen taken young, a re readily tame d

a nd become great pets
A nother w a v of setting tra ps i n w i nter i s u n
der th e i c e i n som e creek w here otters a re kno w n
t o resort T he i ce i s cu t a w ay from the bank ,
ou t w ard for abou t 3 feet l ong by 1 foot or so
w ide E a ch Side of th is c ut i s staked w ith dry
sti cks , driven i nto th e m u d or sandy bottom
Th e tra p i s s e t bet w een th e stakes a t th e outer
end , i n abou t 4 i nches of w ater at lea st ; tha t
i s , th e w ater may be deeper tha n that , bu t t w o
cross sti cks a re s o pla ced that th e otter i n e n
teri ng mu st go u nder th e sticks and thu s gets
caught T h e pi cket to secure th e trap ch a in to
i s ou t from th e tra p a s i n open w ater time
T o i ndu ce hi m t o enter , a smal l w h i t e sh or
trout i s pla ced o n a forked sti ck nea r th e sh ore
a nd i s s o xed tha t i t a ppea rs t o be al ive a nd
s w immi ng A S soon a s the tra p i s struck , the
otter j umps ba ck w a rd i nto deep w ater , a nd for
w a nt o f a ir i s soon dead
.

'

I n C a nada a nd th e U n ited S tates th e k ill

i ng o f th e l ittle a nima l kno w n u nder the several
names of w a ter rat musqua sh a nd m uskrat i s
s o w el l u nderstood by the avera ge frontier b oy
that a ny i nforma tion I can give w ould be per
haps a repeti ti on
St i l l th ere i s one w ay that the I ndian pra e
,

H U N T I NG OTT ER AN D M U S Q UA S H

1 13

t ices w hi ch i s c erta i nly not kno w n t o the w hi tes ,

a nd i s a t a certa i n tim e very su ccessful
Tha t
i s spea ri ng them on th e i ce ; a nd a nother mode
i n w h ich th e I ndians a re very su ccessful i n the

fal l i s diggi n g them ou t , or trenchi ng them ,

i n th e sam e w a y they do the beaver , only w ith
mu ch less labor , a s i t i s done before the ponds
a nd c reeks freeze u p I w i l l describe the latter
w ay rst , seei ng i t comes before tha t of spearin g
T he resort o f m usqua sh ( a l w ays w here they
are i n numbers ) i s a long gra ssy rivers , creeks
or pond s ; for they store u p large qua nti ti es of
the l Ong, a t gra ss for w i nter u s e, a s the beaver
does w i th young b i rch and popla r Th e I ndia n
paddli ng a long the Shores of su ch pla ces ha s h i s
eyes xed on the bottom Of the w ater ; presently
he perceives th e entra nc e t o one of th e rat bur
ro w s ; h e stops h i s ca no e a nd gazes xedly on
th e openi ng, w h ich i s al w ays abou t a foot u nder
w ater A t l a st h e s ees th e w ater ebb a nd o w
i n and ou t of the h ole T hi s i s a sure Sign that

th e w ash i s o ccu pied at tha t very m oment by

one or m ore rats
H e a t o nce , either w ith h is axe or th e blade
of hi s sharp m a p le p addl e, ch ops do w n th e m ud
bank u ntil he ha s a n emba n k men t or dam Thi s
is t o p revent th e m usquash f rom ru nni ng out t o
d ee p w ater W hen al l i s ready, eithe r his wi fe
.

1 14

CA NAD I AN

w I L Ds

th e boy w h o i s steeri ng th e canoe i s sen t

ashore to prod abou t th e honey combed ban k
w ith the h andle of h is paddle T h e li ttle a ni
ma ls th u s di stu rbed a nd th oroughly fri ghtened
make a rush for th e outlet , deep w ater and

sa fety , bu t ( there i s a l w ays a but ) the Indian ,

w i th h i s u pra i sed pa ddle , ha s hi s eye steadily
xed on th e w ater back o f hi s dam , and a s fast
a s one makes i t s appeara nc e th e sharp edge of
the paddl e i s brough t do w n on its head or ba ck ,
a n d i t i s thro w n i nto th e ca noe , quivering i n i ts
death a gony From t w o t o ei ght or n i ne are
not i nfrequently taken from one h ole W hen
t h e l as t one i s killed the I ndia n m oves h is canoe
on u nti l h e nds a nother colony, a nd the same
process i s gone over a ga in , a nd h e returns to h is
cam p w ith hi s cano e l l ed w ith mu squash
I
have i n th e fal l received from one I ndian as
many as
Ski ns , large a nd small
M usqua sh breed t w i ce i n t h e summer , and
bri ng forth a t each l itter from s i x t o ei ght
In
the fal l th e la rge ones fetch th e h u nters ten
cen ts , and th e kits , or small ones , ve cents
T he spea ring of th e mu squa sh i s done i n thi s
wi se : T h e rats th ro w u p little m ud cone lodges ,
or hou ses , out from the Shore, i n abou t a foot of
w ater T hey are not u nlike beaver l odges The
i nsi de i s hollo w a nd the entra nce i s u nder w a ter
I n t h is re s ort the ra t s si t, huddled together , d u r

or

H U N T I NG OTT ER AN D

M USQ UASH

115

i ng mos t of th e severe w inter w eather

The
hunter , therefore a s soon a s th e ic e w i l l bea r
h i s w eight , sl ides u p to th e ra t houses , armed
w ith a sharp barbed , steel spea r , about a foot
l ong , let i nto th e end of a small ta ma ra c h an
dle Th i s handl e i s general ly about 8 feet l ong
A rrivi ng close to th e l odge , h e poises th e spear
i n mi d ai r for a m oment a nd drives i t do w n
throu gh th e lodge w ith al l h i s m igh t
If h e
pi erced a rat , h e feel s i t w ri ggl i ng on the spear ,
a nd keeps i t fa st there u nti l h e ha s torn a w ay
the m ud and grass H e then seizes i t by th e ta i l
a nd dra w s i t w ith a j erk from th e spea r a nd
knocks it on th e i ce, w hich ni shes M r R at A t
times , w hen there a re a number of m u squ ash i n
the sam e lodge a t the sa me tim e, th e spea r often
passes through t w o , or even three , a t one stroke
T hi s i s grea t Sport w here th e lodges ar e num er
.

'

ou s

Mu squa sh ki lled u nder the i c e are w orth t w o

or three cents ea ch m ore tha n i n th e fall , a nd
the hu nter m akes frequently t w o t o fou r dol lars
a day w h i le i t lasts
T he esh of m usquash killed u nder th e i c e
i s h ighly esteemed by th e I ndians I t ha s then
i ts w i nter fat on, a nd i s free from the Obj ec ti on
ab l e Odor w h ich preva ils i n th e spring
T he ski ns of th e large ones , w hen dressed
m a k e strong a nd durable l ini ng for cloaks , coa ts
.

1 16

CA NAD I AN W I LD S

et c , a nd are m ade u p i nto caps a lso

skins a re u sed i n large numbers i n t h

factu re of kid gloves The Hudson B
pany ex p orts a nnually abou t
s
.

C H AP T E R X V
RE M AR K A B LE S U CCE SS

O f al l the lu c ky h unters I ever k ne w I ac cord

the bu n to N a ta w ay H e w a s one of the en
gaged serva nts a t the post i n C a n ada , a nd w h en
eve r he put on hi s sno w shoes a nd sai led forth
from the ga tes , som e crea t ure or b ird w ould
cross hi s path or visi on To do th i s a nd com e
w ithi n rea sonable dista nce of N a ta w ay s sm al l
bore , muzzl e loading ri e w as sure and speedy
death t o the u nfortu nate beast or bird
I c ould never u nderstand wh y he chose t o b e
a serva nt i n th e C ompany i n pre ference to b e
i ng free t o roam th e lakes , rivers a nd forest s,
becau se had he electe d to foll o w the oc cu pati on
of a trapper a nd hu nter he cou ld not h ave fa i led
t o mak e double the money O ther I ndian s had
t rap s se t al l around a nd qui te near th e p ost and
ye t N a ta w ay w ould ki ll a s m u ch a s t he averag e
one , w i th only a poor half day O ff a nd h i s d ay
on S u nday
I never saw hi s e qua l f or qu i ckness i n se t
ting deadfall s or rabbi t snare s H o w ever thi s
partakes m ore of a bi ography than w h at I s et
-

11 7

1 18

C ANA D I AN W I LD S

to re l ate , a nd ye t i t i s a n i ndis p ensab l e d i

gr e s s i on t o e nab le th e reader to believe t he w on
d e r f ul a nd rema rkable su ccess thi s ma n had one
day w hen he w a s given l eave from dayl igh t t o
ni ght
There w a s a w eighty rea son for thi s
extr a freedom from duty for th e fac t w a s th e
post pe ople w ere short of meat The month w a s
A pri l and our frozen supply nearly u sed u p
N a ta w ay kne w o f a si ngle moose yard , or
more properly speaki ng a ya rd w i th a singl e
m oose a s occupa nt To ki ll a l one m oose on th e
crus t does no t requ i re th e combined e ff ort s of
t w o or m ore persons therefore N a ta w ay w a s
told to go a nd ki l l the m oose a nd sk i n and quar
t r e the a nimal , w hi ch consideri ng th e di sta nce
t o go a nd com e , a mounte d to a very good day s
w ork
B ut N a ta w ay besides doi ng t hi s a nd
doing i t w el l , a ccompli shed mu ch m ore
C omi ng do w n from th e m oose m ou nt ai n t o
get b ette r w a lking h e crossed the fresh tra cks
Of a la rge bea r Thi s w a s nuts t o ou r m an He
i mmediately turned a sid e a nd follo w ed up t h e
trai l , rammi ng do w n one of h is little p ea bu llets
a s h e w en t The h ea t of th e morni ng s u n h a d
softened the crust of th e ni gh t a nd M r B rui n
w a s maki ng hea d w ay w ith difcu lty
I n fa ct
N a ta w ay had not gone over hal f a m i le w h e n
he sighted t he bear a nd w a s very s oon close u p
t o him
out

R E M AR KA BL E
T h e be a r had t w o k i nd

S U CCE S S
of

119

ideas O ne w as t o
c l i mb a tree and the second to ru n a w ay , nei ther
of w hi ch w a s carried i nto eff ect , for a bullet
st opped t he co w ardly a c t of ru nn ing , a nd a
second one i n t h e ea r sti lled h im foreve r The
ski n and th e pa w s w e re a l l the hu nter c arri ed
The mea t w ould be got w h en th e men
a w ay
c a m e f or the moose
N a ta w ay w a s very soon s w ingi ng on do w n
the m ou ntai n a nd stru ck a cree k w hi ch e m ptied
i nto one of a chai n of l akes , th a t i n turn drai ned
i nt o the bi g Ka kee bon ga lake u pon w hi ch th e
post w a s situated
Fol lo w i ng do w n thi s cree k
he notic e d ahead of h i m a m i nk , w ork i ng hi s
w ay u p a long th e Shore , n os e i ng every hole a s
he came N othi ng w a s too bi g or t oo small f or
N a ta w ay Poor l ittl e m ink "
W h e n he got abreast o f th e ma n on t he i ce ,
st ood on i ts h i nd legs to get a be t te r V i e w of th e
s t ra nge Obj ect, but a t tha t i nstant its sigh t b e
c am e blurred , f or i t tumbled ove r dea d I t w a s
s o ful l of l i fe, energy and cu riosity a fe w m o
m ent s ago , w as no w bei ng carri ed on th e In
dian s ba c k , s hove d i nt o th e folds of th e be ar
sk i n
B u t then , i f w e moral ize , a ma n i s w alki ng
w i t h e lasti c step a long a street w hen Presto "
t h e h ea r t st ops , and he i s be i ng c arried fee t for e
.

12 0

C ANA D I AN W I L D S

m o s t by som e thre e
t r i ans

or

fou r horror s truck pe d e s

-

T he h ou r w a s t h en h igh noon , sn o w soft a nd

w a l k i ng bad
N a ta w ay ha d covere d several
m i les a nd done m u ch sinc e he had l eft h i s bed
tha t m orni ng Hi s i nner ma n be ga n t o crave
for food , the condi ti ons w ere favorable, w ood
w ater and a su nny ba nk W h at cou ld be m ore
a lluri ng t o a w eary ma n " A bright re w a s
soon burning w ith the ever w elcome tea k e ttle
hangi ng i n the blaze , the h unt e r on h i s knees i n
fron t w a iting for i t t o boi l
A nother digr e ssion righ t here I never sa w
a ma n m ake t ea , bu t after chuc k i ng i n an am ple
qu a nti ty of th e pre ci ou s leaves from C hi na ,
w ou ld thro w i n a not h er pi nch , e i the r to make
s ure of there b e ing a proper strengt h i n th e
bre w or for goo d l uck B e th e reason w hat i t
m ay, th ey a l l d o i t I do i t myself
C onti nu i ng on hi s ma rch a fte r h i s m id d a y
l unch , N a ta w ay came t o a smal l lake W ha t
is i t t ha t cau se s h i m t o stop and ca s t h i s eyes
abou t " Th e lake i s full ba nks a nd t here fore
a t tha t season mu st conta i n beave r Yes, there
s t ood the lodge on th e opposi te Side a nd a w ell
u nderstood mar k l ea d ing from the op e n w a t er
i n fron t u p i nt o th e bu sh Th e beaver h ad c om e
out th e day before
W ha t I ndia n , or w h i t e ma n for tha t matter ,
-

RE M AR KA B L E

S U CC E SS

12 1

resist the chan c e o e r e d to ea t beaver meat "

N a t a w ay looke d at th e Indians c l oc k , the sun ,
w ith a sa ti sed expression a nd hi s m i nd w a s
m ade u p ; h e w ou ld w ai t the c oming ashore t o
feed A c omfortabl e spo t w a s se lected w i thi n
gu n Sho t of th e pla ce of debarkati on Here h e
tramped a hole i n soft sno w a nd stre w ed some
ba lsam branche s on the bottom u pon w h i ch h e
crou ched a nd w ai ted
T here w a s n o u ncerta i nty a s i n th e s ong t h e

girl sang, He comet h no t for h e had hardly

taken u p hi s posi tion before ou t stru ggl ed a
young b eaver and passed u p th e path lea d i ng t o
th e you ng gro w th of trees B ut N a ta w ay kne w
better than t o re a t thi s one N o , th e beaver
passed on and u p , givi ng grunts of a nti ci p ati on
N umber t w o cam e a shore a nd ambled i nla nd
w ithou t bei ng molested N OW , h o w ever , N a ta
w ay w as al l a lertne ss
W ith h i s rie c ocked
a nd h i s bel t axe handy i n front h e w a i ted th e
adven t of another emblem of C a nada
In a
fe w m i nute s out h e cam e t o j oi n h i s b rothers
or si sters w h o w ere a lre ady feastin g on young
sappy tree s
The cra ck of the rie echoed far a nd nea r i n
the c lea r , m ild atmosph ere , b u t before i t di ed
a w ay th e I ndia n stood over th e sho t beaver a nd
barre d the path a gai nst th e fri gh t ened return
i ng ones The rst c omi ng do w n th e hi l l h e sh o t
can

12 2

C A N AD I A N W I L D S

The w h o l e slaughter w a s w ell p l anne d an d car

ried out
Three young b e ave r make a pret ty s o l id
lum p on a ma n s back , bu t a hu nter may l e ave
moose m ea t and bea r s mea t i n th e bush t o a
chance w olf, bu t beaver , no "
hardly "
even i f h e
has t o make double trips
N a ta w ay h ad car
ri ed heavy w eights slung by a portage s trap
a cross hi s forehead from ch i ldh ood and cou ld
w ell support a nd c a rry w h at h e now had
I w e ll remember th a t nigh t w hen h e e n t e red
ou r kitchen a nd l e t slide O ff hi s back th a t m i x
ture of b eaver , m i nk a nd bear ski n
I n fou r
teen h ours h e h a d w alked abou t ten m i les a nd
ki lled : 1 m oose , 1 mi nk , 1 b ear and 3 beave r
V e r i l v t h is w as luck or s u ccess
.

'

C H AP T E R X V I

TH I NG S T O AV O I D
W I N T ER

N ever l eave you r axe ou t doors a l l night

I ntense cold makes i t exceedi ngly brittle , m ost
likely the rst knot you put i t i nto w i l l cause a
gash i n the blade and a n axe i s a n essential part
o f a trapper s outt , a nd i m possible t o repla c e
w hen fa r from settlements
N ever dry your sno w shoes near the re, bu t
plant them some d ista nc e a w ay t o b e dried by
the frost Th e re a cti ng on the dampness i n
th e kni tti n g cooks the ber of th e leather a nd
ca uses the shoe to give ou t before i ts proper
time
N eve r , i n very cold w eather , carry your gu n
by t h e barrel ; i f oc ca sio n cau sed you to re i t
o ff , the chances a re th e ba rrel w i ll burst a t t h e
pla c e w here your ha nd h eated th e i ron
N ever a fter w ri ngi ng ou t you r w et m o c ca
si ns pla ce them nea r th e re t o dry, bu t scra p e
o u t a ny remai nin g m oistu re w i th th e ba ck o f th e
Sheathe kni fe , s t u each sh oe w i th bru sh a n d
h a ng a t ba ck Of c am p t o dry gradual l y
.

123

12 4

CANAD I AN W I LD S

T h e brush keeps th e sh oes extended a nd pe r

m i ts th e h ea t to permeate to a l l parts
N ever pu t on the sam e sh oe on th e sam e foot
t w o days i n su ccession T he sh oe w i ll w ea r
m u ch l onger a nd retai n i ts sh ape by i nt e r ch a ng
.

ng

I n w ea ri ng moose or d eer ski n shoes begi n

by w earin g them w ron g side out u nti l alm ost
w orn through then turn , a nd you have th e gra i n
side of the l eather T hu s you r sh oe w i l l la st a l
m ost t w i c e a s long
N ever travel w ithout a n extra u ndersh ir t
a nd a Sp a re pai r o f socks ; w i th the tru nk a nd
feet dry a nd w arm th ere i s som e chance of
sa lvati on for a ma n i f he w a s u nfortunate
enough t o brea k throu gh th e i ce or obl iged t o
travel through the w et i n th e Spring Th e days
may be mi ld enough but the n ights are cold

N eve r cu t your n igh t s w ood from l o w

grou nd borderin g on w ater I t w il l ca u se yo u
u ntold annoya nce by c ontinual ly shooti ng O ff
l ive coal s a nd Sparks al l over you r blankets
I n selecti ng you r camping pla ce h ave your
re sli ghtly hi gher tha n your bed
M ost pla ces ,
( unl es s on rock ) , a re eaten a w ay by a cti on of
the re, a nd by the time you turn i n you w il l
have the re on a level
N ever c onsider your w ork com plete u nti l you
have a n armfu l O f ne cut up dry w ood or a
,

TH I NG S

To

A VO I D

12 5

supply of bi rch bark handy From excessive

fatigue you may oversleep and w ake thorou ghly
chi lled I n s uc h a n i nsta nce you w ant a qu i ck
bri ght re , no fumbli ng a bout tryi ng to i gnite
som e hal f burnt sti cks
N ever leave any excess of re w ood lying on
th e sno w to becom e sodden on the grou nd a nd
c overed by the fol lo w i ng w i nter s sno w , thu s to
be usel ess to you o r a nyone else passing tha t
w ay
A fe w m oments i n the m orni ng before
taki ng the tra i l w i l l sta nd i t on end u nder some
tree a nd i t i s good f or future u se
N ever u nderestimate you r w ood r eq u ire
ments f or the ni ght I t i s better , ye s , mu ch bet
ter, t o have a surplu s th a n to turn ou t before
dayli ght to repleni sh your re
N ever , i f you are dra gging a tobogga n or

Sleigh , leave i t a t on it s tra ck w here your day s

march ends , but turn i t on its side , i f l oaded , or
stand i t up , i f em pty, a nd scra pe or rub off a ny
frost on the bottom or runners
Th e next day
i t w i ll slide ea sy, other w ise th e em pty sl ei g h
a lone w i l l be a load
N ever pu t you r game or sh to cook i n boil
i ng w ater P la c e it , i n preference , i n col d a nd
bring to the boi l , then let i t simmer til l done
I have seen th e I ndians on a very cold ni gh t
w hen on t h e trai l make a ne w re w here w e had
been sittin g a nd sp read ou r bru s h a n d b l a nke t s
.

12 6

CA NAD I A N W I LD S
ol d

re pla ce The grou nd bei ng th a w ed

o u t ou r bru sh retai ned considerable w arm th ti ll
m orni ng
N ever , i n the w i nter, make you r cam p re
directly u nder a large sno w laden tree Th e
hea t of the r e w i ll melt the sno w a nd th e drop
pi ng w ater cau se m uch annoyance a nd d i sc om
fort, Or hi gh w i nds m ay spri ng up before morn
i ng and send th e sno w about your re a n d cam p
N ever carry al l your supply O f matches
abou t you r person , h ave a fe w , even though only
a
half dozen , i n som e dam p proof a rti cle
amongst you r bla nkets
A very good recepta
c le i f you have not a w ater proof b ox , i s a n empty
Pai n Killer vi al
S ee that i t i s thoroughly dry ,
drop i n you r fe w m at ches a nd c ork ti ghtly
Th is i s for a n emergency a nd ca n be ca r
ri ed abou t for m o nth s or years , a nd only opened
u nder necessi ty , w hen perhap s one dry ma t ch
w i ll save you r life
N ever leave you r gu n loaded i n cam p " The
iro n dra w s the dampness a nd imparts i t to th e
cartridges
N ext day they may prove Sl o w re
or not explode a t all
Have your cartridges
ha ndy i f you w i ll , but really th ere i s n o ne ces
s i ty
Th e days of w olves and savage I ndians

are past a nd i n m ost parts o f th e w ild there

i s noth ing to m ol est ma n
O ne other axiom I w i l l adduce and not p rex
on

th e

TH I NG S

To

AV O I D

12 7

it wi th the negative N ever, becau se i t i s not

a l w ays possibl e to adhere t o th i s pri nci pl e
It i s not genera lly kno w n that the positi on
one assumes w hen making o ne s bed ha s a grea t
dea l to do w i th getting a rest ful n igh t s repose
W hen po ssib l e l i e w ith you r hea d to the north
T h e magneti c earth currents o w from th e
north , a nd thu s from your hea d do w n through
you r body The tired feeli ng you had w hen r e
tiri ng ha s al l o w ed out through you r feet b e
fore m orn in g
T his fa ct may a ppea r absu rd to a person not
givi ng th e subjec t suf cien t though t , bu t i t i s on
th e sam e pri ncipl e a s a person stroki ng your
hai r do w n w a rds
The resu lt i s quietin g a nd
sooth ing , but i f h e rub s i t the c ontrary w ay i t
i rri tates a nd i s h urtful
I have prove d the truth of th i s a sserti on
many times duri n g my nights on the trai l
I
have purposely rol led i n my blanket w i th my
h ead to the south , and a rose the fol lo w i ng m orn

i ng u nrest ed , a nd my body broken u p

Th e foregoi ng may b e a nd i s rather di s
j oi nted , becau se I have penned each subj ec t a s
they came t o my m i nd bu t the reader m ay rest
assured they a re w orth mem orizi ng a nd w ere
l ea rned by the w ri ter duri ng long years of h ard
sh ip s
.

12 8

CANAD I AN

w I L DS

S U M M ER

S uppose your ca noe ha s been turned over on

the bea ch a l l n ight never launch it i n th e m orn
i ng w i th out rst th oroughly exami ning the bot
tom from e nd to end I f there are rabbi t s or
rats about , the pla c e of a gr ea s v hand i s enou gh
to dra w them , and they w il l gna w a l ot of boat
f or very li ttle grease
T hi s m ight b e overl ooked i n th e hurry o f get
ting a w ay and th e ca noe either si nk u nder you
o r su fcient w ater enter t o damage you r thi ngs
O nc e my chum a nd I w ere maki ng ou r w ay
u p river w ith our suppl ies A mongst the p r o
visi ons w a s a ha lf barrel of pork I V hen cam p
i ng the rst n igh t w e left the pork nea r th e over
turned canoe Th e rest of ou r outt w e ca rried
u p t o ou r cam p on th e top O f th e river ba nk
thi nki ng noth ing w ou ld tou ch a soli d hard w ood
barrel
W el l i n th e grey m orni ng w hen w e w ent to
get w ater for ou r coff ee w e fou nd th e staves i n
shooks and th e bri cks of pork scattered abou t
th e gravelly bea ch R abbi ts h a d cut the h oops
a nd th e barrel ha d fa l len to pi eces T he rest

as
w
easy to the rabbit
not to u s
I f you are a l one hunter never travel i n sum
mer w ithou t a n extra paddle You may lu g th i s
,

TH I N GS

To

AV O I D

12 9

ab ou t al l season a nd never requi re i t bu t on ce ,

b u t that on ce you w i l l be glad you h ave i t
O ften w hen a pproa chi ng gam e i t i s expedi
ent to drop th e pa ddl e quietly i n the w a ter w hen
taki n g u p yo u r gun
I n th e still ness of the
w ild , th e noise of p l a cin g th e paddl e inboard i s
su fcient to scare a w ay the game and the c h ance
i s lost W i th a spa re paddl e a t hand the h u n
ter ca n qu ickly pursu e the w ounded gam e or
paddle back a nd pi ck u p th e dropped paddl e
I f you have a chum a second paddl e i s not
n ec essa ry, a s h e ca n either forge th e canoe ah ead
or ba ck h er to w here you dropped yours
N ever tal k or make unnecessary noi s e w h ile
hu nting O ld hu nters never do
I t i s only
abou t th e cam p re they talk , and even there a l
w ays i n a lo w t one o f voi ce
O ld hu nters c ommu ni cate to one anoth er all
tha t i s necessa ry by a shake o f th e ca noe , a nod
o f the head or m oti ons of th e h ands
W hen portaging at a carrying pla c e never
w hen you get to th e other end , pu t th e ca noe
do w n a t once, bu t let the ma n i n front rst scan
carefully a ll about ea ch side of the lake or river
a s fa r a s the eye w i ll carry
S ometh i ng mi ght
be on the surfa c e sta ndi ng i n t h e shall o w s , or
i n th e edge of the bu sh , w hi ch th e noi se of put
ting do w n t h e c anoe w ould fri ghten a w ay
.

'

13 0

CA NAD I A N W I LD S

I f you w i sh to avoid th e de w of th e m orn

i ng, c amp a t th e u pper end of a carryi ng pla ce ,
i e , rapid , bu t i f you w i sh to have a refreshi ng
slumber cam p a t the foo t of the rapid , have you r
head up stream a nd pointi ng to the north i f po s
Sible
N ever pu sh on a nd ca mp on th e b order of
some smal l sta gna nt l ake , merely t o add a l itt l e
l ength t o your day s tra il
B etter cam p th i s
s ide a nd h ave l ivi ng w ater fo r you r c ooking pur
poses
I f you w ere hunti ng i n th e fall i n a beaver
c ountry a nd w atch ing to shoot them i n the even
.

ng

N ever , i f i t i s a big lodge, re a t th e rst o r

even th e second b eaver tha t breaks w ater
If
you do , good bye t o the others for tha t night
I t i s better to a llo w the rs t and second to s w im
a w ay a long shore to th eir w ood y ards unmo
lested T h e next to m ake its a ppeara nce w i ll
m ost l ikely be one o f the ol d ones Th is ki l l i f
you ca n , and then paddl e slo w ly i n th e di recti on
the rst ha s taken T h e cha nces ar e you w i ll
meet them com ing back or s ee them ashore cu t
ting w ood
S ee that you r t w o or three traps are i n good
order , a nd leave th e lake for you r cam p before
darknes s se t s i n
.

TH I NG S

To

AV O I D

13 1

You r c am p should be hal f a m i le a w ay and

to th e l e aw a r d of th e beaver lake
I n the spri ng of the yea r beaver begi n to
s w i m early i n th e a fternoon a nd take to th ei r
l odge lat e i n the m orni ng I n the autum n w hen
th e nights are l on g t h ey brea k w ater late a nd
a re not t o b e see n after sunri se next m orni ng
I f you s e e t w o beave r a t one time s w imm i n g
and shoot one, leave i t oati ng on th e w ater
T he cha nces a re the second one w i ll m ake a
short dive, a nd you w a nt to b e ready w i th you r
gu n w hen he come s u p I hav e Often got one
w ith each ba rrel thi s w ay
By Shootin g i n th e eveni ng and l eavi ng three
traps se t I have cleaned ou t a l odge of seven
beaver i n a n evening and a n ight , from 4 P M
to 7 A M next morning , a nd th i s w ith only a
boy of ten yea rs ol d f or a c ompa nion
T he hardes t p a rt w a s i n packing them and
my c anoe ou t over ve carryi ng places B ut ,
Oh "
w he n th e bu nch w a s a t th e post w ha t r e c om
pense, al l those ne, ri ch furs and the lusciou s
and sustaini n g mea t , w i th a roasted tai l no w
and a ga i n a s a Side bite
N o w penni ng these li nes i n my l ast camp i n
a to w n of ten th ou sa nd i nhabitants , h o w my
m i nd longs for one more seaso n i n th e b ush , but ,
ala s "
I fear it may never be
.

C H A PT E R X V I I
A N TI C OS TA

AND

I TS

FU R S

T he i sla nd of A nt i c os t a , lying i n th e m outh

o f t he G ulf of S t L a w rence ru ns para lle l w ith
t h e mai n l and on i t s north shore and about
t w enty v e m ile s dista nt from i t
N ot w i t h
sta ndi ng th e c lose proximi ty t o th e continen t
and th e stra its , som e w i nter s blocke d w i t h i ce
elds th e martens on thi s isla nd a re pecu lia r
a nd dis tinct i n th i s ma nner , tha t almost w ith
o u t exception th e forepa w s a nd the end of t h e
tai l are ti p ped w i th w h it e hai r
I tra ded one year severa l hundred pelts of
A nt i c os t a m arte n a nd w i th one or t w o e x c e p
ti ons t hey a l l Sho w ed thi s di sti nc tion from those
w e got o n th e nor th shore or m ainland I
found this w hit e e ndi ng of extrem i t ies even
amongst the bears and foxes and i n som e i n
stance s w i th the otte r O ther w i se th e marten
ar e as w el l furred a nd a s rich and deep i n color
as th e fa r fam ed L abrador ones
Of bears th ere are on th e i sland bo th black
a nd bro w n ; th e latter are of imm ense si ze a nd
very s avage
O ne ski n I got m easured seve n
,

13 2

A N D I TS F UR

A N TI C OS TA

13 3

feet broad by ni ne feet long a nd sho w ed th e

m arks of no fe w er tha n eleve n bul le t hole s i n
hi s h ide T he ma n from w h om I purchased the
Ski n t old me he met th e monste r w h ile travel ing
a long the se a bea ch a nd re d a t him T he bear
dropped , bu t i n a moment arose t o h i s feet a nd
rushed for th e hu nter
F ortunately there w a s
a h igh rock nea r by u p w hi c h the man clamb
ered w i th hi s gu n , ou t of rea ch of th e i nfuriated

bea st a nd from thi s C oi n de a dvantage A r

s e na u l t l oaded a nd re d roun d ou nce bal l s i nto
th e bea r u nti l h e w a s dispa t ched
W hi le on thi s t rip I sec ured t w o of th e ne st
and pure st si lve r grey fox Ski ns I ever ha ndled
I t i s not genera lly kno w n tha t a pure Silver f ox
i s m uch rarer tha n bla ck or blac k si lver Wh a t
I m ea n by pu re silve r i s a fox tha t i s Si lvered
from the very h ead r i gh t do w n t o th e w h i te ti p
of the ta il
T he maj ority of s o ca l le d si lver
foxes are b la ck from the hea d to a thi rd of the
a pa rt o f the body a nd
w a y do w n th e back ;
rum p a l one being Silvered
In the Hudson s Bay C ompany tradi ng post s ,
foxes are graded w hen pu rcha se d u nde r the
follo w i ng names : b la ck , b la ck silver, silver grey,
black cross dark cross , ordi nary c r oss ( rst
cousi n t o red ) brigh t red , l igh t red , w h ite
I
am a w are that t o m ake thi s l ist c om plete b lue
.

13 4

C A NA D I A N W I LD S

a nd grey f oxe s are w a nti ng , bu t as they are

only tra ded i n one or t w o of the C ompa ny s
post s a nd I w a s never a t either, I w i l l s ay noth
i ng abou t t hem , bu t of t he above grades a nd
c olors of foxe s I h ave traded a nd tra pped ma ny
A bla ck cross i s s o very near a si lver that i t
i s only a sava nt tha t ca n te ll the di ff erenc e A
bl a ck cross ha s yello w ha irs gro w i ng i nside the
ears a nd a patch of yello w nea r each fore leg
w herea s a si lve r ha s none U nscru pulou s trap
pers very Often try t o ge t over t hese givi ng
a w a y m a rk s by plucki ng th e hairs ou t of the
ears a nd by greasi ng a nd smoki ng th e si de
patches
The rst thing a tra der doe s w h e n a doub t
fu l ski n i s O ff ered i s to l ook i nto the ears ; i f
th e ha irs are w a nti ng , h e breath es on h i s h and
a nd gent ly passes i t do w n ove r the Side I f the
hand i s bla cke ned thi s i s a proof nu mber t w o

and the smar t A lec i s fou nd out

C om i ng back to A nt i c os t a ; forty years a go
the privilege o f h u nt i ng w a s lea sed by th e then
o w ner of the seigni ory t o a m a n from Q u ebec ,
w h o each autum n repa ired to th e i sland w i th
fou r or ve m en w h o hunt ed on Sha res M r C or
bett supplying food traps a nd ammuni t i on , got
a certa i n per cent of th e furs eac h cau ght
T hey laid t h e i r smal l s c ho oner up i n a sh e "

AN TI COSTA

A N D I TS F UR

13 5

bay a nd C orbe tt u sed t o c ook and s w ee p

th e sha nty w h i le h is men hu nted a nd tra p pe d
W recks u sed to occu r nea rly every year of
som e la t e l umber laden sa ili ng vesse l a n d i n
th e Spri ng , after the hu nt w a s over , C orbet t a nd
hi s m en w ould load the i r schooner w i th coppe r
a nd i ron from the hu ll s a nd sa i l for Q uebe c i n
June w hen the m ode rate summe r w inds had
begun
F ive or S I x yea rs a go M M eni er , the French
ch ocola t e ki ng , purcha sed the i sla nd from the
S eignori al hei rs a nd ha s c onverted i t i nto a
game reserve
H e ha s cu t road , bu i lt w harfs
a nd ma de m any oth er improve ment s a nd i s try
i ng to a cc l ima t e a nima ls tha t w ere not fou nd
on the i sla nd , such a s m oos e , V i rgini a red deer ,
bu ffa lo , beaver etc
A re sident governor lives on the i sland th e
yea r a rou nd a nd ha s a stea mer of a cou pl e of
hu ndre d t ons a t h i s comma nd t hat plies bet w ee n
the i sla nd a nd Q ueb ec , a s necessity re qui res M
M eni e r w i th a party of friends , c omes from
Fra nce each s umme r a nd pa sse s a month on
the i sla nd sh ing a nd shooti ng T here are thre e
sa lmon rivers one w here t h e sh are e spe c ially
large a nd num erou s
A fter purcha s ing the i sla nd M M enie r se
c ured from th e C anadi an G overnment th e right
t er e d

13 6

CANAD I AN W I LD S

t o a three m i le bel t of w ater , s o w hen the o w ner

i s on A nt i c os t a h e i s a ctua l ly l ord a nd mas ter

o f a l l tha t he surveys
-

I n th e F o r es t a nd S tr e a m of Feb 9 I have
rea d th e arti cle w rit ten by H de P uyj a l on on
the peka n or sher
M r de P uyj a l on a ppea rs
t o m e t o have a ttempted w r i t ing u pon a subj ec t
i n w hi ch h e w a s very l ittle vers ed a nd w ith no
da t a u po n w hi ch to base h i s a sserti ons A s a
ma t t er of fa ct , pri or t o about t he yea r 1 8 6 0, t h e
sher or peka n w a s a n a nima l u nkno w n t o t he
trappe rs on t h e north Sh ore a nd L abra dor , ea st
of th e S a guenay , a nd i t w a s only a fter t h at year
tha t a n od d one w a s trappe d i n tha t lo w e r c oun
In fa ct, w h e n r s t the sh er m ade i t s
try
appeara nce th e I ndia ns ha d n o nam e for i t , but
aft er i t beca m e better kno w n they a dopted th e
A lgonqu i n name it no w bea rs VV h e n a n I ndia n ,
i n th e ea rly Sixties , w a s fort u nate enou gh t o
h a ve on e i n h i s pa ck h e me ntioned i t a s a bi g
m arten
For m a ny yea rs th e S aguenay R iver a p
f
or
ou nd a r v
to
have
b
e
n
th
e
b
li
ne
e
a
r
e
d
e
p
m oose red d ee r a nd peka n , none b e l ng kno w n
w hi le fai rly numerou s on th e
o n th e e a st sid e
w est ba nk A S th e sh e r w a s never very p l e nt i
ful on the L abrador , a nd w he n fou nd w a s only
i n th e w ooded part , i t i s not strange t hat a per
.

13 7

ANTI COS TA A N D I TS FUR

M r de P uyj a l on s sede nta ry hab it s s h ou ld

have tra ppe d only t w o
I lived w ithi n heari ng di sta nce ( tha t i s , c ou
r i e r s re por ts ) of
M r d e P uyj a l on, w h i le tha t
ge ntlema n re sided on the coast, a nd a part from
h eari ng tha t h e set a fox t ra p or t w o about hi s
shanty, never heard h im men ti oned a s w ha t w e
w ou ld ca ll a trapper
In h i s artic le h e give s th e peka n th e credi t
Of Sho w i ng cons i derable c unni ng a nd ne s ses
A s a mat ter of na t ura l h istory they have n o
more O f th is tha n a ma rten , a nd w il l bu ngle i nt o
a n ordi nari ly made dead fa l l i n the sam e w ay
The only t hi ng t o do w h e n sh er a re kno w n to
be about a l ine of marten tra ps i s t o make a
larger sized h ouse for hi m a nd extra he a vy
w eight to keep h i m do w n w hen caught
That the she r decrea se s i n nu mber i s quit e
c ontrary t o fa cts A c cord ing t o th e last L ondon
sa les of m ixed furs i n S epte mber , sher stood
at
i n 1 8 93
a nd i n 1 8 8 3
sho w
i ng tha t th ey have i ncreased sl ightly I n som e
parts O f the c ou ntry they s ta nd i n t he retu rn s
about equa l to the m arte n exported I remem
ber thi s very pla i nly , for a t the t ime i t stru ck
m e a s pecu lia r I w as i n charge Of an ou t post
o n L a ke S uperi or
O ur returns w ere pri nci
pa lly beaver , foxes a nd lynx , very fe w mart en ,
and i n that year I h ad at the close of trade 9 6
s on of

13 8

C A NAD I AN W I LD S

m art en and 9 6 sh er
Thi s w a s i mpressed on
my m em ory a s bei ng a strange c oinciden ce, b e
cau se the post I had been previou sly stati on ed
a t turned o u t over t w o thousan d marten t o ei ght
or te n sher T h e pri ces for she r i n th e C ana
dia n m arket vary bu t lit tle a nd w e never have
uc t ua tions a s i n si lver foxe s a nd marten The
ski ns are l ittle u sed i n any c ountry except Ru s
s i a and C h i na , w here they are u sed ch iey by
th e ri ch a s c oa t li ni ngs A s they have a tough
Ski n , a nd w hen pri m e a deep , ri ch fu r , i t i s a
w onder Si nce they are compa ratively f e w on

t h e market
tha t they do not c ommand a b et
ter price
T he reso r t Of th e pekan i s pri ncipally along
th e m ou nta i n ra nges , never i n th e bla ck spru ce
or a t barre n country of th e table la nd or t o
th e n orth of it Thei r food c onsi sts of rabbits ,
partridges , m ice , squ i rrels and frui t w h e n i n
sea son W h en the m ou nta i n ash berries are
plent i fu l and hang late i n th e au tum n , b oth the
sher and th e m ar ten a re di fcult, i f not i m p os
sible , to trap , a s there i s n o m ea t lure you c a n
ba i t w ith tha t w i ll i ndu ce them to leave the
berr i e s
In a year Of scarcity of frui ts , w hen the
sher ha s to de pend on h i s Ow n adroi t ness i n
sec uri ng h i s food , I have read th e signs a nd
.

AN TI COS TA

AN D

I TS F U R

1 39

see n w here one ha s been very persi st e nt i n ru n

ni ng do w n a rabbi t the chase b ei ng u p a nd
do w n , i n and out u n t i l bu nny w a s over t ake n
ki ll ed a nd eat e n
.

C H A P T E R XV II I

C H IS ELL I N G AND S HOOT I NG B EAVER

I t i s only i n th e far ba ck cou ntry that the

once plentiful beaver a re t o be fou nd a t th e
prese nt day, a nd th ough a des cri pti on o f one
of th e m odes the I ndia ns a dopt i n ki lli ng them
may b e of no pra cti ca l u se to th e presen t gen
crati on of hu nte rs on the fringe of civi lizati on ,
i t w i l l a t lea s t be i nteresti ng t o th em a nd re
membered by som e Old tim ers
C h isel li ng or
trenching, b eaver, a s i t i s Sometim es called , i s
ye t foll o w ed b v th e i nteri or I ndia ns , a nd w hen
conditi on s a re favorable , i s a m ost expeditious
w ay o f p iling u p a w hol e l odge
T he w rite r i n hi s you ng days has ma ny a
time a cc ompa ni ed th e Indians o n th ese hu nts ,
a nd th e descript i on o f my last part i c ipa ti on i n
t hi s exciting m ode of hu nti ng I w i l l ende avor
t o expla i n to the reader I found a large lodge
of beaver i n a very sma l l l ake, probably a qua r
ter of a m il e long by one ei ghth w ide I t w as
s o late i n the fal l tha t i t w a s too nea r freezi ng
t o s e t t ra p s i n Open w a ter , a nd the appearan ce
of th e sh ore c onvey ed t o my experienced eye
-

1 40

C H ES EL L I N G

AN D S HOOT I N G B EAVER

141

that i t cou ld b e ch i sel le d t o adva nta ge I there

fore re t urned to th e post a nd lef t the beaver
undisturbed
I t w as fortu nate I did s o, for t h e fol lo w i ng
ni gh t al l the smal l ponds a nd lakes i n the vi ci ni
t y w ere i c e b ou nd only t o ope n agai n i n s i x
m onth s
A f e w days a fte r a n I ndia n vi si ted
th e post for a n additiona l su pply of a mm u ni
tion a nd snari ng t w i ne, a nd I t ook th e op p or
t u ni t y to e nlist h i s service s t o ki ll my beaver
I o ff ered h im t w o pou nds of t ea for a day s w ork
at th e lake W he th er h e ki lled th e beaver or
not , h e w a s sure of th e tea
T hi s h e a greed to ,
a nd I i mmediate ly pu t together the ne c essary
thi ngs s o a s to make a n e arly start
A S th e lake w a s only a n hour s w a lk from
the post w e rea che d i t about sunri se, a nd both
kno w i ng ou r busi ness , s e t t o w ork a t once The
imp lem e nts necessa ry for ea ch ma n are a be lt
axe , a n ordi nary socket m orti se chi se l one and
a quarte r i nch broad Thi s i s ha ndled ( gene r
a lly a t th e lake ) w i th a peele d spruce sapl i ng
from s i x to seven fee t l ong, a nd last bu t by no
means leas t , i s a good beave r d og and almost
a ny I ndian dog i s good for beave r , a s they learn
from the Olde r ones a nd tra i n th em selves
I
had t w o at th e pos t and these of c ourse aecom
Th e rst thi ng to d o i s to visit th e
p a ni e d u s
discharge Of th e lake If thi s i s dammed a tra p
.

142

CA NAD I AN W I LD S

must be s e t a t the openi ng w here t h e w ater os

c apes
Th is i s th e rst preca uti on , S O tha t i f
any beave r during th e t renchi ng process trie s
to escape do w n the creek h e must pass over t h e
trap and get cau gh t
W here th e w at er of the lake a nd that of t he
creek i s of th e sa me level there i s consequ ently
no dam a nd then th e cree k , a t i t s narro w est
p art , h as to be picke ted from side t o side Th i s
i s Often a labori ou s j ob , a s pi ckets have t o be
c ut a nd ca rried to th e creek , a c u t three or four
i nches w ide made i n th e i ce a nd th e n the pickets
drive n do w n side by side , or very close t o each
other s o th e beaver ca nnot possibly pass
T h i s w ork don e to ou r sati sfacti on , ou r next
poi nt w a s th e lodge i tself
Th i s w e broke i n
from the t o p a nd a l l th e sticks mud , e t c , w e
j amm ed do w n i n th e openi ng or exi t Th is i s
d one t o prevent the beaver re tu rni ng once t h ey
have left th e lodge A t severa l pla ces aroun d
the lake th e beavers have w hat th e I ndia n cal l

w a shes
These are burro w s they make b e
n eath the surface , generally u p u nder th e roots
Of a large tree
T hey u s e them for breathing
places and t o retire to i f disturbed a t t h e l odge
They make these at a ny favorabl e spot w here

t h e condi ti on s are sui tabl e a nd th e w ash e s

vary i n number from three t o ve u p t o t w i ce
that number
.

C H ES EL L I N G

AND S HOOT I N G B EAVER

1 43

The dog s share of th e w ork i s t o tr ave l

arou nd t h e lak e a nd scent t he beave r u nder
th e frozen bank H e i s trai ned not t o give
tongue , h e merely poin t s and sets hi s h ead on
B oth ou r dogs are
one side , then th e oth e r
no w pointi ng and w e ha stened over to the spo t
A hole i s c h i ss e l l e d i n th e i ce c lose to sh ore and
a crooked st ic k i nserted
Th i s stick i s c u t a t
the com m ence ment of the b u n t , i s about seven
feet long, a nd has a natura l curve , almost a s
m uch a s a hal f m oon Th e end of th e sti c k i s
m oved about i t Slips u p under the ba nk ; th is

i s the entrance t o th e w a sh
W e cu t the h ol e
i n the i c e large r a nd then w a tch t h e w a ter I f
the b e avers ( or even one ) are u p i n the ban k
th ere i s a percept ibl e ri se and fal l of th e w ater
a t the ope ning W e the n se t to w ork to fence

i n the entra nce t o the w ash w i th sticks Th is

done , th e i ce i s cut a w ay i nside t he stakes , a
coupl e of feet square
A ll i s no w ready for the test
Th e Indi a n
bare s hi s arm u p t o the arm pi t H e gets do w n
o n hi s knees over th e h ole and w a tches
w h il e I
go u p a fe w feet from the bank a nd drive th e
ch i sel i nt o the grou nd Thi s d i sturbs th e beave r
a nd he m ake s a mad drive t o get ou t to the lake
The pi ckets bring h i m u p , and w hi le h e i s tur n
i ng about p uzzled a nd be w ildered the I ndian
dashe s hi s a rm i n t o t h e w a t er and s eiz i ng t h e

14 4

CA NAD I AN W I LD S

eaver by th e hi nd l eg give s one strong pu ll

a nd land s h i m ove r hi s head
The fa ll on the
i ce stuns h im m omentari ly and before h e can
esca pe th e I ndia n has dea l t h im a blo w w i th t h e
hea d O f hi s axe T h e voung ones a re general ly
th e rst ki lled a s t w o or th re e may b e t ogether

i n one
w a sh
Th e ol d ones , a s a ru l e , give

mu ch troubl e, a s they va cate one w a sh for

a nother a t th e approa ch of th e hu nter Then
there i s noth ing f or i t but t o pi cket O ff ea ch

w ash a s fou nd , a nd thu s reduce th e number

of pla ces for hi m to re sort to
A hu n ter w ith a pra c ti ced eye ca n tel l prett y
w el l by th e a ppeara nce o f th e sh ores a bout a

beaver lake i f the w a sh es a re fe w i n number

or num erou s and gu ides hi mself a ccordi ngly If
t he lake ha s drai ned a foo t or t w o Si nc e th e i ce
took , i t i s u se l ess to atte mpt t o chi sel , a s th e
beaver ca n go ashore u nde r th e i ce a nv w h e r e
and brea the I n ou r case a ll ci rcumsta nces w ere
favorable ; t h e w ater w a s ful l u nder t h e i c e

a ll over , a nd th e w a shes w ere very fe w a nd

ea sily located
By thre e o clock i n th e afternoon w e had
th e beavers a l l ki ll ed t w o ol d and fou r vou ng
V e rea lly had ve b v d i nner t im e , so w e
ones
l it a re boi led ou r kettle a nd let the last old
on e qu iet do w n a bi t w h il e w e ate o u r lunc h

W e got hi m at l ast i n th e la st w ash , a nd I

D

C H ES EL L I N G

A N D S HOOT I NG B EAVER

145

suppose kno w i ng thi s w a s hi s last stand he

w ou ld no t a ttempt t o leave the back part of the
hole no ma tter ho w m u ch I poked th e chi se l i n
abou t hi m
S o w hi le the India n kept a c lose

and a l ert w atch a t th e m ou t h of th e w ash , I

m ad e a l arge opening a t th e back and slipped
i n one of the dogs
I n a m oment beaver and
d og w ere both ou t at th e e ntra nce gh tin g i n
th e w ater T h e b eave r fastened h i s terrib le
teeth i n th e dog s l i p Th e I ndian and I each
m anaged to gra sp a h i nd leg , a long pul l and out
c am e beaver and dog t ogether W e had t o force
h i s tee th a part after ki llin g h i m be fore t he dog
w a s free
.

46

I ment i oned i n a previ ou s arti cle th a t I

w ou ld a t som e future ti me tell of t h e part a
beave r da m e nacts i n th e s u c cessfu l sh oo t ing of
t h e beave r
A s I sa id , the beave r ha s to keep a j eal ou s
w atch on th e dam t o pre s erve th e proper h ei gh t
of th e w ate r a t th ei r lodge
They make nightly
vi sits to se e al l i s w ell , j u st a s a fa ith ful w atch
ma n goes h i s rou nds of t h e fac tory over w hi c h
h e ha s charge
A ny su dden fall ing of w ater bri ngs the bea
ver do w n post ha ste to th e da m t o repai r t h e
damage or l eak
O fte n an otter i s the cau se
of th e t roubl e , a s they sometimes b ore a p ass
-

146

CA NAD I AN W I LD S

a ge w ay u nder the discharge, thereby letting ou t

a large qua ntity o f w ater i n a very s h ort w h ile
T h e I ndians , kno w i ng th i s care ful w a t ch ful
ne ss of th e beaver u se i t t o hi s de structi on by
pu rposely breaki ng a portion o f th e dam and
hiding a w a i t t h e c omi ng of th e li ttle bui lders ,
shooti ng them a t close range
I ca nnot do bet ter tha n to de scrib e one of
t hese s h ootings , i n w h ich I took part
O ne of th e princ ipa l thi ngs t o Observe i s tha t
th e w i nd sh ou ld be i n th e proper di recti on , i e ,
from th e lodge to w ard th e dam A day c omi ng
w h e n th e conditi on o f th e w i nd w a s favorable ,
w e s e t o ff w ith ou r double ba rrel guns , a t ea
k ettle a nd some grub , a nd rea ched the di sch arge
abou t 3 P M
T he l i ttl e pond w a s bri mm ing ful l w ith the
proper quanti ty of w ater , o w i ng ou t of th e cu t
to i nsure a regula r e qua li ty Th e I ndian s t u
died a l l thi s , look ed a t t he sun a nd dec i ded i t
w a s yet to o ea rly t o cu t th e dam , a nd i n th e
mea ntim e w e xed a ni c e brush ca c h e a t di f
f e r e nt a ngle s t o th e dam , w h erei n w e w ere to

s i t a nd w a tch
A bou t fou r o cl ock the I ndia n
hacked a w ay a t th e d ischa rge w ith a small
pointed sti ck pryi ng seve ra l h oles u nde r a nd
abou t it , a nd i n a sh ort tim e th e creek belo w
th e dam b ecam e a highly turbul e nt stream , and
then w e ret ired t o our bedded pla ces a nd w a i t ed
.

C H ES EL L I N G

A N D S HOOT I NG B EAVER

147

I mi gh t men ti on th at t h e t i me O f the year

w a s abou t th e tenth of O ctober , a tim e w h e n
beaver are q u ite prim e , i n tha t north cou ntry
W e had t o w ai t possibly a n h ou r be fore the
r s t beaver made h i s appearance
It w as one
of th e pare nts , a nd j udging by th e s peed a t
w h ich h e ca m e do w n th e pond , h e mu s t h ave
been of turbi ne c onstru cti on
O ne th ing s u re
he w a s on a rush m essage a nd w a nted to get
there qu ick I sa w th e I ndia n s gu n barre l m ove
sli ghtly, a nd w h e n th e beaver go t w i thi n cl ose
dista nce he pu lled on h im , a nd i n a fe w m i nutes
the beaver l ay a w ash close t o t h e dam , w h ere
he w a s al lo w ed to remai n
Th e next one that cam e i n s i gh t w a s a young
He met th e s a m e fate
one , a nd came my w ay
Th e sligh t current dragged hi m als o c lose t o
the d am, a fe w fee t from h is fa ther or m ot h e r ,
a s th e c ase m igh t be
T hi s doubl e ba ggi ng w a s hard l y over w hen
another bi g one cam e a rou nd a poi n t h eadi ng
f or the dam a s the oth e rs had done
Thi s fel lo w
prov ed t o be my mea t also , and agai n a pause
i n th e Sh ooti ng
Th e shado w s of the evening w ere fast fal l
i ng and w e ha d alm ost given up h opes of se e ing
a ny others , w hen a gai n w e sa w a f ar O ff ri ppl e
of som e a nimal s w i mm ing and i t proved t o b e
ano t h er young one
Thi s one t ook d o w n t h e
.

CA NAD I AN W I LD S

14 8

Shore nea rest to t h e I ndian , a nd bea t the w a ter

a t hi s gu n s Shot
The sport w a s becom i ng qu ite exci ting and
I w ou ld have had no Obj e ction to c ontinui ng i t
lo n ger , bu t the I ndia n a rose and called a cross
to m e to gathe r u p our beaver , havi ng a large
and a smal l on e each , a very fai r divi si on
H e then s e t t o w ork to repai r the damaged
dam a s w el l a s h e could , a nd expla i ned t o me
t ha t th e rema i ning o nes w ould ni sh O ff th e j ob
w h e n th e fea r w as Off of them
T h e I ndia n Sai d that amongst h i s tribe the
hu nters often u sed th i s m ode O f h u nting , a nd
w ha t beaver w a s left u nki lled th ey either tra pped
lat e r on or trenched th em out w hen th e i c e se t
fa st O ne thi ng I l earned from that a fternoon s
hu nt w as tha t i t w a s simple a nd su ccessful , a nd
I u sed the kno w ledge severa l ti m e s , i n other
yea rs , to my adva ntage
W e had t o p a ck those b eave r through fou r
m i les of trackless bu sh , a nd ea ch pack mu st have
w eighed ni nety pound , a nd a s fa r as I remem
ber, w e rested only thre e tim e s I me nti on thi s
becau se I sa w i n one of th e letters that appea red
i n H T T, w h ere a ma n men tions h avi ng ki ll ed a
be aver that w eigh ed fty pou nds , w hi ch w as so
heavy he h ad to dra g i t home
I h ave hea rd of d raggi ng a deer or hai r sea l
bu t neve r of a fur b eari ng a nimal
I w onde r

C H ES EL L I N G

AND

S H O OT I N G

B EAVER

149

w ha t that m a n w ou l d have thought to s e e a n

I ndia n of a hundred a nd thirty si x pounds
w e ight c arry fou r beave r a nd hi s bark canoe on
t op over a three qua rter m i le porta ge w i th out
resting , and h e d id not eve n appea r w i nde d at
the end Th e beave r w eigh ed i n the nei ghbor
hood O f one h undred a nd eighty pounds , and
the bark canoe a n ea sy si xty but the n th ey ar e
i nured t o c arry i ng heavy l oa ds f rom c hi l dhood
-

C H AP T E R X I X

T HE I ND I AN DEV I L

My c om p ani on a nd I w ere sit tin g l ate one

a fternoon a t a beaver l ake , w ai ti ng for the su n
to get nea r th e tree tops before push in g our
ca noe i nto th e lake to w atch for beaver They
generally brea k w ater near the lodge abou t su n
i
do w n and s w im ,a l ong shore t o cu t thei r food ,
a nd one h as u su ally a cha nce of a Shot
A l l a t once w e heard back i n th e bu sh a
cra cki ng and breaking of branch es readi ly u n
d er s t ood a s done by a large anima l running
through the u nderbrush a t a hi gh rate of Speed
The noi ses came nearer a nd nearer , a l ittl e O ff
to ou r ri ght , a nd I gra sp ed my double ba rrel ed
gu n w h i ch l ay beside m e a nd w aited events
A fe w m oments a fter w e sa w a large carib ou
brea k cover about one h undred yards to th e
righ t and spri ng i nto th e lake B u t w ha t w a s
"
tha t bla ck obj ec t c li ngi ng to h is neck
S urely
som e a ni mal "
T he cari bou stru ck ou t as fa st a s i t c ou l d
s w im , headi ng for th e further Sh ore , a nd w e
j um ped i nto ou r canoe and gave pursu it Th e
.

1 50

THE

I ND I AN DEV I L

151

k een eye s of the anima l on th e c ar i bou s ne ck

havi ng detected u s , i t relinqu ish ed i ts hold ,
dropped o ff i nto th e w ater a nd turn ed for th e
shore the c a ribou ha d left
T he ca noe w a s i mmedia tely headed t o cu t
off hi s retrea t , a nd w h en w i thi n proper di stance
I Sh ot i t w i th one barrel a nd lef t i t there dead
on the su rfa ce o f th e lake, w h i le w e continued
o n ou r chas e
T hi s diversion had taken our attenti on from
the caribou , bu t no w , w h en w e had resumed the
chase, w e found the ani mal w a s getting th rou gh
th e w ater very slo w ly, and a s w e w ere pa ddl ing
i n its w ake w e perceived th e w ater at ea ch side
of
th e ca noe w a s bloody By th e tim e w e
rea ched th e ca ribou i t w a s dead
O n exami nation w e fou nd th e j u gul a r vei n
had been cu t by th e erc e a nima l on its ba ck ,
a nd i t ha d bled to death , ee i ng w ith w h at
strengt h i t had to the la s t dro p of t h e poor
thing s blood
W e th re w a stri ng over i ts h orn s a nd to w ed
i t ba ck to th e portage pi cking u p i n pa ssi n g our
o ati ng bla c k anim a l , w hi ch prov ed to be a very
large w olveri ne c a r c aj o or I ndia n devi l the
beast goi ng u nder a ll of these names w ith h u nt
ers and traders
Th e c a r c aj o, w hen h e loads for deer , goes
do w n to one of thei r ru n w ays , or on a road lea d
.

15 2

CANAD I A N W IL D S

sa l t l i c k H e cl imbs a tree a nd ge t s
ou t
on som e bra nch
overhanging th e track
Here h e attens h im sel f out a nd w a its Yes he
is a r ecord w a iter He ca n give poi nts t o e v en
th e gi rl w ho i s w a iti ng a nd w atch in g
T im e i s n o object t o h i m ; h i s i n w ards m ay
be shriveli ng u p for w a nt of food , bu t there h e r e
mai ns O nee h e ha s taken u p that positi on n oth
i ng bu t a deer w il l make hi m sh o w th e l ea st Sign
o f li fe
He i s to al l i ntents a pa rt of the tree

limb a nd the kno w ledge that a l l th ings c ome

to hi m w ho w aits , i s strongly xed i n hi s devi l

bra in
Th e deer pa sses , h e drops on to h im l ike a
rock S houl d h e stri ke too fa r ba ck hi s cruel
cla w s gri p hi s w ay u p to w ard th e n e ck , a nd
there he settles h imsel f , a xture , a nd cuts a w ay
a t the large veins t il l the poor deer bleeds to
death
A s S oon a s the deer fee l s th i s forei gn w ei gh t
o n hi s ba ck the cruel teeth cutting i nto h im , h e
a t once runs i nto a nd through the thi ckest part
o f t h e forest t rying t o rub the i ncubu s off hi s
ba ck B u t th e c a r c aj o h as the t e na c i t v of the
bul ldog, a nd hi s ow n ski n w ould be ri pped a nd
lac er a ted before he w oul d let go h i s h old
The deer, rea l i zi ng th i s mad ru sh through
the bu sh i s u seless , makes for th e nearest w ater
in th e h ope that thi s w i l l rid him of h i s enemy

i ng t o

TH E

I N D I A N DEV I L

1 53

B ut v a i n

h ope , th e w olverine i s th ere to s top ,

a nd only opens h is j a w s w hen the deer i s dead
or , as i n my i nstance , through fea r for hi s per
sona l sa fety
O u r beaver hu nt w a s spoil t f or tha t n i ght ,
s o w e m oved ba c k on th e trai l and camped

T here w e pa ssed ou r ti me dryi ng the deer s

mea t a nd ski nni ng the I ndia n devil
.

9(

Th e a mou n t of destru ctiveness contai ned i n

a full gro w n w olveri ne, or , a s h e i s sometimes
called , c a r c aj o and I ndia n devi l , i s someth ing
past bel ief t o a ny one w h o ha s not l ived i n the
cou ntry i n w hi ch th ey resort
T he tales told by
hu nters a nd lumbermen o f th e doi ngs of thi s
strong a nd abl e bea st w ou ld l l pages
S ome of
these , l i ke s h stories , m ay be season e d by a
pi nch of sa lt , therefore I w i ll only j o t do w n a
fe w tha t I experi enced p er s onal l v i n my trap
pi ng days
H unger c annot a lw ays be addu c ed a s a rea
s on for thei r thi eving propensi ties , i nasmu c h a s
t h ey w i l l stea l martens , rabbits a nd partridges
ou t of trap s a nd snares w hen they are fu l l t o
repletion j ust ou t of pure cussedness a s i t w ere ,
to make the o w ner of t h e traps and snares to u se
u nseemi ng la nguage
W hen once a w olveri n e gets on a li ne of
dea dfa ll s th e tra p per ha s either to aba ndon h i s
.

15 4

CA N AD I A N W I LD S

trap s and seek ne w elds or ki l l th e mi sch i ev

ou s a ni ma l f or even Sh ou ld th e l ine be ten m iles
long th e I ndi a n D evi l w i ll destroy or pu t ou t of
order ea ch tra p to th e very end Their favor
ite pla n i s to tea r out th e back of the trap I f
they nd a ma rten cau gh t a nd they a re not hu n
gry they w i ll carry i t o ff a t ri gh t a ngles to th e
tra i l a nd bu ry i t i n the sno w , or climb a tree
and deposi t i t on a cross bra nch
I have found
no fe w er tha n th ree ma rtens w hen vi siting my
tra p roa d a day a fter the w olveri ne had pa ssed
O nce w hen ch u m a nd I w ere o ff for a cou ple
o f nights fr om ou r ma i n cam p , o n ou r retu rn w e
m issed a toboggan from i n front of the Sha nty
door
Thi s w a s passi ng stra nge a s no I ndians
w ere i n th e vi c inity n or ha d passed our w ay
Hu n t a s w e di d i n every co nceivabl e pla ce did
not produ c e th e m issi ng sl ed
I t w a s only t w o
years a fter w hen ca mping i n the sam e place and
felling a dry spru ce for re w ood that th e to
bogga n a nd tree cam e t o earth together Th e
mystery w a s solved a w olveri n e ha d dra w n i t
u p i n the top bra nch es of th e tree and left i t
I rem ember a laugh able occurrenc e that took
p lace once C hu m a nd I h ad a smal l log shanty
on th e edge o f a bi g lake
Thi s w a s our head
quarters R adiati ng from th e sha nty w e ha d
l ines of t raps to th e f ou r poi nts of th e c ompa ss
a nd w e often sl ept out a ni gh t , vi s i t i n g and
,

TH E

I N D I AN DEV I L

1 55

cl eaning ou t the traps E a ch u s ed t o t ake a

l i ne end , ea c h slep f or tha t ni gh t sol itary i n t h e
w i l ds
O n ou r return from one of our tri ps w e met
on th e edge of th e c leari ng a nd w hen w e got to
ou r shanty w e noti ced th i ngs looked strange a nd
yet w e c oul d not tel l -for a m oment w ha t i t w a s
O n opening th e door th i ngs looked stranger
s ti ll , f or on th e oor w a s a mi xture of m ostly al l
ou r belongin gs , ou r , m atch es , m oc c asins , t o
bacc o , soa p and numerou s ot h er thi ngs a n
d
sifted over al l w a s a shes
O ne w ou l d thi nk a hurrica ne h ad c om e do w n
the chim ney and blo w n everythi ng loose , bu t w e
kne w better
S om e animal m ust have done th i s
devastati on and w e c oul d cal l tha t a nimal by
hi s righ t name by readi ng h i s w ork Y e s, a
w olveri n e ha d been there a nd w e fel l t o c a l ling
hi m som e a p p ro p riate names a nd a s w e w ent
a long w e i nvented other na me s w hi ch our c uss
vocabu lary di d not possess
D uri ng a m omentary lu ll i n ou r burs t of
pa ss i on w e h eard a Sli ght scratch i n g u nder th e
ta ble a nd there w e fou nd th e w orker of al l th e
m ischief A blo w of the a xe ni sh ed h i m then
a nd there a nd h e w a s pul led ou t i nto the l igh t
O ur surpri se w a s grea t t o nd m ost of the hai r
on hi s head si nged off a nd h e w a s b l i nd i n bo th
.

156

eye s

CA N AD I A N W I L D S

T h en w e s et to w or k t o read the s i gn s
h ow i t happened
W e found by ou r deducti on tha t i n th e r st
plac e h e had c l a mb or e d u p on t o the roof and
from th ere had entered by th e w ide m outhed
ch imney O nce i n th e shanty h e ha d set t o
w ork to exam in e a nd i nvesti gate everythi ng
about , each i n turn to be cast from h im on the
oor
T he very la st thi ng to attra c t hi s a t tention
w a s my chum s p oyvd e r h orn
I t w a s one of
those ol d fashioned co w h orns w ith a plu g i n the
smal l end
T here w a s at th e time nea rly hal f
a p ou nd of g un p o w der i n i t W i th thi s bri ght

a nd sh inin g a rticl e c a r aj ou started t o c l amb or

u p a nd ou t thru th e ch imney
A las "he held th e butt end u p w ards By
dryness , I su ppose , the plug dropped out a nd a
ne stream o f po w der fou nd i ts w ay to th e cen
ter of ou r repla ce w here a fe w coa l s mu st h ave
yet kept re A ame shot u p , a n explosion
follo w ed , a nd do w n cam e th e fri ghtened , bli nded
beast
N O doubt from a gony a nd fear h e
cra w l ed u nder th e tabl e w here w e found hi m
a nd pu t a n end to h i s m i sery
Th ei r legs are very strong a nd musc u cl ar
a nd I have kno w n them t o brea k ou t of even a
N o 4 N e w house W hen they w i l l take bait a

p re t ty s ure w ay t o get th em is b y s e tti n g a

.

T H E I ND I A N DEV I L

1 57

gun ,
but t hi s i s dangerous w ork as some
stranger m ight pass t h at w ay , a nd even to the
perso n setti n g th e gun , great c a re must b e u sed
A s they are very sel dom fami shed and there
f ore w i l l not take bai t , abo ut the only thing for

the trapper t o do i s to give hi m the righ t of

w ay, and th e hu nter to m ove to s om e other

part of th e c ountry for a m onth or so W e c all
them th e India n D evi l becau se he i nhabits the
I ndia n c ou ntry , but the I ndi s themse l ve s c a l l

th em Ba d D og , th i s be i
the lo w es t a nd
m eanest nam e thei r language suppl i e s
.

CHAP TE R X X
A T A M E S EAL

M a ny year s a go, b efore th e great R i ver M oi

s i e w a s resorted t o by c od shermen a nd others ,
th e harbor seals u sed to com e u p the stream
i n grea t numbers for t h e purpose of bri ngi ng
forth the i r young i n its qu iet u ppe r pools A fter
stayi ng w i th th eir you ng f or a cou ple of w eeks ,
t h e m ot h er s e a ls w ou ld return do w n th e rive r ,
and a fe w days later the li ttl e b a b v seal s w ou ld
dri ft do w n w i th the curren t a nd b e carried out
to se a , there to hunt a nd gro w big , and i n th eir
turn be come fath e r a nd m other seal s a nd vis i t
thei r native river
M any a ca lm evening I have st ood on t h e
gal lery outsid e th e h ouse and l istened t o th e
i nfa n t li ke cry of th e poor little seals a s they
drifted on the river past the post O ne eveni ng,

to w ard the end of the ru n w e hea rd one cry

i ng i n a m ost pitifu l and heart rendi ng w ay
E very no w a nd then w e c ould see th e sno w w h ite
mi te a s he oa ted on th e surfa c e near m id
stream
I got a l a rge salmon scoop and j oined the
m an on t h e beach W e w a i t ed til l the s eal ha d
.

158

A T A M E S EAL

159

oated pa st u s , then qu ie tly pushed out t h e

boat
Th e ma n headed obl iquely do w n strea m
to com e up w ith the baby from behi nd , w hi l e I
t ook a positi on I n t he bo w , ready to la nd i t i n
the boa t I n a fe w m i nutes w e w ere u p to h im
The poor l i ttle deserted fello w w a s pa w i ng ab out
i n th e w ate r mu ch a fte r the m anner of a b lind
puppy a nd utt eri ng plai ntiff cries , startl i ngly
l ike a rea l baby I skippe d the scoo p w el l u nder
hi m , a nd i n a m omen t h e w a s safely landed i n
the bott om of the boat
I xed u p a n extemporary f e e d l ng bott l e,
made of a pi ec e of rubber tubi ng, a c ork and an
empty sod a w a ter bottle , w h i ch w e lled w ith
some nice w a rm m i lk W e go t h i m comfortab l e
o n a shee pski n a longside th e kitchen st ove , and
w ith a l ittl e i nstru c tion he very soon k n e w ho w
t o w ork hi s end of the t ub e
T he w a rmth of
th e sto ve a nd th e b ottle of m i lk very qu i ckl y
se nt h i m i nt o s w ee t forge tful ness
M y rs t i ntenti on w a s t o kee p hi m on l y a
fe w days , u nti l h e got a l ittle large r a nd
stronger a nd then let h im c onti nu e h i s j ourney
t o the s e a
B ut th e l ittl e fello w becam e su ch
a pe t a nd evidently li ke d h i s surrou ndi ngs s o
w el l th at i t w ou ld have been hea rtless i n t he
extreme to send hi m a w ay ; s o Ja ck , a s th e coo k
christene d h im , becam e one of th e fami ly , a nd
gr e w a nd w ax ed strong and fol lo w ed m e abou t
.

C ANAD I A N

160

W I LD S

be tw een the bui ldings w i th h i s oppi ng ga i t i n

a m ost ridi culou s m anne r
In S eptembe r , nu mbers of ne sea trou t u sed
to c ome i n th e rive r ea c h t ide a nd go ou t w ith
the ebb W e placed a s ta nd of ol d u seless sal
mon n e ts n ea r the la s t sand point t o crea t e a
ba ck w ate r, from w hi ch t o y sh
Jack u sed
to a c c ompany m e on these sh ing tours , and h e
very soon cam e t o u nderst and w ha t my w hip
pi ng the w ater w a s f or
O ne day h e w abbl ed do w n to th e very edge
o f t he river , gazed u p and do w n and a cross the
w ater, a nd the nex t i nsta nt dived i n , w i th a
grea sy, slidi ng m oti on T h e w aters cl ose d over
h im , a nd I paused i n m y pastim e t o se e w ha t
w ou ld happen nex t I looked abou t i n a l l dirce
tions for Jac k, b u t no t a ri ppl e disturbed the
plac i d w at ers He c ou ld not have been mesh ed
i n the fold s of th e net , bec ause I w ou ld have
s ee n th e oats vibrate
S o I stood there p on
deri ng, my th ou ghts pa rtly perplexed a nd partly
sorro w fu l f or the possibl e loss of ou r pe t
A l l a t once I h eard heavy brea thi ng a l mos t
a t my feet , a nd l ooki ng dow n , th ere w as Ja ck
w ith a ne 3 % lb s e a t rou t cross w ays i n h i s
mont h , w h ich on m y ca lli ng h i s nam e , h e d e p os
Then you m ay be sure I pet ted
i t e d at my feet
th e dear young fell o w , a nd he seem ed to u nder
s tand tha t w hat h e h ad done w as a ppr eci ated
.

A T A M E S EAL

16 1

by h is mast er , f or a fte r rolling h i msel f for a

fe w m oment s on the sand h e m ade a nother dive ,
and another , a nd anothe r, a l w ays w i t h th e same
successfu l resu lts , a nd th e b est part of h i s s h
i ng w a s that h e only selecte d th e large s t a nd
fattest sh W e w e n t h ome, b oth very prou d
i n ou r ow n w ayJa ck for havi ng b ee n made s o
m u ch of, a nd I becau se of th e u se fu l a ccompl ish
ment of my pet
A S l ong a s th e ru n of sh conti nu e d , Ja ck
a nd I u sed to resort each day to th e eddy He
brough t th e sh ash ore a nd I pu t them i n t he
baske t
W h at w e could not consum e at the
house, t he cook sa lted for w i nter us e Ye s , the
w i nter w a s comi ng on , a nd th e though t occu rred
to m e severa l times w ha t w e w ou l d d o w i th
Ja ck Jack , ho w ever , made no attemp t to take
h i s freedom a nd forsak e u s O n the c on trary
h e m ani fes t ed greater a ffec ti on for u s all , and ,
a s th e days becam e sh orter and th e n i gh ts
c older and longe r i n that nor t h ern la t i tude, h e
used t o sl ee p fo r ma ny h ou rs on a stre tch , h u d
d l e d u p w ith th e d ogs i n the kitchen , on ly goi ng
ou t of doors f or a n oc c asi onal sli de i n t h e sno w
once or t w i ce du ri ng th e c ou rse of ea ch day
E ve n the l ong w i nt e r of t he N orth c o mes
to a n end i n tim e a nd onc e aga i n w e h ad open
w ater ; th e l a s t bound river w a s a ga i n f r ee f ro m
.

11

1 62

CANAD I A N W I LD S

i c e, and Jac k u sed to t ake l ong s w i m s , bu t h e

F i nal ly the ru n of salmon
a l w ays cam e b ack
struck th e rive r , a nd I took J a ck do w n to the
bi ght of the sandbars t o y h i m a t bigger game
tha n th e trout H e m ade one or t w o dives a nd
c ame ashore empty m outhed
He s a w there
w ere no caresses f or Ja ck , s o he tried a gai n
Thi s t ime hi s e ff orts w ere cro w ned w i th su c
c ess , for h e landed w ith a 1 2 lb salmo n stru g
gli ng i n h i s strong j a w s He received my pa t
i ng a nd expression s of sati sfa cti on w i t h u n
bounded j oy and seem ed to kno w h e ha d done
someth ing to be proud of for he ambl ed u p th e
sandbank a nd sli d do w n to th e w at e r severa l
t ime s i n rapid succession
S oon i t w a s the season for th e seal s t o enter
th e river a s i n past years , and the Indi ans w ere
Shooting them from thei r canoes w h en ever they
had a chance J u c k u sed t o go s o fa r a eld no w ,
probably tryi ng t o nd the m oth er th at had so
sh amefu lly deserte d hi m last yea r, that w e
feare d he m igh t b e shot by th e I ndians by m i s
take ; s o w e tied a pi ece of blu e w orsted garter
i ng abou t hi s neck to di sti n g uish hi m from the
o ther se als
B u t ala s f er the poor Kni gh t of
the G a rter O ne day Jack w a s ou t am ong th e
other seal s off th e m outh of the rive r , a nd i n
som e w ay the blue garter mu s t h ave b een de
t ac h ed f r om h i s n e ck , for an I ndi an sh ot h im
.

A T A M E S EAL

1 63

T he m a n brough t him a s h ore a nd told uS

of th e m i shap A s soon a s he handl ed h im t o
pu t h im i n th e ca noe he kne w a t once from the
r ough ness of h i s coa t i t w a s poor Ja ck A nd
thu s e nded ou r i nte lligent a nd u sefu l pet
W e bu ried h im nea r th e a gs t a ff and p u t

u p a b oard b eari ng the i n sc r ip ti o n Ja ck

.

I
'

'

S ee i ng a sma l l Shark brought a sh ore th e

ot h er day by one of th e salmon sherm en , w h o
had fou nd i t roll ed u p i n hi s net , pu t me
i n m i nd of a n e xci t in g a dve nture I had
ma ny years ago
B oth a t the ea st , a s w ell
a s the w e s t side of t h e mouth of t h e grea t
R iver M oi si e , sa nd ba nks ru n out t o sea
for a d ista nc e of t w o or three m iles These a re
covered at h igh tide but bei ng of almos t a u ni
form h ei gh t , t h e fal li ng ti de run s off of th e m
i n a very Sh ort spac e of ti me , a nd leave s them
dry w ith th e excepti on of some Odd places w h ere
pools of w ater remai n Th e banks a re dry t h e
la st t w o h ou rs of the ebb a nd the rst t w o h our s
of th e ood tide
Th e great r iver c ont i nually depos i ts on th es e
sa nds such qua ntitie s of vegetabl e matter , tha t
th ey are a resort for m any ki nds of sma ll shes ;
a nd nu m erou s w a t erfo w l c o m e t here a t certai n
stages of the t i de to fe ed on th e sh
.

1 64

CANAD I AN W I LD S

I w a s only abou t eighteen a t the t i me , a nd

had gone out i n a birch b ark ca noe to s hoot
ducks on th e banks
M y compa ni on , a n I ndian
b oy eve n younger tha n myself i n ye ars , bu t sev
era l times olde r i n experi ence , w a s t o s teer th e
cano e
T h e la s t w ords hi s fa ther sai d to u s

be fore l eavi ng, w ere, D on t g o t oo fa r out , or

th e M a t h c i e ne ma k w i ll cu t you r canoe and

e a t you
The s ea t ha t m orn ing w a s a s ca lm a s a po nd ,
and perfect ly glassy from th e strong M ay su n
striki ng stra ight do w n on i t e had bee n out
for a coupl e of hours , a nd ha d had pre tty fa i r
l uck w i th s ea du cks a nd loons , a nd w ere j ust
abou t st arti ng f or the Shore before the ti de left
u s dry on the ba nks I f such a th ing had hap
pe ned , i t w ou l d have enta i led on u s th e labor
of carryi ng ou r ca noe a m i l e or so to th e bea ch ,
over soft yi elding sand

W e better go , the boy w a s saying w he n h i s

V
i t h the
Y
w ords w ere c u t sh ort i n h i s mou th

rema i ns of that brea t h h e screeched M a tch ie

ne mak " and s ta rted t o paddle like one pos

se ss ed I admi t that hi s fri gh t w a s i n fecti ou s,
a nd coupled w i th th e dread name of shark , i t
so qui ckened my stroke, tha t Ha nlon s sixty a
m i nu t e w ere very slo w c ompared t o th e w a y I
w orked my padd l e
I have read , and hea rd
from ol d w h al e s me n, that a s l ong a s one kept th e
.

'

TAM E

S EAL

1 65

w ater churned up, t here w a s no dange r of t h e

shark getti ng i n hi s w ork T w i ce the b oy cal led

There h e i s " O nc e I caugh t a gl im pse of

ou t,
th e monster a fe w yards off on our por t beam ,
he ading t o th e sh ore also , bu t evide nt l y w a t c h
i ng for a cha nce t o a tta ck u s
T he t i de w as no w ru nni ng ou t , a nd c ons e
quently th e m ore w e n eared the sh ore, the
Shoaler th e w ate r got
Th e sh ar k h ad not
stopped t o consi der thi s i n h i s m ad rush t o
ca t ch u s A t last ou r cano e grou nded on t he
sands and w e l ooked bac k w i th rel ief a t our nar
r ow escape
B u t , ah "
w ha t i s tha t abou t a c ou
pl e of a cre s astern , s ure l y not th e s hark "B u t
i t w as , and h e w a s ou nderi ng abou t i n sha l
lo w w ater , i n one of th e pools , and every m i n

ute th e w ater w as getti ng less

Hoop l a "
w e w i ll

n o w hun t th e shark , I sa id t o l ittle M oses , a s

I started off to w ard hi m over th e no w d r y sands
Ye s , there he w a s , th e grea t , ugly b ea st , op
pi ng about i n a basi n surrou nded by ba nks , ou t
o f w h ich i t w a s i mpossible f or h i m to escape
From the sh ore th e boy s father a nd one of my
me n sa w w h a t w a s goi ng on and cam e ou t w i th
a handfu l of bu llets a nd t hei r gu ns
I n th e
meant im e I w as em ployi ng th e tim e w ith good
resu lts , by pouri ng i n to th e Sh ark charge a fter
charge of AAA sh ot at close range
By th e tim e t h e men reach ed u s the sh w as
.

166

CANAD I A N W I LD S

pretty s i c k , and apart from snapping h i s i m

mense j a w s , w a s lyi ng perfectly sti ll Th e rst
bu llet from a di stanc e of t e n feet pu t a n end
to him W he n th e tide ca me i n aga i n w e to w ed
h im i nto th e rive r a nd cu t h im u p a nd sal ted
th e chu nk s i n barrels to feed th e dogs the next
w i nter F rom th e liver w e rendered out th ree
gal lon s o f oi l a s c lea r a s w ater Th is of i tsel f
w a s of valu e to u s th e next w i nter i n ou r lam ps
i t gave a clear l ight a nd em i tte d n o smoke
T hose w ere th e days before c oa l o i l cam e i nto
eneral
O
u
r
only
l
ights
a
t
the
post
w
ere
s
e
u
g
hom e m ade tallo w can dles , or a c otton rag from
a ti n spou t fe d by seal oi l Th is , c omb ined w i th
th e burni ng rag, gave off a h eavy, dense , bla ck
smoke , w hi ch w a s , i f not i nj uri ou s , very u n
pl easant to inhal e dur i ng the long w i nter eve n
i ngs Th e Sha rk oi l bei ng s o mu ch su per i or , I
kept i t for my ow n priva te l amps , a nd th e te eth
orna m en t ed th e m an tl epi ec e
.

,
.

C H A P T E R XX I

T HE CARE O F B L IS T ERED F EE T

M u ch su ff erin g a nd di scom fort are e x p er i

e nc e d by th e novi ce o n sno w shoe tram ps by the
w a n t of kno w ledge a s to ho w t o ca re f or and
protec t the feet from bli stering
Th e toes a r e th e pa rts that su ff er m ost fro m
th e fri cti on of the cros s sno w sh oe stri ngs tha t
are conti nually see sa w i ng th e front part o f the
mocca sin , a nd many , from a n erroneou s idea of
cause a nd e ff ect , pile on extra socks , thi nking
thereby t o prevent th e blisteri ng by th e thi ck
ness o f thei r foo t padding
D uri n g my rs t yea rs i n th e Hudson B ay

servi c e I su ff ered l ike a ny other ne w hitter of

the l ong tra il , bu t once started on the tram p
there w a s n o giving i n
Places being hu ndreds
of m iles a part , there w ere n o h ou ses nor a ny

pla c e t o stop a nd s a y, I ca n go no further

O n a j ourney of seven ei ght or ten da vs w e too k
probably one da y s extra provisions but no
more, therefore b e the ba ck lam e th rou gh the
heavy bu ndle i t had t o support d a v a fter day,
or ou r every t oe bli stered to th e bone , w a l k on
.

167

1 68

C A N AD I AN W I LD S

w e m ust a nd di d I h ave often seen th e bl ood

appea r on my m occa si ns , w orking i ts w ay
through th ree or four pairs of socks a nd becom e
so dried a nd caked tha t before the Shoes could
be rem oved a t the night s camp r e w arm w a
ter had to be poured freely upon th e moc c a s i n
t o release the foot
The a gony a t su ch times w a s past expla in
ing I t w a s quite a w ork to pa tch u p ea ch s e p
ara te t oe w i th bal sam gu m a nd ra g before turn
i ng i n for the ni gh t a nd yet sti ff s w ollen a nd
sore these poor feet had to h ave the large hea vy
sno w sh oes su spended to them next morning and
the w eary tram p conti nu ed a s on th e previ ou s
day
O u r gu ides , the I ndi ans did not su ffer , a s
their feet w ere hardened from ch ildhood , a nd a s
a n In d ia n never gives a dvic e nor o ffers to r e
lieve hi s c om pa ni on s l oa d w ithou t bein g a sked ,
w e , the u nfortunate greenhorns , w ere compell ed
t o tru dge on i n the w ake of ou r pa ce maker a s
w ell a s w e cou ld
O f c ourse I tri ed by al l manner o f cha nges
i n foot w ear t o al leviate th e trouble by taki ng
O H som e thi ckness of socks a nd by pu tting on
extr a ones , al l to no ava i l
T ri p a fter trip , and
yea r a fte r yea r, I su ffered w i th c u t toes a nd
bli stered feet
By good fortune , I th ink i t w a s
my fth yea r i n th e c ountry , I w a s ordered from
.

CA R E

THE

OF

B L I S T E R ED

FEET

1 69

S t L a w ren c e posts t o meet a w i nter p acket

party from Hudson s B ay A certai n l ak e on
the divi de w a s arranged f or i n th e autum n a s
the m eeti ng p lac e of th e t w o parti es T he
n
o
k
r
from
H
udson
s
B
ay
w
ere
to
leave
a
e
e
s
c
t
p
th e 3 d of Janu ary and ha d a j ou rney ahead of
them of 3 2 5 m il es
M y party, t w o Indi a ns a nd
self , left on th e 6 t h of January, h avi ng 5 5 m iles
less to t ravel , or 2 7 0 m iles O ur dav s tram ps
w ere s o si mi lar i n length tha t w e arriv ed at the
rendezvous w i thi n fou r hou rs of each other
O ne of th e pa rty from th e bay w a s a S cotc h
half bre ed , a nd from h im , for th e rst t ime, I
learned th e art of cari ng properly f or th e feet
H e made m e cast a side a l l my w oolen knitted
socks , and ou t of hi s abundance h e su pplied m e
w ith sm oked fa w n Ski n socks , ankl e hi gh , m ade
i n the fash i on of a m occasi n , only w i th no t ops
or w elts of seam s
Th e top a nd bottom pieces
o f leather w ere herri ng bon ed togeth er , a sli t
w a s m ade i n the top hal f t o i nsert the foot and
thi s w a s put on the bare foot
O n t op of th i s
t w o other shoe socks , m ade of du ffie or bla nket
ing, w ere p laced and th e m oose Ski n m occa si n
over a ll , th e l eather top of w h i ch w a s tied abou t
the naked a nkl e
I ventu red to opine th at I w oul d possibly b e
c old there , or freeze , but my ne w friend told
m e the objec t w a s t o keep the feet from over
.

'

1 70

C A N A D I A N W I LD S

h eat i ng
A nd th is a nd th e kni tted s oc k s i s t h e

c au se of a ll your su ff eri ng

N ow l i sten to m e
he w ent on ; at every
noon day re or i n fa c t a ny ti me a lengthened
hal t i s called s i t on the brush before the re
a nd take off both m occasin s a nd al l your socks ,
turn them i nside out a nd bea t them on a sti c k
or the brush to ta ke ou t a ll the creases th e feet
have m ade L et them cool w rong side ou t and
w h ile th i s i s taki ng place , have your feet al so
c ool i ng L et th em becom e thoroughly c ol d b e
fore repla ci ng you r socks a nd Shoes a nd w hen
doin g th is pu t those that w ere on th e ri gh t foot
on to th e left , a nd vi ce versa
Th i s a ffords a
w onderfu l relief t o the tired feet and you r e
sum e the j ou rney w i th a rested feeling A t
night , a fter the last pipe i s sm oked a nd you are
about tu rni ng i n t o get w hat sleep you ca n w i th
no roof to c over you but th e far off heavens
then turn u p your pa nts to the knee and j um p ,
bare footed a nd bare legged i nto the nearby
sno w a nd stand i n i t u nti l you ca n bea r i t no
longer , then st a nd near th e blazi ng cam p r e
and w i th a c oar se to w el , or bag , rub the legs a nd
feet w ell unti l the blood i s tingl ing , a nd the
color of your l o w er extrem ities resembles a
bo i led lobster , a nd my w ord for i t , you w ill rest
better sleep sou nder a nd ari se refresh ed

w hat you never enj oyed before

.

TH E

CARE

O F BLI S T E RE D F EE T

171

I w a s a nd follo w i ng h i s a dvi ce
of the sno w bath , I made th e return j ourney
w i th ease a nd plea sure I made l ong tram ps f or
t w enty years fol lo w i ng a nd never aga i n w a s I
troubled by ei ther bl i sters or cu t feet
E ven
m a k ing sh ort trips abou t th e post hu nti ng , I
never a ll ow ed a k n itt ed s ock nea r m y f eet
F i tted

ou t a s

C H A P T E R XX I I
DEER SI C K N E SS

Th e India n term deer si ckness i s i n real i ty

a mi snomer a s i t i s not the dee r that i s S i c k but
th e party fol lo w i ng i t s tracks
T he ide a of
w ri t ing thi s a rti cle cam e t o m e by reading

S ce n t G lands of th e D ee r, w h i ch a ppeared i n
F or es t a nd S t r e a m of M ay 1 3 , a nd I rem em
bered h o w I had th e deer Si ckness thi rty eight
years a go
There are many surpri ses for a tenderfoot or
gre e nhorn i n the w i ld , bu t the nam e given to
one o f th ese very m uch to b e piti ed part i e s i n
the bu sh c ou ntry from th e L abrador t o L ake S u
peri or i s m a ngc r s d a l a r d This i s th e u niversa l
cogn omen by w hi ch a stra nger i n the north
c ountry i s kno w n I found by t raci ng ba ck tha t
thi s soubriquet w a s rst give n by the F ren ch
c ou r r i e r s d u b ots t o a ne w hand ent ering the
bac k cou ntry for t h e rst tim e
I t i s sai d th at i n those early days th e French
youths , from w h i ch ne w ha nds w ere recrui ted
lived a t h om e on very sca nty food a nd w h e n
they go t a w ay w orking for th e fur c om pany
-

1 72

D EE R S I C K N E SS

1 73

w here pork w as , c omparatively, i n abunda nce,

they let their you ng appetite s loose a nd a te t h e
esh of s w i ne i n prodigi ou s qua ntities w h ereby
they b ecame kno w n a s m a ng e r s d u l a r d i e ,
pork eaters , a nd thi s denoted a stranger or
greenhorn , th e t enderfoo t of the W e stern pra i
,

me

I w a s some w ha t of a greenh orn myself a nd

su ffere d thereby by cat chi ng the dee r sickness
L ike a good many other ba d knocks tha t a b e
ginner ha s t o endure, thi s bi t of si ckne ss had
a n abidi ng e ffec t on m e a nd w a s never repeated
M y experienc e ca m e abou t i n th i s w ise
I
had a ccompa ni ed a fami ly of I ndia ns to a d ee r
batt ue, a nd a fte r the genera l Slaugh ter w a s ove r
I w a s a llotted th e du ty of follo w ing u p a
w ou nded deer ; by th e w ord deer I m ea n a w ood
caribou
Thi s pa rt icu la r buck had bee n shot a t close
qua rters the bal l goi ng clear th rough i ts s tom
a ch W hi le the Sh ot ha d the c ec t of bo w l i ng
the deer over i t had no t touched a vi ta l spot
a nd duri ng the exc i tement of the ot h e r s h oot
i ng t he a nima l got u p a nd traveled a w ay u no h
served
T h e sno w w as pretty deep ne v e r t h e
l es s the further the deer w ent the better he a p
W hen th is fa ct be cam e
p e a r e d t o ge t al ong
evident t o m e , w h o w a s fol lo w i ng h i s t ra ck , li t
e r a ll y w ith my no s e t o t h e s no w , I put on a
-

'

1 74

CANAD I AN W I LD S

greater spu r t to try a nd end the j ig The dee r

by thi s tim e had become cognizant of bei ng fol
lo w ed a nd h e a lso i ncreased h i s pace
I no w becam e a w a re of a w ea kness i n my
l imbs , a nau sea ti ng smel l i n my n ostri ls a nd a
fa i nt a nd giddy se nsa t i on i n my h ead
T hi s
u ncomfortabl e feeli ng gre w w orse , a nd a t last
to s ave myself from fa lli ng I had to lea n aga inst
a t ree and w ipe my bro w w ith a ha ndful of sno w
Thi s had a m omentary good effect
I sa w
c l early once m ore a nd pu shing ahead redoubled
my e fforts to c om e w i thi n shooti ng di sta nce of
my deer Bu t I ha d not gone fa r before I felt a
relapse comi ng a nd i n a fe w m oment s I w a s i n
w orse distress tha n ever T he last I remembe r
w a s se eing a w hi rl of tree s goi ng a rou nd m e I t
w as th e la st consci ou s m oment be fore I fa i nted
dea d a w ay a nd fe ll i n my tra ck s i n th e sno w
L u cki ly th e chief had sent h i s t w o boys to
follo w m e u p not tha t h e a nti cipa ted thi s end
ing but f or th e purpose of ski nning and cu tti n g
up th e dee r
I t w a s providentia l he did , for
other w i se I w ou ld n eve r h ave a w akened i n th i s
w orld A s i t w a s , the col d had th oroughly pene
t r a t ed my body a nd i t w a s only after dri nkin g
a qua rt or t w o of h ot t ea tha t ci rcu lation r e
sum e d i ts fu nctions
A fte r I ha d c ome arou nd t o th e youth s sa t
i s f a c t i on the eldest one started off af t e r t h e
.

D EE R S I C K N E SS

1 75

c au se of a l l my t rouble, leavi ng h i s you nger

brother t o repleni sh the re a nd at te nd to my
w ants
Th e elder boy re tu rned a fter a n h our
h avi ng ki lled the d eer , the proof, th e
or t w o
Spli t hea rt tucked i n h i s belt
D arkness w a s
then set ti ng i n , bu t th e b oys made ready t o
start for cam p W ha t had ta ke n m e hours of
toi l t o c over , th ey passed over i n a very short
time ; i n fa ct , w e only s a w my t rai l once or
t w i ce on th e w ay ou t t o th e l ake
Tha t night , a fter supper the ch ief told me of

t h e d eer Si ckness , a nd w a rned m e agai nst per

s i s t ent l y follo w i ng th e trai l
H e c ont inued a nd
told h ow th e I ndia ns did a nd i n a fte r years I
He ex
s a w thei r mode a nd pra cti ced i t myself
pla i ne d t o be tha t a pu ngen t odor ex uded from
t h e deer s h oofs w h e n they w ere pursu ed a nd
i t w a s th i s that caused my w eakness and dis
tress
T he India n s i n fol lo w i ng deer cu t the t rai l
once i n a w hi le m e rely t o make sure they are
going i n t h e ri ght d irection and t o asce rta i n th e
freshne ss of the tra cks Thi s i s done w ith a t w o
fo l d pu rpose, rst to avoi d th e odor from th e
fresh tra cks a nd secondly to ru n or w a lk i n the
most open parts of the forest
M oose ca ribou ,
a nd deer w hen e ei ng from a n enemy i nvariably
pass through th e t hi ckes t bu sh , be cause th e
sno w i s sha l l o w er u nder thi ck , bra nchy t rees
.

1 76

CA NAD I A N W I LD S

tha n i n the ope n , th erefore th e I ndia n w alks

a Spel l on th e ri ght ha nd side of the tra il , th e n
crosses over a nd pa sses on t he left
From th e t opogra phy of th e c ou ntry the
I ndia n ha s a pretty good i dea of th e trend of t h e
caribou s c ourse , a nd th e cutting of th e t ra i l
from tim e t o tim e i s only to a ssure h imself tha t
he i s c orrec t in hi s surm i se , a nd to j udge by the
tra cks h o w near h e i s t o th e q u a r r v He there
by pa sses through the c lea rest c ou ntry , has th e
best w alki ng a nd e sca pes th e nau seou s efuV i a
em i t ted from the a nima ls hoofs
.

I t fal l s to u s w h o l ive i n the cou ntry th e yea r

rou nd to hea r amu si ng st ories from th e guides

o f th ei r experi ences w ith the

tende rfeet that
visit th e north count ry duri ng t h e open sea son
O ne that sho w e d the cute ness of th e guide w as
t old m e Sh ort ly a go by th e ma n h imsel f
Dr S
came to R oberva l w ith the ex
pressed w ish of ta ki ng h ome a caribou hea d of
h i s ow n kill ing H e e ngaged G eorge S ken e as
ma n of al l w ork , a nd O ld Bazil , the n oted guide
a nd suc cessful h unte r
A l though i t i s not cu stoma ry f or gui de s to
take thei r guns w hen ou t w ith gentl ema n sports
me n , yet O ld Bazi l w a s a n exception , a s h e a l
w ays i nsi sted on taki ng h i s Ar ound the cam p
.

DEER SI C K N E SS

177

spoke of h i s grea t w i sh t o k il l a
re D r S
c aribou

N o w, h e sa id to ol d B azi l , Y ou bri ng m e
up close t o one a nd I ki ll i t, I l l give you a bonu s
.

of

S evera l times next day during the st ill hu nt

ol d Bazi l w ould l e ave th e doctor t o a w ai t h i s
return , w hi le h e w ould go for w a rd reconnoi ter
i ng care fu lly s o there migh t b e no m istake A t
la st h e cam e ba ck w ith the glad ti dings t o th e
doct o r, tha t he ha d seen t w o caribou not fa r i n
adva nc e of w here they n o w w ere
W hen i t got t o sneaki ng a fter B a zi l through
th e la st hu ndred yards t o the f e w trees at the
extreme edge of th e forest, th e doctor s hea r t
w a s beating w ith such thumps tha t he th ough t
the noise w ou ld start the ga me T he doctor at
la st rea ched th e gui de i n th e fri nge of trees
B azi l told h im tha t one of the deer w a s stand
i ng u p , broadsi de on, w hi le a li ttl e t o the righ t
w a s th e second one lying do w n The s tanding
one being the larger o f th e t w o a nd the only one
havi ng h orns , w a s f or th e doctor t o sh oot , w h i le
th e guide w oul d take a pot Sh ot at th e oth e r
The doctor a t t ened ou t on h i s stoma ch and
w riggled a fe w feet further , sa w th e deer
through t he bra nches , took a im and w a ited f or
B azi l t o cou nt th e agre ed one , t w o, th ree
-

12

1 78

CA NAD I AN W I LD S

Bazi l argued w i th himself tha t from the un

c erta i n w ay the doctor s gun w a s w abbling abou t

there w ere severa l h undred chanc es t o one
a ga inst hi s hitti ng the deer , a nd a s a c onse
q u e nc e , h e w ou ld be m i nu s h i s bonus
S o h e e mployed a ruse
He c ou nted the
a greed si gna l t o re , but i nst ead of ri ng a t
the one lyi ng do w n he dre w a bea d on th e doc
tor s a nd , of course ki lled it
A t th e repor t of the gu ns th e caribou on
t he ground spra ng u p a nd old B azil w i th c on

summate preva ri cati on sa id , O h "

I mi sse d i t "
A imed agai n , let go the o ther barrel , a nd ki lled
thi s one a lso
T h e doctor w a s w i ld w ith delight a t hi s s u c
Ce ss f u l rst shot , a nd expressed i n m any w ords
h i s plea sure to ol d Baz i l , w h o t ook i t a ll i n
w ithou t a blu sh
T h e old guide, w h o w a s sta nding u p ba ck of
w h ere the doctor red had taken no chanc e of
m issing w i th h i s smooth bore , but red poi n t
blank at th e deer s fore quarters
Th ere w a s
found on exami nation a fri ghtful w ou nd , a nd
sma shed bone ; bu t th e doctor w a s not versed
enough i n w ood craft to distingui sh i f th i s h ad
been cause d by a rou nd bulle t , a nd not t he c on
i ca l one from h is ow n ri e
T he doctor w as not a pot hu nter ; he had
w hat h e cam e for, and had got it i n almost rec
.

DEER SI C K N E SS
-

1 79

or d

time, and w a s sa ti sed so h e shed for

brook trou t w hi le B azi l ca refully prepa red th e
head f or transpor tatio n and dried th e mea t for
hi s ow n fam ily T hen they j ourneyed bac k t o
R oberval , w here th e men w ere pai d off , Baz i l
receivi ng a bri gh t $ 1 0 gold pi ece as promi sed
over and above hi s w a ges
The doctor n o doub t h a s that head , beauti
fu lly gotten u p ha nging ove r h i s sideboard , and

poi nts t o i t w ith pride t o h i s gue sts , sayi ng , I

k i lled tha t h ea d ba ck of Ki s ki s i n k, i n C ana d a

.

C H A P T E R XX I I I
A CA S E O F N ERVE

I n the far i nteri or w here our i s s c a rce a nd

o u r l ivi ng c onsi sts of either s h or esh
both
,
of w hi ch w e have t o get w hen w e ca n a nd h ow
w e ca n , the game la w s a re a dead letter
N ets
w ere a l w ays i n the w ater the year rou nd a nd no
o ne m oved from the posts w i thout a gu n
Fi sh
a nd potatoes w ere ou r sta pl e diet a nd w e r e it
not f or th e abu nda nce of the former w e could
never h ave l ived i n the c ou ntry L akes w ere a ll
abou t u s an d w hen one w a s shed ou t w e m oved
ou r nets to a nother
Flesh , h o w ever , c ou ld not a l w ays be got a nd
w hen the cha nce o ffered w e killed , i n season or
ou t
N othi ng h o w ever , w as w a sted
S h ould
w e shoot a deer or m oose i n summer, the s ur
plu s over w hat w e coul d consum e i n a day or
t w o w a s either j erked a nd dried or salted
M any a t i m e have my m en had t o vi sit ou r nets
a m i le or t w o off to get w here w i th for ou r brea k
fa st
I f su c cessful the sh had then to be
clea ned and c ooked before w e broke ou r fast
S u ch bei ng our hard battle for li fe I may b e ex
c us e d for th e follo w ing story :
.

'

1 80

A C AS E

N E RVE

OF

1 81

A n India n c a m e i n l ate one a fternoo n fro m

h i s hu nting ground s a t the s outh to get hi s
Spring a mmu ni tion I t w a s abou t th e m iddle
of A pri l a nd there w a s at the time a hard cru st
He told u s tha t on th e w ay he ha d
on the sno w
seen c utti ngs of a very b ig bul l m oose a nd h e
w a s su re h e w a s on th e top of a m ountai n nea r
by w here he ha d noti ced the cutti ngs He ha d no
gu n a nd besi des th e m oos e w a s u seless t o hi m s o
far from h i s camp being fou r or ve mi les from
our post
N o w he conti nu ed i f you w a n t t o
have h im you c a n come al ong w ith m e i n th e
morning a nd you w il l surely kil l h im
He ca n t
get a w ay w i th the c ru st T h e I ndia n w a s s o
sure of our su cces s tha t h e tol d m e to take m y
t w o men w i th sleds to brin g hom e t h e m ea t a nd
hi de
A S i t w a s al l i ce w a lki ng except one short
porta ge to the foo t of the range o f m ou nt a i ns
he nam ed , w e dec ided to leav e the post a n h ou r
or so b ef ore daylight s o a s to be there at th e
earliest possibl e m omen t
O ur preparati ons
w ere soon made a nd w e took a little sleep
dres sed a s w e w ere a nd th en started W e took
t w o l ittl e partrid ge curs t o hea d off the m oose
a nd keep h im amu sed u nti l I cou ld catch u p
a nd shoot
T h e hunt w a s going t o be su ch a dea d sure
resul t that mi ne w a s th e gu n i n th e p arty I t
.

18 2

CANAD I AN W I LD S

w a s a smooth bore H B and c arried bu l l ets 2 8

to th e pou nd W e had a cu p o f tea a nd a bite
o f ga lette a t th e foot of the mou ntai n a nd l eft
our sleds there together w i th th e I ndian s bun
dl e of a mmuni tion , tea , toba cco , e t c , he had
tra ded a t the post
M y men each carried one of
t h e dogs i n a ba g to let go a t th e proper m o
ment A s the I ndia n proposed i n the rst pla c e
to sti ll hu nt the bul l h e reasoned that i t bei ng
yet s o ea rly perhaps I w ou ld get a sh ot w hen h e
j um ped u p from h i s bed of t h e n ight
I V e ha d t o w ear sno w sh oes i n the green
bush a s the crust w a s not sufciently strong to
support a m an w ithou t them We w hipped
stri ps of old rags abou t the frames to deaden the
noi se w hen w alki ng on th e hard sno w
The I n
dia n led off pu ttin g do w n ea ch foot w ith th e u t
m ost care a nd I follo w ed gu n i n ha nd the men
bei ng told to keep a n a cre or t w o beh ind u s
Th e a scent w a s gradua l a nd pretty free from u n
W e w ere getting nea r the summi t
d e r gr ow t h

w hen al l a t onc e th e I ndia n called ou t , he s

A fter th e still ness of ou r procedure these

off
w ords w ere qui te startlin g Th e men heard hi m
a nd hu rried for w ard to u s Th e dogs w ere
emp ti ed out , they caugh t the tai nted a i r i n a m o
ment and a w ay they ran
T hi s w a s th e rst tim e I kne w of a n India n s
a cut e sense of s mel l , a nd after , w hen I c ame to
.

A CA S E

NERVE

OF

1 83

c ons id er i t , c ou l d not th i n k other wi se than th at

i t w a s w onderfu l
F rom th e plac e w here w e

stood w hen h e sai d , Th e m oose i s a w ay , w a s

fu lly t w o a cres to h i s lai r s o i t w a s im possible
h e could have seen or heard h i m go
I n fa ct ,
h e told m e h e smel t hi m w hen h e spra ng u p
Thi s I di sbelieved a t the t ime , bu t i n a fter years
had many in sta nc es that could not be dou b ted
A lready th e dogs w ere givi ng tongue do w n the
descent on th e other side a nd a s they w ere bark
ing appa rently i n th e sa me pl ace th e moose w as
said to be at a standsti ll
The fa ce of th e m ou n
ta i n on the other side w as w ooded w it h a you ng
gro w th of trees , i n som e places gro w ing i n thi ck
ets or c lu sters
T he I ndia n a nd the men fol lo w ed m e do w n
h il l a nd I a pproached the place w here I heard
the dogs gu n i n hand
The dogs w ere , by the
s ound of thei r barki ng ru nni ng i n on h im and
taking a ni p a t each ru n A fter careful peer
i ng i nto the clum p of trees I th ou gh t I made ou t
hi s fore quarter a nd red
The m oose Sim ply
s at do w n a nd elevated h i s head u nti l hi s neck
appea red a s l ong a s that of a gira ffe
I thought
thi s w a s th e forerunner of h is t umb l i ng ove r
dead Thi s h o w ever w a s not the ca se f or the
next m inute h e broke c over a nd charged strai ght
f o r w her e I w a s sta ndi ng a di stanc e of only a
fe w yards
M y compani on s t urned a nd ed and
.

184

C AN A D I AN

W I L DS

I l oo k ed ar ou nd f or a s u i tabl e tree t o d odge b e

h ind bu t none w a s near
M y l eft barrel w a s
yet loaded a nd I real ized my very l i fe depended
on my cool nes s a nd a ccurate Sh ooting
I t takes c onsider a ble m ore ti me to w rite th is
do w n tha n th e eve nt i t self t ook I pla nted myself
rmly on my sno w sh oe s a nd w ai ted th e proper
m om ent A l l fea r had pa ssed a nd I fu ll y real
i z e d i t w a s death to m e i f I m issed my sh ot
O n h e came h i s grea t eyes blazi ng green i n hi s
a nger a nd th e c oars e hai rs on h is nec k a nd
shou lders sta ndi ng u p like qui ll s I n a ca se of
strong tension on th e n erve l ike mysel f a t that
ti m e m oments appear h ou rs
He w a s i n th e a ct
of making hi s la st spri ng before rea chi ng m e
w hen I took a snap Si ght along the barrel a nd
red fa ir i n the forehea d
I had j u st ti me to
step to one Side w hen h e fel l dea d ri gh t i n my
o l d t ra cks
D eath ha d been s o i nstanta neou s

tha t h e w a s s o t o spea k kil led on th e y

We
skinned a nd cut u p the meat and w ere ba ck a t
the post before th e m i dday tha w set i n
It w as
only tha t nigh t w hen I l ooked a t the a dventure
from al l poi nts of V ie w that I ful ly sa w th e great
da nger I had ru n

C H A P T E R X X IV

A M PH IBI O U S C O M B A T S

V e ry f e w of the presen t ge nera t i on of h u nt

e r s , I pre sum e , have ever w i tne ssed a ght b e
t w ee n a beaver a nd a n otter I venture to think
tha t the narrat ive of su ch a n eve nt w i l l prove
i ntere sti ng t o reade rs of H u n t e r Tr a d e r Tr ap
e
r
especial ly a s i t c om e s rs t hand from th e
p
person w ho sa w th e ght from t he sta rt , a nd w a s
i n at th e nish
I t w a s a n u niqu e spe cta c le o f
onc e i n thi rty ve yea rs of bu sh l ife
I m ust digress a li t t le a t th e start t o expla i n
tha t otters often , i n t h e autum n , endeavor t o
nd some tena ntless beaver l odge situated on a
cha i n of smal l lakes I f fortu nate t o nd su ch ,
they a t once pre empt th e old lodge a nd make
i t thei r home a nd headquarte rs If the sh su p
ply i s ampl e i n the lakes a nd sma l l connec t i ng
c reeks they stay there u ntil th e sno w ha rdens ,
and ope nings occur i n th e large rivers and t h e n
sl ide a w ay t o ne w elds , or ra ther , w a ter w ays
T hi s m igration i s general ly abou t th e 2 0th of
M arch i n ou r N orth ern C ou ntry
O ne day i n the latter par t of O c tob e r I p or t
.

1 85

18 6

CANAD I A N W I LD S

aged m y bar k c anoe over the d ivi de i n t o a n

other cha i n of lake s w ith the obj ec t of a s ce r
t a i ni ng i f th ere w ere a ny beaver i n tha t se cti on
I cam e out t o t he sh ore of th e lo w er lake of
th e stri ng i n a sma l l gra ssy bay, a nd w a s j u st i n
t he a ct of ta ki ng the ca noe off my hea d , w hen
ou t i n th e bay , a n a cre or t w o from shore , I s a w
a beaver s w i mm i ng on the su rface a t a h igh ra te
Bei ng ye t early i n the a fternoon I
of sp eed
w onde red a t thi s and w ai ted w i t h the can oe
s t i l l t ilted on my shoulders A ll a t once a long,
sh iny, snaky looking a nimal broke w a ter in th e
w ake of th e beaver a nd a sh ort di sta nce beh i nd
t h e lat te r , evide ntly i n pursu it
T he beaver w a s no sooner a w are of thi s tha n
h e a ppeared a ctua lly t o sta nd hal f ou t of the
w ater th e next i nsta n t h e tu rned a nd faced h i s
pursuer Th e di sta nc e bet w ee n the t w o w a s so
Short that i n a moment they w ere fa st to ea ch

other s throat a nd then f or some mi nu t es n e ith er

c ou ld be seen for t h e churning a nd Spla sh ing of
t h e w ater
I t ook th e opportu nity w hi l e they
w ere thu s engaged t o u nload my ca noe a nd slip
i t hal f w ay i nto the lake ready to embark
A fter the rst erc e gh t i ng impac t a nd
deadl y gri p w hen th ey a ppeare d pretty w e ll ex
h aus ted
t he ght goi ng on at ti m e s on th e su r
face a nd aga i n both w ould di sa ppea r b eneath
the w a t ers of t h e l ake , sti l l locked togeth er wi th
,

A M P HIBI O U S C O M B AT S

187

th e t ena ci ty of bu l ldog s Then they ro s e to the

top , thi s time separated , a nd at som e li ttle di s
tance apart , both plai nly m u ch spent T hen they
ci rcled abou t one another , m uch i n the sam e
w ay a s t w o boxers s parri ng A ga in a mad rush
a t eac h other , a nd agai n the strong j a w s of hi s
oppone nt , and the sam e sce ne w a s enacted
agai n I thought i t w a s abou t time to push ou t
a nd tak e a c lose r a spec t of a ff a i rs
T he gh t
w a s i nteresti ng , but th e c h anc e of getti ng a
beaver and a n otter , w i th one Shot , fa r s u r

passed t he pr overbia l ,
t w o b irds w i th one

stone
W h a t l ittle breath of w i nd t ha t ruffled t h e
bay w a s i n my favor, so w ith b oth barre ls of
my gun cocked l eaning aga i nst th e c anoe b a r , I
scul led th e b irch sil e ntly bu t s w iftly thru th e
w ater u nnoticed by the comba tants W he n j ust

abou t to take my gu n , th e moment too late

occurred right then , and they se pa rated a s by
mu tu al conse nt ; th e beaver s w i mmi ng to w a rd
th e shore a nd the ott e r p a w i ng the w ater i n a
blind , dazed sort of a w ay The la t ter being th e
neare r to th e ca noe and th e m os t va luable of th e
t w o , I red a nd ki lle d h im
O n th e a sh and
report of the gu n , the beaver dived a nd I pu shed
th e canoe i n hi s direc ti on , w ith the other barrel
ready w hen h e sh ould c om e u p
I had over
sho t t h e p lac e w hen h e had disappeared and
.

1 88

C A N AD I A N W ILD S

w a i ted l oo ki ng t o w ard t h e sh ore , wh er e I ex

M i nu tes
p e c t e d he w ould next com e to V ie w
passed a nd no Sign , I turned abo ut i n th e ca n oe
thi nking possibly h e ha d doubled u nde r
N ot
ten feet from the st ern of the c a noe, th ere w a s
M r B eaver , dea d w ith ou t my ri ng a shot ,
dea d from h i s w ounds I pu lle d hi m into the
canoe a nd pa ddle d ba ck a nd pi cked u p the otter
A fter gett i ng a sh ore a nd exam i ni ng them
both carefully a n d agai n w h en Ski nni ng th em ,
I fou nd th e beaver had died of h i s terrible
w ou nds and no d oubt th e otter w a s i n the la st
throes of hi s li fe a lso , w hen I gave h im h i s qu it
ta nc e The hai r a nd ski n on thei r be lli es w ere
m u ch scratche d and cu t u p by the sha rp , hard
c la w s of thei r hi nd feet T hei r necks w ere one
ma ss of t eeth ma rks a nd th e j ugu la r veins i n
ea ch w ere pierced
Both w ou ld have di ed of
th e i r w ou nds i n a l ittle w h ile , w it hou t the u s e
of th e gu n , h ad I w i thh eld my re for a fe w
m i nutes , f or th ey w ere fast blee di ng to dea th
I a scertai ned a fter w ards tha t th is beaver
had been the only one i n the l ake ; the otter n o
doub t had driven hi m ou t of h i s h ou se , and n ot
c ontent w i th th is ha d pursu ed h im , cour ting
battle I n th e gh t tha t ensued , of w hi ch I had
been a w itness , both had met thei r death
.

'

T h e si ght I wit ne s se d s om e y e ar s

a go

is

so

A M PH IB I O U S C O M B A T S

189

u niqu e that I thi nk i t w i l l prove i ntere st i ng to

the readers of F or es t a nd S t r e a m
I w a s a t the ti m e stati on ed ri gh t i n th e
m oose c ountry, h avi ng f or i t s ce nte r the gre a t
O ne day to w ard t he e nd of N o
Ki p e w a L ake
ve mb e r , w h en , a s ye t only th e bays of t he big
lake w ere frozen , I sta rted t o vi si t some mi nk
traps i n my ca noe , a ccompa nie d by a sma ll little
rat of a dog I t w a s sti l l ope n w ater i n th e
body of the lake, but a s I have said , th e bays
w ere frozen a cou ple of i nches thi ck There i s
a long point of land j u t ti ng i nt o th e l a k e O pe n
w a te r w ashe d the b ea c h on my side of this ; bu t
I l a nded
on th e other Side w a s a frozen bay
abou t th e m id d le of the poi nt to x u p a m ink
trap Th e l i t t le d og ra n u p i nto t h e timber , a n d
a m inu t e or t w o after I h ea rd h im givi ng tongue
i n a savage ma nne r for s o sma l l a bea st , a nd I
k ne w h e mu st have sta rte d u p someth ing extra
ordi na ry, po ssibly a bear I ra n do w n t o th e ca
noe f or my gun , and start ed O H i n th e direction
of th e barking, w h i ch by t ha t ti me w as b e c om
i ng more rem ote P ush i ng on, I cam e ou t to th e
sh ore on the opposit e Side o f the poi nt Here I
w itnessed a Sight never before nor a fte r s ee n by
m e duri ng a residenc e of over thirty years i n
th e w i lds of C a nada
A large c ow moose w a s sli ppi ng abou t on
th e g l are i ce tryi ng to make her w ay t o th e other
.

1 90

CA NAD IA N W IL D S

side of th e bay I w a s s o spellbou nd f or a fe w

m oments that I le t the opportu ni ty pa ss t o
Sh oot The i ce w a s s o glare that i t w a s w i t h dif
c u l ty the large a ni ma l c ould ma ke head w ay a t
a ll
M y l ittl e d og ha d no w c om e up w ith h e r , and
very plu cki ly nippe d her heels T he huge beast
tried to tu rn i n her h ea d w ay t o fa ce th e cu r
I n doi ng s o, her fou r fee t a ll s l i pp e d a t onc e from
u nder h e r a nd her grea t w e igh t comi ng do w n
so suddenly on th e t hi n i ce caused i t t o break
i n fra gments , a nd th e moose w a s i n t he w ater
T o get out of t ha t h o le w ith no bott om t o
Spri ng from w a s m ore tha n tha t m oose, or any
other, c ould do , bu t th e p oor beast di d not real
i ze t hi s , a nd c ontinu ed s w immi ng a rou nd , and
eve ry n o w a nd aga i n gett ing i t s front h oofs on
the sli ppery edge, only t o fa ll back w a rd aga in
i nto th e i cy w a ters
T he dog fol l o w ed i t abou t th e openi ng, bark
i ng c ont i nual ly, but th e m oose had m ore pre ss
i ng bu si ness tha n t o bothe r w i th a smal l dog I
sa w tha t th e creature w ou ld never su cc ee d i n
extra c t ing i tself , a nd th ought to end its m isery
From w h ere I stood th e di stance from th e s h or e
w a s ab ou t t w o hu ndred yards
I t herefore
started to l oad my gu n ( i t w a s before th e days
of bree ch loaders ) , b u t w hen I got t o the na l
.

'

A M PH IBI O U S C O M B A T S

1 91

pu tting on th e percussi on c ap , th ere w a s

none
A l though I w a s positively sure the m oose
w ou ld be froze n sti ff i n that h ol e i n t he m orn
ing , the fasci nati on of the Sight kept m e sta nd
ing there on the rocks w atchi ng her s tru ggles
I m u st h ave stood th ere for t w o fu l l hours ,
a s th e su n of t he short N ove mbe r day b ega n to
get near th e tree tops , and a cold , c u t ti ng north
w i nd b egan to bl o w
Th e poor m oose w a s no w s w i mmi ng abou t
very slo w ly, and a t times turning up on h er si de
T hi s told m e the e nd w as not fa r off
T he last loo k I gave s h e had par t of h er head
resting on the i c e a nd he r body w a s oa t i ng
o n it s side
Then I rec rosse d the po i nt and
paddled h ome a s fast a s I cou ld
N ext m orni ng w e got a large ca noe out of
wi nter quarters , a nd w ith my t w o me n w e pad
d l e d ba ck to the point , supplied w ith rope s and
axes T he nigh t had been a c old one , a nd h ad
i ncreased t he thi ckne ss of th e i c e su fcient for
u s t o w alk u pon W e cut a couple of l ong pi nes ,
or l evers , a nd w ent ou t t o th e h ole T h e head
w a s frozen j us t i n the positi on I h ad last seen i t ,
a nd thi s kep t the body from si nking O u r rst
pre ca u ti on w a s to ch op th e i ce a w ay abou t the
ca rcass a nd ge t r op e s abou t it
The n w e got
of

1 92

CANAD I A N W I LD S

anoth e r arou nd the ne c k a nd ch opped the h ead

clear
W e dropped i t a s i t w a s t o the shore a nd
there cu t i t u p i n quarters A l l of the breast ,
nec k a nd front legs w ere qu i te useless , being a
mass of conj e c ted blood a nd brui sed esh ,

caused by th e m oose s contac t w i th t h e i ce

T hese conde mne d parts, ho w eve r , w ere not al
together u seless , becau se I u se d them t o b ai t
my tra ps B esides the eatabl e part of the m ea t,
I got t w e nty pa i rs of sh oe s ou t of t h e h ide
.

4(

46

it

Just after th e above a ccou nt of the very u n

usual o ccurrenc e w as rece ived , a press di spatch
tell ing of a some w ha t Simi la r h appening a p
There i s
p e a r e d i n the N e w York ne w spapers
no doub t that a cci de nts of one sort and anoth er
are re sponsible for the death of large game mu c h
m ore frequ en tly tha n w e im agi ne I t i s certai n
also that among th e young of such anima l s there
i s a considerabl e m ortality , a lth ough w e do not
kno w tha t a ny observations on thi s subj ect have
been re corded E very m an w h o ha s h unted
much , h o w ever, ha s probably see n something of
thi s a nd w e Should be glad t o re cord a ny such
experiences of thi s sor t w h i ch our readers h ave
had W e ourselves have not i nfreq uent ly fou nd
young deer a nd a ntelope that had evidently died
.

A M PH IB I O U S C O M B A T S

1 93

from disea ses , a nd more seldom h ave see n you ng

elk , a nd on t w o occa sions you ng m ounta i n
Sheep , dead , for w h ose ta ki ng off there seemed
to be n o rea son to b e a dva nced exce pt Si ckness
I t i s w el l kno w n tha t on th e fu r sea l i slands of
the N orth Paci c a nd the B e ri ng S ea th ou s
a nds of pups die a nnua lly from disease , i n addi
t ion t o the va stly greater number w h ich star v e
to death throu gh t h e ki lli ng of th e m others by
pelagi c sea li ng
Th e S un a ccou nt above refe rred to reads a s
follo w s :
C apta i ns I V i s ne r , V erity a nd I ra U da ll , w h o
have been a cro ss th e bay to Fi re Isla nd bea ch ,
a rrived he re t o day Th ey s a y th at t w o deer , one
a ne la rge Six yea r ol d bu ck a nd th e othe r a
doe , had w a lke d ou t o n th e i ce a nd had broken
t hrough They ha d been u nabl e t o get back t o
th e m ai nla nd a nd w ere ca rri ed w i th the cur
rent T hey dri fted a cross th e bay a di stance of
nearly ten m iles a nd w ere bei ng taken ou t i nt o
the o cea n w hen see n by C a ptai ns U da ll a nd
V eri ty from th e S tate w harf ea st of th e ligh t
house
T he t w o m e n pu t o ff i n a l ifeboa t a nd s u c
c e ed e d
Th e doe
i n driving the bu ck a sh ore
w a s alm ost dead by that time E ver y effort w a s
made t o get he r a s h ore a nd save her l ife
A
,

13

1 94

CANAD I A N W I LD S

rope w a s fastened around h er body a nd she w a s

soon on s h ore , although a fter no l i tt le e ff ort
S he soon , ho w ever , died of exhaustion
The
buck ra n off ea s t on th e beach , but u nless i t s
i nstinc t i s str ong e nou gh to teach i t to fol lo w
th e beast east to th e m a i nland , seventy m i l es
distant , i t w ill soon starve , a s the sand h il ls and
m e ado w s are now bare of vegetation
.

C H A P T E R XXV

A R T O F P U LL I N G H EAR T S

I see by i nqui ri es a n s w ered a nd l e tt ers f rom

F E dgar B ro w n i n a n i ssue of Hu nter Trader
Trapper tha t m y casua l menti on of pulli ng the

heart of th e f ox i n R eyna rd O ut w i tted , ha s

stru c k a chord of i nterest w i th tra ppers A s
the knack of pu lli ng the hearts of th e sma ll er
a nimal s trapped i s w orth kno w i ng , a nd w il l
save th e h u nter dirty w ork i n the Ski nni n g of
the pelts , I w i l l describe th e process a s plai n a s
I ca n
I t i s ba d enou gh t o Ski n an ani ma l that has
been struggli ng i n a steel tra p , a nd got th e i m
pri soned leg a ma ss of congea led blood , w ith out
adding to the di sa greeableness of the j ob c ru sh
in g i n hi s h ea d or brea ki ng h i s bac k w i th a pole
T hi s a t lea st ca n be avoided by pu l li ng do w n
the heart ti l l th e cords snap
In no other w ay
do I ndi ans , or th ose w h o h ave lea r ned tra pping
from I ndia ns , kil l th e smal l a n imal s they nd
a l ive w hen vi si ti ng their li ne of tra ps
F oxes
martens , m i nks and rabbits are a l w ays ki ll ed i n
th is w ay L ynx , of c ou rse , i s a n as ty a ni ma l to
-

1 95

1 96

CA NAD I A N W I LD S

approach i n a tra p stil l the I ndia n trapper

never th inks of sh ooti ng, or hi tting h i m w ith a
pol e O n th e contrary they x a noosed c ord
to a young sa pli ng cu t for the purpose, a nd
snare hi m from th e length of th e pole ; once over
hi s head they stand on t h e pol e and let h im
struggl e ti ll dead
Thi s prevents blood from
bei ng on the Ski n A l ive bear i n a steel tra p

mu st b e sh o t to make a good bea r of hi m

B u t th e I ndian trapper a gai n u ses hi s j udg
ment a nd w a it s ti ll th e rst vi olen t struggles
a re over , and the b ea r some w ha t qu iet then the
hunter ta kes careful a im and puts a bu llet i nto
hi s c a r , bei ng a l w ays a t pretty cl ose range Th e
bal l pa sse s c lea r thru the head kil ling the bear
i nsta ntly a nd ma ki ng a w ou nd tha t bleeds pro
f us e l y, s o that w hen th e ski nni ng process takes
pla c e there i s no bl ood i n the body T h e Ski n
i s cut around th e throa t , Ski nned to w a rds th e
body a nd the h ead left a s i t i s H o w ever , th i s
i s di gressing from the subj ect a t i ssue
Th e sma ll a nimal s I have mentioned w hen
cau ght w ith sno w on the ground , are sim ply
w alked on top of by th e hunter s sno w shoes ;
once h e i s pi nned do w n s o that he ca nnot m ove,
the tra ppe r sli ps hi s left ha n d u nder sno w shoes
a nd secures the fox or w hatever i t i s by the neck
w ith a t igh t gri p of the thumb a nd ngers
T hen t h e s no ws h o e i s w i thdra w n u ntil i t h olds
,

A RT O F P U L L I N G H EAR T S

1 97

the h i nd quarters only ; the ha nd w i th th e head

a nd neck i s elevated u nti l the body i s extend ed
t o i ts u tm ost
The ri gh t b a nd now feels f or th e h eart j u st
belo w th e bottom rib ; i t may not be there at
V
once , bu t it w i l l c ome I hen th e a ni ma l feel s
th e gri p tighteni ng on h i s throa t the sense of
stra ngul ati on cau ses th e hear t t o j um p do w n
and u p i n the body i n th e m ost vi ol ent m a nner
T h is th e hu nter seizes a t one o f th e do w n w ard
pumps , catches i t bet w een the thu mb a nd ngers
of the righ t ha nd ; then pul li ng th e body i n one
d i rection a nd the heart i n the othe r, th e heart
strings sna p The a nimal gives a convu lsi ve
qu iver a nd you ch uck hi m do w n dea d
O h yes "i t i s m uch better tha n the brutal
w ay o f ba nging them o n th e hea d w i th t h e a xe
ha ndl e or a pole, a nd m u ch m ore huma ne b e
cause the a nima l i s dea d a t once , almost a s
qui c k a s i f shocked w ith electri c ity A nima ls
trapped i n the late fa l l or early sno w , ca nnot
be held by th e sno w sh oe therefore som e oth er
mea ns mu s t be taken
I t does not do to ta ke
a ny ri sks o f bei ng bitten for a nimal s a fter
stru ggli ng i n a tra p f or som e tim e , become m ore
or less mad consequently th e venom getting
i nto one s b l ood m igh t ca u se a very bad w ound
to heal especia lly a s th e ma n w ho h unt s ca n
not avoi d th e col d getti ng i nto th e sore a nd then
.

1 98

C A NAD I A N W I L D S

sh ou ld s u ch ha ppen one ca nnot forete l l wh a t

th e sequel may be
T o avoi d therefore a l l m i shaps th e hu nter
dra w s h i s bel t axe a nd cu ts a forked you ng
bi rc h or a lder , th e ha ndle part bei ng about fou r
feet l ong, a t the extrem ity of w h i ch a fork i s
left w ith prongs of ve or s i x i nches long
Presenti ng th is t o th e trapped bea st , h e
sna ps a t i t ; the trapper w atch es hi s cha nc e and
deft ly Sl i ps th e fork over hi s neck and w ith a
qu i ck do w n w a rd push , marten , fox or sh er i s
secured
T he left ha nd i s exchanged for t h e
forked sti ck , the ri ght foot i s pla ced on h i s h i nd
quarters t o kee p h i m from cla w ing then go for
hi s hea rt w ith the ri ght hand O ne tryi ng for
the r st t ime may have some l ittle di fculty bu t
a fter a fe w a nim al s h ave pa ssed thru hi s h ands
he w i l l a s w el l a s I do , kno w the A R T O F P U L
L I N G H E AR T S
D uri ng my ma ny years a s a fur trader , part
of the tim e ha s been pa ssed on the frontier
w here opposi tion i s keen a nd hunters both I n
dia n s a nd w hites , a re careless i n prepa ri ng their
peltries for market A s lon g a s they are dried
i n a w ay to keep i s a ll su fcient for them
M us
qua sh w il l b e simply dra w n over a bent w i llo w
and dried i n th e bla zi n g s un or near th e cam p
re T he l i ttl e animal i s hasti ly ski nned and
c onsiderabl e fa t i s left on th e ski n , w h i ch , by
.

A RT O F

P UL

L I N G H EA R T S

1 99

b e i n g s ubjected to a qu i ck a nd grea t hea t , p ene

trates th e ski n a nd i t i s c onsequently grea s e
burnt
T he greater number of beaver ski n s one ge t s
abou t the C a nadian vi llages are badly gotten u p
T hi s i n a grea t measure i s due to the French
cu stom of buying by w eights i nstea d of by th e
ski n , the hu nters rea soni ng that th e m ore meat ,
grea se , i pp ef s , etc , they ca n leave on, th e
greater nu mber of pounds gross
M i n k a nd otter a re th e t w o hardest a n i ma l s
w e have t o ski n clea n a nd the maj ority w e get
on the f ronti er go to the L ondon m a
rket s i n a
sham efu l state a nd m u st tend to w ards their de
crease i n valu e I have seen foxes m i nks mar
tens and m usquash a s taken c rum pled l ike ra gs
from th e sam e ba g I t w a s a grea t w rench for
m e after handli ng skins of every sort positively
pri me, a nd a s c lean a s the paper u pon w h ich
thi s i s pri nted , f or t w enty years to nd mysel f
on the frontier buying su ch burnt a nd crum pled
ski ns a s I fou nd w a s the rul e rather than th e
except i on
Yes i t w a s a pleasure t o barter th e fur s
hu nted b y our i nland I ndia ns ; every Ski n w a s
brough t t o the post hai r side i n
I f th e I ndia n
had a bear , the t w o a nks w ere tu rned i n
length w i s e of the skin , th en the hide w a s folded
t w i ce , the thi ck part of the hea d and shoul d er s
.

2 00

CANAD I A N W I LD S

bei ng brough t do w n on top of al l a s a prote c t i on

to t h e th i nner parts L a rge beaver w ere folded
cross w i se o f th e Ski n t w i ce making a ki nd of
portfoli o abou t eighteen i nches w ide by t w enty
ei gh t to th irty i nches long S mal l beaver w ere
folded once length w i se of the ski n , and these
cam e to u s a s a ru le, t w o pla ced i nside of each
la rge beaver a s they w ent
I n th e i nteri or w here th e h u nters have w el l
dened grou nds to tra p on they, by sel f i nterest,
protect the beaver a nd kil l com pa ratively fe w
you n g ones O ur avera ge for th e w h ole yea r
w ou ld probably be one smal l one to t w o m iddle
T he m artens are tied at the
or fu l l gro w n
w h ole length of th e Ski ns i n bu ndles of ten ea ch ,
w i th a thi n spli nter of ceda r w ood on t op a nd
bottom to prevent them from bei ng crumpled i n
a ny w ay
M i nks a re treated j ust a s carefully
Foxes sher a nd lynx a re folded one cross w i se
a nd then pla c ed either i nsi de of beaver or bea r
ski ns
Thu s nothi n g i s exposed from a n I n
dian s pa ck of furs either t o vie w or fri cti on ,
bu t stron g leather
M u squash l ike all other
ski ns except bea r a nd beaver , a re ski nn ed from
the h ead do w n a nd ea ch ski n i s ca sed , w h i ch
makes them clea n a t a nd ni c e to ha ndl e
A s their hu nts are made du ring th e co l d
m onth s w h en th e a nimal s have their p r i m e s t
coats , a nd a s every pa rt i cle of esh or gre a se
.

ART or P U L L I N G HE AR T S

2 01

i s frost s c raped , th e ski n lastly w ashed on th e

ca se and then th e pelt dried by the a cti on of
frost a lone i t ca n b e readily u nderstood w i th
su ch ca re a s I have tried to expla in , that w e get
the very nes t a nd most pleasi ng ski ns that go
Th e I ndia n s bu si ness i s to
ou t o f th e country
hunt a nd br i ng th e fru its of th e chase or traps

to hi s w ig w am ; i t i s h i s w i fe a nd daugh ters
duty to ski n and cu re th e pel ts
Th e I ndia ns
have the pride a nd ambition to vi e w ith thei r
Sister matrons of th e forest a s to w h o w il l get

up the cl ean e s t , b es t a nd w el l p repared ski ns

,

C H A P T E R XXV I
DAR K F UR S

I t i s no t perhaps genera lly k no w n th a t th e

su rroundings of m ost a nimal s have a pri mary
e ff ec t on the c olor of their hai r Beaver , otter ,
m i n k a nd mu squa sh are dark or ligh t col ored
a ccordi ng t o th e w ater th ey l ive i n
C lea r , c old
w ater lakes produce ski ns of a deep glossy
bla ck , m uddy lakes on the other hand , furni sh
i ng ligh t colored fu r
Havi n g studied th i s i n my o w n huntin g a nd
trappi ng I have often surpri s ed a n I ndia n w hen

tradi ng hi s ski ns by sayi ng : You trapped thi s

and th i s ski n i n a clear w a ter l ake a nd he has
adm itted i t a s tru e A nother pecul ia r fact i n
relati on t o deep , c ol d w ater lakes i s that , w h i le
the Skins they produ ce are of the nest qua lity
t h e v a re al so mu ch smaller i n si ze than those
trapped i n bro w n or muddy w ater , a nd th is a p
pli es t o al l the a nimal s I have menti oned
M u squa sh ki lled i n clea r w ater lakes a re
abou t t w o th irds th e size of those tra pped i n
gra ssy, slu ggish rivers a nd i t i s the sam e w i th
mi nk Thi s rul e h olds good also w ith la nd a n i
.

202

D A R K F U RS

2 03

m a l s , su ch a s marten , th ose livi ng i n a nd resort

i ng to blac k spru ce s w am ps bei ng i nvariably
dark colored , w herea s those i n m ixed pine , birch
and bal sam h il ls are larger a nd li ghter i n c olor
F or seven years I trapped on a chai n of
lakes , ve i n number O ne of these lay off a t
o ne Side, not over a quarter of a m ile from the
other four ; i t w a s of considerable extent , possi
bly a m il e a nd a hal f l ong by a qua rter w i de
Thi s lake w a s very clear a nd deep a nd u sed t o
freez e over t w o w eeks la ter tha n th e others , a nd
open that mu ch ea rlier i n th e spri n
O n th e borders o f thi s lake , w h i ch w a s

kno w n a s C l ea r W ater L ake, w ere t w o beaver

lodges w h ich I preserved w ith the greatest care ,
only trapp ing a fe w ou t of ea ch l odge every fa ll ,
thu s keepi ng u p th e su pp l y, a nd ner a nd m ore
beauti ful ski ns I never ha ndled
T hi s va lley
bei ng w i thi n a fe w m iles of t h e post I got th e
I ndia n w h o o w ned th e la nds to make over h is
rights for a c onsideration , a nd I kept these lak es
a s a home farm or preserve a s lon g a s I r e
m a i ned i n that distri ct
I t w a s i n th e u pper one o f thes e lakes that I
trapped th e m ost extra ordina ry b eaye r of my
experi ence , he havi ng only one hind foot , the
other feet having been gna w ed or t w i sted off i n
traps The India n o w ner of the la nds w hen
selli ng hi s good w il l , told m e of thi s desperate
.

'

2 04

CANAD I A N W I LD S

a nd c unni ng ol d a nima l a nd I passed many a

l ong , sol itary evening i n my ca noe to get a shot
w hen the kno w i ng old card broke w ater
I kept t w o or three traps w ell se t , w i th a
very rem ote possi bi lity of h i s putti ng hi s only
r e mai ni ng foot therein
Beaver m edi ci n e a nd
c a s t or u m w ou ld not all ure him , a nd the though t
oc curred to m e t o try a nise seed oi l w hich I did
a nd on my next visi t had the satisfa cti on o f
pul ling hi m u p dro w ned a t t h e en d of th e cha i n
T he w ou nds of th e cut O H legs w ere so thor
oughly h ealed tha t w hen I ski nned h im there
w as not even a pu cker o f the ski n i n the pla ces
w here th e legs Shoul d have been
I t i s a marvel
h ow h e ma na ged t o navi gate the w a ters of hi s

native pond , but a s th e b oy sa id , I don t kno w

ho w he d id it but h e di d
A nother frea k that I cau gh t i n th ose sa me
lakes w a s t he only a lbi no beaver t ha t I ever sa w
S he had a creamy w h ite fur , w 1 t h pi nk eyes ,
pink toe na il s a nd pi nk sca les on h er tai l T hi s
may not have been phenomenal , but i t w a s a
rare ski n for al l that A t a conserva tive esti
mate I m ust have handled a couple hundred
thou sa nd beaver ski ns i n my li fe but thi s i s the
only i nsta nc e that I ever s a w a w hite one
T he C lea r W a ter L ake not to b e behi nd i n
oddi ties produ ced a d w arf beaver I cau ght
him late i n the fal l i n a trap set for mu squash ,
.

'

DAR K F U RS

2 05

th e other lakes bei ng frozen over He w a s

abou t the size of a n ordina ry full gro w n rat bu t
w a s fully developed a nd mu st have been t w o
yea rs ol d
A t rst I thou gh t he m i ght be of a
second l itter , but I thou ght th is w as very i m
probable, i f not qu ite outside of nature s o I
ca reful ly exami ned the t ee th a nd organs , a nd
found to i ntents a nd purposes he w a s a ful l
gro w n beaver
W riting of ful l gro w n beaver puts m e i n
m ind of those early tra ppi ng days a nd the l ogi c

of a certa i n I ndia n
Then w e u sed to pay s o
much a Ski n f or beaver a nd graded the ski ns a s
bi g , m iddling a nd sm al l In cu lli ng thi s ma n s
ski ns I thre w one i nto the pi le of mi ddling ones

a nd h e i mmediately sa id : That s a bi g one

a nd I sai d i t w a s not a nd com pa red i t w ith s e v
era l of th e la rge ones He ho w ever , stoutly

mai nta i ned i t w a s a bi g one a nd sa id L ook a t

th e w h ite men, ther e a re bi g ones and smal l

ones but they are men th e sa me

I stood c or
r e c t ed
and pla ced the disputed ski n w ith h i s
better gro w n a nd developed relatives the I ndia n
gave a n al mos t au dibl e sm ile , a n d thi ngs w ent
o n am icably
O n t h e w atershed bet w een th e val ley of th e
S t L a w rence a nd Hudson s B ay ma rten are
prime on the rst of O ctober B eaver otter
a nd mi nk are prime on the 2 5 th of O c tober a nd
.

2 06

CANAD I A N W I LD S

fox a nd lynx the 1 5 th of N ovember I have of

ten seen th e questi on a sked i n the H T T a s
t o the ti me the severa l ki nds o f fu r are prim e i n
di fferent localiti es a nd th e above dates ca n be
depended u pon for th e l ati tude m enti oned
I t pays the tra pper t o h ave h i s trap h ouses
made a nd h i s traps hu ng u p ready to s e t a nd
ba i t i mmediately w hen th e ski ns a re prime
T hey are ea sily clea ned a nd command a much
h igh er average, w herea s i f the maj ority of Ski ns
i n a ma n s pa ck are u nprimed or staged , i t takes
a w ay from th e va lu e of th e fe w real ly fe w good
ones
The buyer , t o get these fe w m ercha ntabl e
Ski ns , ha s t o pu t some kind of va lu e on the cul l s
t o make a buy , bu t i n reali ty th e trader i s only
payi ng for t h e fe w good ones a nd th e tra pper
loses th e other ski ns A nd w h o i s to bl am e "
T ra ppers have been t ol d tim e and a ga i n tha t
trappin g too ea rly i n the sea so n i s a ga inst thei r
best i nterests ; nevertheless they go bl indly on ,
killing th e poor bea st s tha t have l i ttle or n o
val u e , a nd then they marvel a t the scarcity of
th e fur bearin g a ni mal s a nd t h e littl e return
they h ave t o Sh o w for a coupl e of months hard
w ork
N o I f there i s a ny l i ne tha t w a nts p r ot ec
ti on a nd a ca st iron u nion bet w een th e men con
ne c t ed w i th th e i ndu stry , i t i s the fur trade All
.

DAR K F U RS

2 07

a re, or ought to be , i nterested i n the keepin g u p

o f th e supply and qua lity , th e trapper , w holesale
ma n a nd manu facturer a l ike L et the la st t w o
u nite and not buy u npri m e Ski ns , a nd the for
mer f or w ant of a market w ou ld very soon hunt
i n season only
.

96

9t

I n thi s northern cou ntry fur beari ng a nimal s

cont inu e pri me m uch l onger tha n else w here
T h e trappers a nd hu nters ( India ns ) only come
do w n from th e i nteri or from th e tenth of Ju ne ,
"
a nd al l th e w ay do w n to the end of th e m onth
T hu s the m onth of Ju ne i s th e fur buying
m onth
Pri or to the P ari s E xpositi o n a fa i r a nd
legi timate trade w a s possible , the I ndians got a
fa ir and reasonable pri ce for their ski ns , and a s
a ru le w ere reasonably honest
B u t that yea r
m arked th e dem oral izati o n o f the fur tra de on
t h i s coast
O ppositi on becam e keen a nd fur
buyer s from Q uebec , B oston , N e w York a nd
Pari s , cam e to th e different pla c es of resort of
th e I ndians , biddi ng u p ra w furs to prices ou t
of al l reason
Th e consequ ence of w hi ch w ere
and are , tha t the I ndia n di d not pay h is f u r
ni sh or , bu t kept u p h i s nest furs to sell to these
parties for high cash prices
O ther traders foll o w ed the fu r buyers , and
sold the I nd i an s us el ess t ra sh y arti c le s Th e
-

2 08

CANAD I A N W I LD S

result i s the I ndians have t o l eave for t h e bu sh

i ll su ppl ied w ith w arm clothi ngs , pro vi sions ,
etc
w hat h e actua lly requ ires A large por
tion of h i s hu nt ha s been sold for abnorma l
pri ces , but th e proceeds ha s don e h im no per
O n th e contrary hi s l ot i s much
c e p t i b l e good
w ors e tha n i t w a s before
S eeing h i s adva nces
have not been pa id the resident trader w i ll not
supply these m en a ga i n
I take about the P ost of S even I slands a s
perha ps b ei ng the pla c e w here th e highest pri ces
have been pa id for th ree years 1 8 99 , 1 900 a nd
1 90 1 , a nd give th e readers of Hunter Tr ader
Tra pper the gures They are a s follo w s :
.

B ears , large black from

Bea rs , small , bla ck ,
Beaver per lb
Fi sher , from
Fox , red from
F ox, cross from
F ox , Silver , from
L ynx , from
M arten from
M i nks , from
O tters , la nd from
W olveri ne , from

to
to
to
to
to
to
to

4 00 t o
.

to
to
to
to

These are the pri ncipa l furs w e h ave on the

C oa st a nd w i ll Sh o w w hat absurd pri ces w ere

DAR K F UR S

2 09

pai d W e kno w tha t furs real ized good pri ces

a t th e la s t L ondon sa les , a nd some fe w very
fe w , bou ght w ere no doubt w el l w orth these h igh
pri c es
T he part w here the m ost harm w a s done th e
trade w as the a nxi ety of som e of these buyers
to get the furs a t a lmost any price A l most a ny
kind of a marten w ou ld be pai d $ 1 0 for
S u ch
martens tha t t h e w ri ter of thi s arti cl e h a s
bou ght a fe w year s ago f or
a very choi ce
marten , la rge , dark a nd w el l furred , one w e w i ll

say out of t w o or three h undred such a one a s

w e ordinarily pa id $ 7 for , ha s brough t $ 1 8 t o
M artens a nd otters especial ly , they seem
$2 0
to have gone perfectly c razy to get
Tw o years a go a ma n , further do w n the
C oa st pa id $ 72 0 for w h a t I w as told w a s a very
ordinar y S i lver F ox
H e w ent to Pari s duri ng
the E xpositi on w i th th e f ox to sell
I neve r
heard i f h e got hi s m oney back
Ha d h e paid
$ 1 5 0, h e w ould have got the fox j u st th e same
for th i s w a s the pri ce bei ng pa id al on g the C oast
duri ng tha t yea r
The rivers are the hi gh w ays of th e Indian s
a nd th e mouths of m ost of th e bi g ones a re the
summer cam pi ng grou nds A t these pla ces a re
tradi ng posts w here they barter a nd sell their
w i nter s catch , get ne w suppl ies for a nother
.

14

2 10

CANAD I AN W I LD S

year , a nd l oa d thei r canoes a gai n i n S eptember

for a nother ni ne or ten m onths i n the Fa r N orth
W i lds
W hen the reacti on comes , a s i t mu st come ,
i t w i l l b e pretty hard t o convi nc e the I ndians
t hat their martens a re only w orth $ 5 or $ 6
T h e bottom i s bou n d to fal l out , and m any of
these men , w h o are payin g the present pri ces ,
mu st go to the w al l W i th u nli mited m oney,
a ny fool ca n buy ski ns
Bu t i t requires a j udge
and careful ma n to buy w i t h di sc retion
.

C H A P TE R XX V I I
I N D I A N S ARE

OO R S H O T S

D u ri ng

a residence of ma ny years among

fou r di ffe re n t tribes of I nd i a ns, I found , w ith
very f e w exce ptions , they w ere poor shots ,
e ithe r w it h the gu n or rie
W hen one c onsiders that from young boy
h ood they h ave been i n th e habi t of u sing a
gu n a lmost dai ly, and th e ir v ery l iving depends ,
i n gre at m anner , on accurate sh oo t ing their
po or m arksm ansh ip i s t o be w ondered at, never
A good w ing sho t i s
t h e l es s such i s t h e case
a rarity among the I ndians
Th e M ontagna is of t he L abrador and N orth
S hore of th e G ul f of S t L a w re nce , are no ex
ce p t i on, and th i s i n a c ou ntry w here m ost of
t he w i ld fo w l are k illed yi ng I t i s admitted
th ey kil l w ild geese and ducks w h ile on th eir
passage north and south , but th is i s only possi
ble from th e immense nu mbers of birds and a
lavish expendit ure of ammu nition
I t is a comm on th ing for a n I ndian gett ing
h is spring outt to go am ong the i slands to take
from the t rade r one hu ndred pou nds of sho t , a
k eg of t w enty ve pounds of po w d e r a nd t w o

2 11

2 12

A N AD I A N

W IL DS

thou sa nd ve h u ndred percussion caps ( they

us e m uzzleloaders )
They al w ays ta ke abou t 2 0
pe r cent m ore ca ps than are necessary t o re
th e po w der , as they explai n , t o make u p for
w hat th ey drop
Th e I ndians are very partia l t o l oon ; but , a s
a ru le , i t i s t he m ost expe nsive food they eat
A grea t number al igh t on L ake Ka k e b on ga on
thei r w ay north i n the spri ng
Th is happens
abou t t he tim e th e I ndi ans arrive a t th e Post
t o trade th eir w inter catch of furs
W hen a poor u nfortunat e loon w ould set t le
o n the lak e i t w as the signal for te n or t w enty
c anoes to pu t o ff a nd shoo t or d ro w n h im t o
death F ar m ore frequently, I fan cy, th e poor
b ird expired from w ant of a ir tha n w eight of
shot
T o w atch these l oon hu nts from th e gal lery
of our hou se w a s picturesque i n th e ext reme
t he canoes going som e i n one d irecti on a s fast
a s the paddlers cou ld drive them , and then al l
of a sudden the cry w ou ld ascend that the l oon
had broken w ater i n qu it e the opposite place
from w here they w ere c ondent h e w ou ld Then
i n a m om e nt th e ca noe s w ould be w h irled about
l ik e tops , and o ff a ga in i n the ne w d irectio n,
possibly to aga in nd they a re at faul t
Th e w onde r t o m e w a s there w ere n o casua l
t i es , as al most incessant ri ng w as kep t u p w ith
.

I N DIA N S

ARE

POOR S H OTS

2 13

g o i ng i n s eve ral dir e c t i ons at o n c e, and

al l on the s ave l e vel ; a nd w h e n th e loo n w ou ld
e merge, bang "w ou ld go several gu ns , re gard
le ss w here po inted , i n th e exc item e nt
I cal l t o memory one day i n parti c ul ar A t

th e c al l of loon "I t ook a sea t on th e gal lery,

w it h t he xed resolve t o c ou nt ho w many sh ots
w ould be r ed , and t h i s i s the r e su l t of my tab
T w elv e canoes put off from the camps , four
h ours c onsum e d i n the ki ll ing, and n i ne ty si x
sh ots w ere r ed
Thi s happe ned ne a rly forty years a go, w hen
po w der sold , a t that i nland post , at a dollar a
pound ; S h ot , th irty th ree c ents , and gu n caps a
h al f a cent ea ch , so t he reader ca n r e d i l y s e e
th at loon meat , un d er t ha t w ay of hu nt ing, w as
expensive
W e read of and a re told abou t the gre a t
slaughter th e I ndian s u sed t o m ake a mong the
bu ffalo i n the good ol d days ; but th i s su ccess
w as not to b e a ttribute d to the ir goods marks
mansh ip , because they k illed t hese noble bea sts

w ith the ir gu ns alm os t bou te touchant

O ne th i ng abou t their m ode of l oading and
ring mi ght b e i nteresting t o readers of th e
pres e nt day , i nasmu ch a s a gene ration h as been
born and ha s gro w n u p since the last bu ff a l o
roamed the pla ins
Th e I ndians and hal f br ee ds w h o w en t on
can o e s

214

CA N ADIA N

WI L DS

t h e s e p e r i odic a l r ou n d up s w e r e ar m e d w i t h
and p referre d t h e ol d nor w est muzzl e loadin g
i nt lock
They cou ld load a nd re w i th su ch
rapid ity that one w ou ld alm ost fancy they car
ried a repeat ing gun
S uspe nded u nder their
right arm by a deer thong , w a s a c omm on c o w s
horn of po w der , and i n a pou ch a t thei r b el t a
ha ndfu l or t w o of bu llets
A s the h orse gal loped u p t o th e herd , th e
I ndia n w ould pou r a c harge of po w der i nt o h is
le ft h and , transfe r it into th e barrel o f the gu n,
give th e butt a pound on th e saddl e , and ou t
of hi s m outh drop on t op a bullet
A s th e l ead
rolled do w n the barrel it carried i n its w et state
particles of po w der t hat stu ck on th e sides , and
settled on t op o f t h e po w de r charge N o rod or
ram m ing w as u s ed
The gu n w a s c arri ed mu zzle u p , resting on
th e hollo w of left arm u nt i l su c h time a s th e
I ndian desired t o re Th e qu arry bei ng s o close
no ai m w a s required O n dee cti ng th e barrel
the trigge r w as pul led before the ball had tim e
to rol l c l e ar of the po w der
Th e I ndians sa w that their b u al o gu ns had
very large tou ch h ol es , thereby assu ring th e pan
be ing primed I V h e u a ll th e balls w ere r e d a
fe w others w ere c h uk ed i nto the mouth and
m errily w e nt t h e gam e
Th e In d i ans are n ot good sh ots
No "
-

C HA P T E R X X V I I I

EAR I N

TH E

W A T ER

Th e b e ar h a s one t ra i t espe c i ally that i s

most dangerou s to the u neducated hun ter , and
th at i s w hen fou nd s w immi ng a lake or river
h e i nvariably goes i n a s traigh t l ine from w h e re
he l eft the shore A ny obstacl e i n th e w ay h
cl a mbers o v er , be i t a log, b oat or c anoe
S hou ld th e pl ace w here he r e ach e s t h e fu r
the r S hore b e a h igh ro c ky bl u ff , he c l imbs thi s
rat her than t urn from h is direct cours e Th is
m ay b e pigh e adedness or stupidity ; b e i t a s i t
m ay, he w il l not turn t o a lo w sh e lvi ng be ach a
fe w yards at one side, bu t it ne ve r e nte rs h is
head to tak e th e easier landing
I on c e saw a bear s w i mmi ng a cross ne ar the
d isch arge of a l ake Th ere w a s a string o f boom s
hanging do w n stream ne ar th e other sh ore and
at righ t angles t o w here h e w as h eadin g
He
simply clambered ove r the b oom l ogs and took
the w a ter ag a i n on th e oth e r side, i nstead of
trotti ng along t he b oom to th e shore
I w a s acqu aint e d w i th an ol d I ndia n , w h o ,
k n o w in g th i s trait of b e ars t o land w h ere t h ey
.

2 15

216

C A NA D I AN W I L D S

head f or , di d a d eed of g r e at n e rv e for a man

H e w as v isiti ng h i s sh ne t on the
of over sixty
shore of a narro w lake w he n h e sa w a large bear
enter th e w ate r on the opposite S id e a l ittle
above a nd head for th e sh ore the ol d ma n w as
on
O l d Pete had no gu n bu t h e d id not h esi
t a t e a m oment bu t c augh t u p h i s h unting ax ,
an d ran a long S hore to w here th e bea r w ou ld
l a n d s
Th e ol d ma n w a s plai nly vi sibl e t o the
he ar fr om th e rst
bu t B ru i n kept on h is direc t
course
O l d Pet e w aded ou t from th e shore
nearly to h i s w a ist w ith ax u nl ifted a nd w aited
E veryth ing depended on striking true, a nd a t
the proper a nd pre c ise m oment
He had the
b ea r i t i s t rue a t a disadvantage S till , m any
a younger and stronger m an w ou ld have de
c l i ne d th e risk
P et e w a s su cce ssful ; h e bu ried th e a x c lean
i n to th e sku ll th e rs t blo w
A nother i nstance I w itnesse d of a bear not
turn ing aside for a ny ob stac le : W e w ere later
than u sual one eveni ng on th e w ate r ; my men
w er e anxi ou s to ge t to the porta ge before camp
ing a nd w ere tracking the canoe u p the last
m ile at deep dusk
Th ere w ere fou r men on
th e l ine ash ore and th e bo w and ste ersmen
st anding u p i n th e ca noe fending her o th e
rocks a nd shallo w s
M y c ompan ion and I w ere
sitting very qu ietly i n th e m iddle c ompartme nt
.

A BE A R I N TH E W A T E R

217

of our

lar g e c a n o e ; t h e m en also w e r e n ot i n a
talki ng mood , being tir ed and hu ngry
I w as
sitt i ng on th e side nex t th e river a nd not iced a
black obj ect w hi ch a t rst I m ist ook f or a s tone ,
partly o u t of the w ate r ; b u t w ith a second , and
m ore search ing l ook, I m ad e i t ou t to b e a b e ar
com i ng straigh t to w ard th e canoe
I gave w arn i ng t o th e m an i n the b o w , w h o
st ood a fe w feet i n front of m e a nd h e imme
d i a t e l y gave a sharp tu g on th e to w l i ne , w h ich
ch e cke d th e m en ashore The bear by this tim e
w as abou t ve or si x yards from th e ca noe , and
j us t opposite me
I sa w th at nothi ng w ou ld
no w st op h i m from cl imbing i nto a nd across the
canoe B efore h e c ould place h i s pa w on the
s i de of th e bark the ma n i n th e bo w m ade a
savage l unge a t h im w ith h is pike pole , bu t b e
fore h e c ould give a second blo w the bear w a s
i n on my side and ou t on th e other , righ t a cross
ou r legs
O ur men of th e to w h ad ru n back , the
ma n i n th e stern b ei ng t oo far off t o be of any
u se had th e pre sence of m ind t o thro w a n a r m
fu l of paddles , w h ich bei ng of m aple , made for
mi d a b l e w eapons W he n the b ear got ou t on th e
sh ore side they rained b lo w s upon bl o w s w ith
the sharp b lades of th e paddle s u pon h is h ea d
and body as th e y c ould get a chance Th e b ow
ma n S prang ash ore a nd len t hi s assistance w ith
h is form idabl e p ole , bu t mar v elou s as i t m ay
.

218

CAN A D I A N W I L DS

ou n d , th e be ar e s c a p e d i nto th e bus h i n s pi t e
of all t ha t h is assa ilants c ou ld d o t o prev e nt
him
L ong i nto the n igh t abou t the dying embers
of the c a mp r e , I heard th e m en going over
th e w hole sce ne and blam ing one another for
not ha v in g done someth ing they ought t o h ave
done
O ne other i nsta nce I w il l give o f a bear s per
sistency to go stra ight i n th e w ater , a nd i n th is
c ase i t w a s fatal t o t w o m en
Tw o ne w ly married c ouple s left the m ou th of
th e M oisie for the i nteri or Their th ird day u p
st ream brough t them to a p lace w here , o ff t o
one S ide i n t h e bush abou t a m ile back , w as a
not ed lake for trou t a nd w h i t e sh I t w as de
c ided that they shou ld portage one canoe, and
w ith the ir blanket s , net and c ooking u tensil s
go and pass the nigh t on th e lake sh ore O ne
gu n w a s all th e men t ook ( a i nt l oc k
for t hi s
S h ortly a fter a rrivi ng at th e
w a s years ago )
lake a h ear w as see n s w imm ing from th e oth er
side, c om ing to w ard w h e re the I ndians w ere t y
i ng their net Th e t w o you ng men j um ped i nt o
th e canoe a nd pu shed out t o meet h im , w h ich w a s
a fatal m istak e The m an i n the bo w w a ited till
the bea r w as w ith i n a cou pl e o f ya rds off from
t he bo w a nd then pul led the t rigger Th e old
g un ash e d i n th e pan , but th e re w a s no r e port
'

A BEA R I N TH E

219

W A TE R

T h e nex t i n st a n t th e b e a r c l a m ber e d o ve r t h e
head of th e ca no e an d rol led the oc cu pan ts i nto
the w ater Th e you ng brides of a fe w days ran
screami ng a long shore , unable to re nde r any
assistance t o t h eir husbands , a nd actually w i t
ne ss ed both dro w n before their very eyes
I re member t h e a r r i va l of th e t w o p oor
w om e n back t o the coast , and th e re l at ion of
their patheti c st ory T o make th e case m uch
more remarkab le, they w ere t w i ns by b irth , and
t w i n w ido w s by th is t ragedy

A w ord of advi ce after the foregoi ng i llu s

t r a t i ons of th e danger of getting i n fron t o f a
s w i m ming bear i s h ardly no w n ec e ssary, bu t one
cannot impress to o forcibly the danger i n a t
tacking a bear by a front al m ove A l w ays a p
proach a bear i n the w ater e i ther on one side
Y ou can paddle u p qu ite
o r from th e rear
cl ose to a be ar i n th e d irection he i s s w imm ing
w i th ou t the least part icl e of danger , and a m ore
vit al and te l l i ng spot t o r e a t cannot b e got
than the back and bas e of th e sku ll
.

C H A PT E R X XI X
V O R A CI O U S PI K E

C all i ng th e pike the fr e sh w a ter shark is a

n am e w el l applied , f or h e i s bold and a ny
thi ng that c om es h i s w ay i s food for h is ma w
I t i s a kno w n fac t t o those w h o h ave studied
i t s hab its that h e w il l ea t frogs , young du cks ,
musquash , i n fact , a nyth ing th at h appe ns to be
in fron t of h im , not even barri ng h is o w n off
H ow destru ctive th ey are i n a trou t
spring
o r W hitesh lak e i s w el l k n o w n
O ne of th e lakes on w h ich I w as sta ti oned
years ago w as sa id to have been formerly, good
for W h i tesh , bu t w a s no w a lmost nude of th i s
staple food of the d w ell e rs a t th e post brou gh t
abou t by the i ncreas ing numbe r of pike
A s I w a s l ikely to be i n charge, for a fe w
years at least , I set t o w ork to destroy these
marauders Th e lake i s only a m ile and a half
l ong b y a qu arter broad I t discharges i nto a
large rive r by a shallo w c reek , but , by th i s
c re ek , n o doubt m any pike w er e added to t h e
nu mber a t ea ch spa w ni ng time
The c r ee k took my at te ntion rst , and w e

220

V O R A CI O U S

P KE

22 1

staked i t from side to s ide w ith picke ts s i x feet

h igh a nd pla nted t hem abou t t w o inches apa rt
A t the bac k or river S i de of th is barrier w e
kept Some o l d , alm os t u se less , n ets s e t c ont inu
T hey w ere doubled s o tha t no smal l sized
ou s l y
pike coul d pass Th is w as done duri ng th e lo w
w ater i n A ugu st
M y next m ove w a s to e mploy every boy, girl
a nd old w oma n about th e post trol ling f or pike
W e su pplied them w ith the trol ls and l ines and
pa i d t he m a c e n t apiece for every pike o v er a
foo t l on g
D uring th is troll ing process w e kept som e
net s of large mesh , s e t purposely for the bi gger
ones
F or days a nd w eeks there mu st h ave
been landed on a n averag e a hundr ed a day, and
yet they c am e
A S m ost of th e pay w a s taken out i n c hea p

b u l l s e ye s a t a cent apie ce , the real ou t lay i n

m oney w a s no t considerabl e
T he fol lo w i ng spring w e i naugurated an
oth e r system of w arfare agai ns t th e pests , and
that w a s by paddling qu ietly a r ound t h e bays
and shooting them w h ile they l ay spa w ni ng and
basking i n th e s u n and shallo w w at er
O ften t hre e or fou r w ould b e c lustered to
gether A sh o t w ou ld not k ill the w hole bu t i t
w ou ld stu n them so w e c ou ld n ish th em w ith
th e paddl e
.

C ANAD I AN WIL D S

222

O ne

th at w a s k ill ed i n th is w ay measure d
th irty n ine i nches long and w eigh ed th irty ve
pou nds A sh of th i s s iz e w a s good eat ing a nd
therefore u sed a t th e post
The small , slimy one s , h o w ever, w ere burned
i n numbers on a bru sh h eap
W it h su ch persiste nt a nd continued on
s l a u gh t on ou r part , at th e end of th e rst year
t heir numbers w ere very noticeably decreased ,
and a t t h e c lose of th e fol lo w i ng summ er they
w ere posit ively sca rc e , a nd a very w e l come num
ber of W h itesh stock ed ou r lake i n thei r pla ce
I resided a t tha t pos t for t w elve ye ars , and
w e w ere n ever i n w a nt of th e ne st sh for the
post s consumption
B efore c l osing th is sketch I m ust tell one
ane cdote about a p ike , even if I lay mysel f open
to b e disbel ieved by t h e reader I a m w el l a w are
tha t sh st ories stand in bad repute and the
v eracity of th e narrator doubted The follo w
i ng i s positive ly tru e and cam e under m v noti ce :
Y ears before th e foregoing part of my story
h a pp ened I w a s stati oned on t he heigh t of land
north of L ake S uperior, a nd one afternoon port
ag ed my c anoe over i nto a smal l chai n o f b eave r

lakes hu nt ing for signs

I t w as a still , ca lm day , a s som e h igh ow n

w riter w ould pu t i t
.

V O R A CI O U S PI K E

223

feather dropp ed w ou ld have falle n straigh t

t o th e earth
I w a s paddli ng v ery quie t ly ou t into the lake
from the portage w hen I noti ced someth i ng
m o v ing v ery gently on th e su rfa ce a fe w yards
ah ead of th e canoe G etting closer I m ade thi s
ou t t o be the n of som e sh m oving sl uggish ly
Push ing the canoe furth e r i n advance w i th
no ise less knife strokes of th e paddle , I got close
enough to see i t w a s a p ike w ith a W h i tesh half
protruding from i t s m outh and almost dead
from su ff ocation
Thi s , I though t, i s a rare occurrence f or a
perso n t o w itness , a nd ge n tly rea ch i ng ou t my
h and I i nserted my t humb and nger i nto the
eye s ocke ts and li fted bo th i nto t he canoe
O n getting ashore a t the next portag e I
forced open th e j a w s of th e pike, and the w h i t e
s h dropped from them
The half that h ad been
inside the p ike s m ou th w a s quite decomposed ,
w h i le t he part ou t i n th e w ater w as compara
t i ve l y fre sh
I n t rying to s w allo w th is s h , w h i ch w as

t w o th irds th e pike s ow n length h e had di s

tended h is j a w s to th e u tmost , bu t they only
op e n ed e nough to reach near th e back n , and
here xing h is t eeth i n savage fury th e b it er
had bitte n more tha n h e cou ld ea t
He w as
equally u nable t o di sgorge h im sel f a s h e w a s
A

'

C ANAD I AN WIL D S

2 2 41

incapable of s w allo w i ng , a nd thu s by h i s g r ee d i

ness h e brough t on h is doom
N oti c ing h i s s tom ach w a s i n a d istended
s h a pe c aused m e t o rip i t open w i th my kni fe ,
a nd ou t tumble d the rem a ins o f a smal ler w h ite
s h , a lmost qu i te digested , w hi ch had been s w a l
lo w ed w hole a nd w ould have measu red nearly a
foo t l ong
I t w a s gl uttony and not hu nger th a t cau sed
h im to re a ch an u ntimely end , a moral f or
gre e dy l ittle b oys

C H A P TE R XX X
TH E B

RA SS

EY E

D DU CK

Th e w hi stler w h istle w i ng, great h e a d , g ar

rot or brass eyed i s one of the f e w du c ks th at ,
to my kno w ledge, bu ilds its nest i n trees
Th e I ndians , w h o a re noted for giving a p

arro w duck ,
p r op r i a t e names , cal l th i s duck
on a ccount of its qu ick passage through t h e a i r
They y very s w iftly, and i t i s only a n expert
gu nner th at ca n bring them do w n i n successi on
I once had th e rare opportu ni ty of w atch i ng
the doings of a female brass eyed from the bu il d
ing of th e nest to the tim e s h e placed th e youn g
o nes on th e w aters of th e lake To w atch the
i ndustriou s little bu ilder w a s a m ost interest ing
pastime and a fforded m e m uch pleasure Th e
tree selected w as not a s one w ould suppose , i m
mediately on th e S h ore but a b it bac k in th e
th ic k gro w th
Properly speaki ng th e tree w as
a stump alth ough a strong l ive one gre w rub
b ing sides With it
The stu m p w a s on th e s outh
side o f the green one a nd thu s protected from
the north a nd w a s abou t t w enty feet i n height
O n e x ami a t i on S hortly aft e r th e duck b e
-

15

225

22 6

C ANAD I AN

W IL DS

gan t o l ay, I fou nd th at the c oncave top had

been li ned w i th dead l eaves hay , clay and sma ll
sticks A fter th is one peep i n at th e arch i
tecture and the c ouple of eggs therei n , I r e
f r a i ne d from approaching the stum p again , but
continued my observat ions from a d istance
W hen the du ck took to steady setting I cou ld
j u st s ee her hea d and bi ll over the edge of the
nest
R egularly each evening during the peri od
o f i ncubation s h e w ould y ou t onto the l ake to
feed drink and plume hersel f These absences
from her duty lasted from t w enty m inutes to
ha lf a n hour
W hen the vou n g w ere hatched I kept a strict
a nd steady w atch on her m ovem ents for the

thou gh t occurred t o me Ho w w oul d they get

"
to th e grou nd
B ut , l ike a good many oth e r
th i ngs , th is riddl e of the forest w as made clear
to m e one eveni ng near sundo w n
I s a t m otionless i n my canoe a l ittle t o one
s ide o f the directi on o f the stu mp Th e lake
w a s a s calm a s oil , a nd i n a l ittle w h ile, a f t e r
taking u p my posi t i on out e w the m ot her i n a
slanti ng w ay to the w ater , and h an ging from
her b ill w as one of th e you ng du cks Th i s sh e
qu i ckly deposited on th e lake a nd e w ba ck to
the nest , a nd made trips to and fro , u nti l she
had brou gh t th e wh o l e of h e r brood w h i c h n u m
b er ed seven
,

S EYE D D U C K

TH E B RA S

22 7

h e n i s a p rou d m other e ven w ith one

ch ick ; w el l th i s w a s a tra nsporte d one w i th
seven
S h e s w a m through the m idst of them ,
a rou nd them , a w ay from them and to w ard them ,
exh ibiting the utmost del ight
F i nally s h e led
them i n t o w ard the shore th e shado w s of th e
w oods sh utting them ou t from further observa
tion
W hile dai ly v isi ting my nets about the
l ake, I often encou ntered the brood , or s a w them
at a short distanc e and they c ontinued t o inter
es t m e
O ne day th e number of du ckl ing s appear ed
fe w er than ou gh t t o b e and on cou nti n g them I
found there w ere only ve N ex t day th is w as
reduced t o fou r , and a fe w days a fter , w hen
nex t I sa w them ther e rema ined only th ree
Ho w ever , the mystery of their disappearance
w a s m ade clear to m e on that same day, f or

w h il e trol l ing past the du cks fee ding grou nds a

b i g m askinong stru ck the h ooks savagely
B eing alone i n the fra il a nd smal l canoe I
h ad th e u tm ost di f culty t o su c cessful ly play
a nd ki ll h im , bu t w a s amply pa id , for on clean
i n g th e bi g sh w e found i n its m a w one of my
young du cks
Thu s w a s their mysteriou s disappearance e x
pl ai ned , th is , or som e other large sh , w a s a c
cou ntabl e for th e brood s dimi nut ion
W h il e on th e subj ect of th e brass eye I w ould
A

'

C ANAD I AN WIL D S

22 8

w i sh to set the reader right i n regard to the

w h istl i ng noise they m ake , that i s the male

Th e auth or of W il d F o w l and Thei r Habits

assert s that th is nCi s e i s m ade by thei r s h or t
sha rp w i ngs cutting th e a i r i n rapid ight
W ere th i s th e case th e femal e w ould m ake the
sam e sou nd , bu t no one ever heard th i s w h istling
from a l one female or a number of femal es
I t i s from th e m ale w e get th i s ; not from
th e w ings , h o w ever , but from a gri stly s a c a t
t a c h e d a t the end o f the w i nd pipe , mu ch the
shape of th e ba g of the ba g pipes
F rom th is
he em its severa l d i ff erent kinds of sou nds , a s I
have o ften l istened to w h en a pproach ing a ock
on a calm m oonl igh t nigh t i n the mat ing season
A nother erroneou s a ssertion by th e sam e a u
thor i s that th e esh i s ra nk shy and hard
Th e old ones are m ore o r less s o, on their rst
arrival i nl and i n the spring A t th e sea , as a
necessity, they l ive on sh but a m onth a fter
reach ing i nland w aters , w here they feed on m a
rine pla nts and roots the c olor of th e esh
changes
I t also becomes j u i cy a nd i s a s good
eating a s black du ck or tea 1
The you ng ones w hen ful l edged , j ust before
m igrating to th e s ea for th e w inter , are e x cel
lent
The F r e n c h C anadians c al l th is du c k t h e
.

GOOD

22 9

W AG E S T RAPP I N G

di v er and th e half breeds of H udso n B ay th e

p ork du ck
A l l the tri c ks of h idin g attribut e d t o t h is
du ck by N et l j e B l a nc h a n auth or of th e book
from w h ich I have taken th e several n ames un
der w h ic h th e du ck i s kno w n to A meri can read
ers are qu ite tru e , a nd al so other devi ces not
enumerated
F or i nstanc e w hen w ou nded I
h a v e kno w n i t to dive a nd com e u p w ith i n a fe w
yards of my cano e w ith its h e l d u nder a w ater
l ily lea f and there rem ai n qu ite mot ionl ess u n
ti l I noticed th e cent er elevati on of th i s single
leaf a nd r ed a t a v enture w ith th e resu lt th at
I k illed th e du ck
O n a nother oc casion I noticed a w ou nded
brass eye m aking to w ard th e sh ore i n very S h al
l ow w ater
Th e form ation of th e banks w as
su ch that it w a s im possibl e for i t to l a n d and
h ide N evertheless to w ard th at sh ore i t h ad
d ived and never appeared abov e w ater P ush
in g th e ca noe qu ietly al on g w ith my gu n r e ady
i n th e other hand I scanned every i n ch a s I
w e nt A lon g the beach there w as a solution of
m ud alm ost a s light a s th e w ater The du ck
had passed u nder th is a nd cam e to the shore in
about ve i nches of w ater sh o w i ng noth ing but
its b ill on th e beach , th e e ntire body being c ov
ered w ith mud , t h e ex ac t c ount er pa r t of th at
abou t i t
-

'

230

C ANAD I A N WIL D S

my cano e w a s w i thi n s i x f ee t of
the bird , i t never m oved , and it w as only by the
cl osest scrutiny that I detected its presence
W ith a good si lent dog playing i n front O f a
bli nd these ducks i n the early spring w ill come
w ith i n sh ort range a s w il l the bl a ck duc k a n d
gray goose They h ave keen eyesight a nd w i ll
w ork i n from a quarter of a m ile t o i nvestigate
the dog Th e dog of best color to attract ducks
i s yel lo w or yello w and w hite A pure w h ite is
better tha n a dark col ored , w h ich latter only a p
pears to scare them a w ay
Th is i s a n i nter estin g c ontributi on for i t
brings u p a number of poi nts abou t w h ich there
has been m ore or less c ontroversy i n th e past
and one at lea st w h i ch i s ne w to u s
That M r
Hu nter s du ck brought h er you ng to th e w ater
i n her bi ll i s i nter esting a nd agrees w ith state
ments m ade years ago i n F or es t a nd S tr e a m
by M r G eorge A B oardman , w h o qu oted a
C anadia n informant a s stat ing tha t th e old
b irds brought thei r young from the nests to th e
w ater carryin g them i n thei r bi lls , bu t th a t t o
transport the you ng for a longer distance , the
bi rds carried th e young pressed to th e body by
th e feet a description w hi ch i s not altogether
c lear
M r Hu nter d ec lares th at th e w h istl ing noise
made by th e brass eye does not c ome from the
A lthough

"

TH E BRA S S

23 1

E YE D D U C K

w i ngs and that th is noise i s ne v er m ade by th e

fem ale, i n th is h i s opinion di ffers from th at of
m any other w riters I n h is bel i ef th e l abyri nth
a n enlargement of th e w i nd pipe fou nd i n the
m al e of m ost ducks a nd bu t seldom i n the fem al e
expla ins th e w h istl ing sou nd so comm only
heard w hen these b irds y near u s
F ood notoriou sly gives avor to the esh of
ducks a s w el l a s other a nim al s O n the se a
coast , w here i t feeds on sh and perhaps shell
sh , th e esh of th e brass eye or golden w i n g i s
notoriously bad , b ut l ike M r H unt e r , other a u
thors h ave decl ared th at i nl a n d th e b ird i s e x
c e ll e nt eating
The obser v ation of th e destru c tion of the
brood by the m aski nong is w orth recordin g
Pike, p ickerel , maskinong and s na p p l ng turtles
ar e n otoriou s e nem ies of you ng du c k
.

"

C H A P TE R XX X I

OO D W A G E S T R A PPI N G

I quest i on e d a c ouple of hu nters ( broth e r s )

thi s summer as to th e resu lts of thei r hu nting
a dve nture s of the past season and as I w an ted
to nd ou t their posit ive net gains , I got th e
follo w ing gure s from th em
T hey are j ust fairly good tra ppe rs and th e i r
succ ess i s about w h a t t w o i ndustriou s m en
could do w h o had a kno w ledge of trapping
Thei r w ork w a s i n t w o spell s
Th ree month s
i n the fal l and ea rly w inter and a month and
a h al f i n spri ng
Th e provi sions th ey took i nland f or th e thre e
m onths ( asce nding one of the N orth S h ore riv
ers ) w a s th e follo w ing w ith costs gi v en : 1 6 0
3 6 0 lbs
lbs pork ,
2 0 l b s butter ,
2 4 lbs sugar ,
ou r ,
6 lbs tea ,
2 lbs soda , 1 0 c ts ; salt and pep er , 2 0
p
cts ;
Thei r c a noe w a s pretty w el l lade n w hen
t hey le ft the coast i na smu ch as besides th e
fo r egoi ng gross w eigh t of provisions their outt
of t e nt , a xe s , p ots , kettles , guns , tra c king line ,
,

23 2

2 33

GOO D W A G E S TR A P P I N G

p ol i ng irons fou r doze n N O 1 traps , h alf dozen

N O 3 and a quarter dozen N o 5 bear h ad t o b e
added to the load , bri nging the to tal w e igh t
approximat ely u p t o sev e n hu ndred and fty
pou nds
E ven w h en a canoe i s l oaded and a t times
overloaded ye t there are a nu mbe r of i ncident
als th a t have t o b e taken along th ings tha t
w ei gh and a re bulky ye t are no t c onsidered in
th e est imate
F or i llustration th e se m en h ad
ve t t o load a pa ir a nd a h alf o f blanke ts
tw o
pairs sno w shoe s , a b ag of e xtr a m occ asins
socks , d ul e , w arm u nde rcl othes extra t rousers
c oats m its and a hundred and on e other th ings
w h i ch men penetrat ing th e w i lde rness for sev
era l m ont hs may requ ire
I n a n exped ition l ike th is one mu st not th i n k
only of thing s nece ssary , bu t also th ings th at
m ay be requ ired w hen a m an i s t w o or three
hu ndre d m iles a w ay from c ivil izati on and cuts
h is leg
H e h as n o dru g store t o ge t plas t er
from A ful l li st of al l a cou pl e o f pru den t men
h ave t o take w ith the m is qu ite I nteresting
T o resume,
these men left on th e l 0t h of
O ctobe r a n d got back to th e coast ( on foot ) the
1 2 th of January being absen t almos t exactly 3
They cached their traps canoe and
m onth s
surplus things i nland ready for th e spri ng h u nt
A fte r spending a fortnight w i th the ir fam
.

,
,

234

C ANAD I A N

W I L DS

i l ies

cu tt ing w ood a nd chori ng about thei r

a bodes they then w ent t o w ork i n the lumber
camps f or F ebruary and M arch O n A pri l 1 5 t h
they made a start f or t he i nterior once m ore ,
th i s time e ach h aul ing a a t sle d loaded i n e qu al
w eight w ith the follo w i ng provisions : 8 0 lbs
1 0 lbs bu tter ,
1 8 0 lbs our ,
pork ,
1 2 lbs sugar 6 0 cts ;
3 lbs tea ,
1 lb soda , 5 c ts ; sal t and pepper , 1 0 cts ;
W i th their oth er th ings th is made a dead
w eigh t of abou t one h u ndred and eighty pou nds
per sled
O n m ixed ic e and bu sh w alking a t
the season w hen the sno w is crusted a m an w il l
a v erage, w ith such a load , t w e nty ve or thirty
m iles a day
There are many h u nters th a t are qu i te s u
p e r s t i t i ou s abou t part in g w ith a S ingl e ski n
u nti l th e hunti ng or t rapping season is ove r and

then th e w hole col le ction i s sold e n blac O ther

hu nters again w ill sel l their fall hu nts less a
ski n
Th is reserved ski n m ay b e only a mus
They keep thi s , as they say , t o dra w
qu ash
o ther skins w hen n ext they go trapping The
m e n I am w riting abou t had no necessi ty to sell
i n the w inter , and therefore kept a l l t il l the
spri ng The c omm e ncement o f Ju ne i s still c on
s i d er e d spri ng in the N orth c ou nt ry
Th e to t a l catch and the prices real ize d are
a s follo w s : 3 8 m artens at $ 1 0, $3 8 0 ; 1 0 m i n k
.

GO OD

23 5

W A G E S T R A PP I N G

$ 2 5 ; 1 be a v e r , $ 7 ; 2 bears a t $ 7 , $ 1 4 ;
3 bears a t $ 2 0 $ 6 0 ; 4 shers a t $ 7 , $2 8 ; 1 otter ,
$ 1 5 1 2 0 m usquash a t 1 5 c , $ 1 8 amou nt,

at

S U M M AR Y

OF

T RA P P I N G

By

total h unt ,
to prov i s i ons ,
su ndries , 7 0 c t s ; 2 m e n s ne t earnings fo r 1 3 5
days at $ 1 8 4 equal s
Th e am ou n t per diem cle ar to each of the
brothers m ay no t appear t o t h e reader a s v ery
re muner a tive , yet c ompare d to w orking i n th e
shan t i es they did m u ch bette r Th e w ages for
good ax e m e n l ast w i nter w ere from eigh tee n
to t w e nty dollars pe r m onth
C ompar ed w ith th e sam e length of t i m e
w orking i n th e lumbe r c amps th e gures w ou ld
stand thu s : 4 } month s lu mbering a t a v erage
w ages of $ 2 2 e qua ls $ 99 ; 4 % m onths trapping,
I n favor of trapp ing , say i n rou nd g
u res
I submi t the foregoi ng t o t h e readers of H
T T, hopin g i t m ay prove i nt ere s ting

I t i s n o doub t a nc ien t h istory, stil l i t may

be i nt erest ing to the re aders to kno w th e large
hunts made by som e of ou r I ndians i n the l atter
6OS
R eferri ng t o a note book kep t i n th ose
days I nd th e hu nt of one part icu lar I ndia n
-

236

CAN AD I A N

W I LD S

re c orded H i s nam e w as A ta S O ka n
t h e only
h elp h e h ad , a boy of t w elve
Th is fam ily left t h e Post i n A ugust and onl y
return ed th e fol lo w ing Ju ne H is h u nti ng
grou nds w ere j ust across the h e igh t s of lands
going t o w ards H udson s B ay, from th e head
w a ters of th e O ttaw a R ive r G ame of al l de
script ion w as very plenti fu l then ; so mu ch so
tha t , providing an I ndi an had a fe w pou nds of
ou r and lard t o ge t a w ay from th e vic in ity of
th e station , h i s gu ns nets and snares ke p t h im
i n abundance
A t a s o kan , a lth o h aving sev
eral chi ldren be sides the boy took only fty
pou nds of our , ten pou nds of l ard , one pound
G oods , h o w
o f tea , and t e n pounds o f tobacco
ever, h e suppl ied h imse lf w el l w ith such a s
m any of v ariou s bright colored a nne l s, yards
of d ufe yard s of H B s trouds , both blue and
w hite, and several pa irs of H B w ool b lankets
The se peopl e w ere brough t u p o n c ou ntry pro
duc e : i e , sh and esh , therefore found i t n o
hardsh ip t o b e w i thout ou r , etc ,
th e w h ite
man s food F rom that one m an and h i s you ng
b oy I got at th e e nd of th e hu nting season
h
rst
of
June
t
e follo w ing furs :
(
)
-

9 6 L arge B eaver S kins

2 2 6 S mal l B eaver S kins

3 2 O tters

GOO D

W A G E S T R A PPI N G

M artens
M i nks
L ynxes
M usquash

12 0

23 7

35

40

12 3 6

M ak ing a ltogether fou r of our eigh ty pound

packs of furs Th i s , of c ourse, w a s an e x c e p
sti ll w e h ad seve ra l o ther I nd ian s
t i ona l h u nt
w h o ran A t a s o kan a close sec ond
W h at a di ff erence i n the stretch in g and dry
i ng of t hat m a n s ski ns , compared w ith those
w e ge t on t h e frontie r E ach skin , apar t from
the m usqu ash , w a s a s c lea n a s not e paper , all
kil le d i n season a nd al l dried i n th e frost or
shade O n th e l ine of civi l izati on there i s su ch
kee n c ompeti tio n am ong th e traders to get furs ,
that th e h u nters stretch and dry th e sk ins i n
a ny w ay B ea v e r , for i nstance , w h ich i s bough t
by the po u nd , is frequently w ei ghted w ith syrup ,
and sand rubbed i nto t he ha ir and pa w s , and
c onsiderable e sh left on, all te lls w h e n th ree
or four dol lars a pou nd i s paid
Th e A b a nak i s I ndia ns ab ou t S t
F ranc is
L ake , S t P et er , are noted for their t ricks o f
the trade , a nd w hen you get a blu e eyed A ba
nak i s l ook o u t t o b e ch eated
I cal l t o m ind on
th e S t M au ri c e R i ve r , w hen stationed th er e,
o ne of these gents brough t furs t o sell a t ou r
Post
A m ong th e lot w a s a beaver skin A c
.

C ANAD I AN WIL D S

238

cordin g t o its size , i f w el l dressed , it ought to

have w eighed a pou nd and a h alf , or three quar
ters a t m ost
Judge of my surprise w h en I
fou nd i t tipped the scales at t w o and half
pou nds
Thi s w as ph e nomenal and unc anny ,
a nd I remarked t o the hunter , th at w e w ould
leave the ski ns i n the store u n t i l after d inner
before cl osing th e trade
D uring th e m id day h ou r I slipped out and
exami ned th e sk i n c ri t i cal ly, a nd fou nd t he
rascal had i nc h e d u p l aye rs of the i nner skin

or
cutem , and had i nserted small sh eets of
tea chest l ead , a fter w hi ch h e had pres sed t h e
ski n do w n at and dried i t i n th is state Th i s
w as i nsu l t added to i nj u ry, becau se about a
m onth previou s h e had begged the lead from m e
to m a ke bullets w i th
V erily there are m ore
tricks w ith h orses a nd furs th an meets the eye
.

C H A P TE R XXX II
A P A R D N ECE SS A R Y

for safety, su c cessfu l hu nting , and di

vision of th e m any necessary labors , w h e n the
hu nt ing or t rapping day is over, a proper part
ner i s n ec essary I a m a w are many O ld hunt
ers h ave pa ssed ye ars qu i te alone i n t he sol i tude
O f the trackless fore sts a nd the val leys of the
mounta i n ranges , but w ha t a l ife "W ha t risks
they have ru n " S om e m ay have led th is l ife
from ch oice or from greed t o possess t he w h ol e
proceeds of the trappi ng seaso n ; sti l l i t i s a l ife
no m an shou l d lead
S ickne ss rarely overtakes a t rapper ; t h e
outdoor l ife they practice i s c onduc ing t o good
hea lth ; conti nua l exe rc ise a nd fresh air enge n
der a good a ppet ite , bu t there i s a l w ays th e risk
o f acc ident
acc ident i n ma ny w ays The gu ns ,
th e axe t he canoe breaking th rough the i ce , or
eve n get ting caught in one of h is ow n traps ; i n
fact by the last menti oned sou rc e of danger I
have kno w n t w o m e n to lose thei r l ives i n a
most h orrible w ay of tort ure a nd agony, and
th e s e m en w e r e not novices at t h e b u s i ne ss ; one
I

sa y

23 9

2 40

C ANAD I AN WIL D S

w as a m iddl e aged h alf breed , b orn a nd bro u ght

up t o trappi ng , a nd th e ot her w a s a n ol d N ov a
S cotian w h o had trap pe d and h unted f or forty
ye ars and yet h e died i n a bear trap
M a n w a s not i ntende d t o l ive alone , a nd a
trapper w h o passes th e best part of h i s l ife far
a w ay from hi s fel lo w m an b e comes selsh ,
crabbed and m orose N O m atte r h o w su ccessful
he m ay h ave been i n h i s hu nt i ng years , When
o l d age c om e s o n h is last m ome nts are ge ner
ally passed alone i n som e m iserable shanty, c ov
ered w ith dirty and mu sty old c lothes and bl an
kets , no one to pass h im a dri nk of w ater or
w ipe the de ath s w eat from h i s bro w , or else
some good person on th e fr inge of c ivi liza t ion ,
partly from charity or necessi ty, take s i n th e
broken O ld h ulk and keep s h im u nt il the e nd
A gra v e some w h e re ou tside th e fence i s point ed

as w here O l d Pi e rre , th e trappe r, i s

ou t
buried
I have severa l such rest ing pla ces in
m
i
nd
a
s
I
pen
th
ese
l
ines
my
N o, I ma intai n a compa nion in hu nti ng and
t rapping i s a n ecessity in many w ays I n s e
l e c t i ng one th ey shoul d b e al ike i n only t w o
po int s age a nd h onesty
I f th e head of the
partnersh ip i s S h ort , stou t a nd of a ph le gm ati c
nat ure h i s chu m ough t to b e s ay ve feet ten
inch e s h igh w eigh one h undred a nd fty
pou nds , of a ner v ou s energeti c nature and c h ee r
-

A P A R D N ECE SS A R Y

241

ful T w o su ch men are most l ikely to ge t a long

w el l toge ther
A nima l s don t c om e t o the cam p d oor and
a s k to b e S kinned O n t he contrary trappi ng,
to do i t right , i s hard w ork a nd w hen the rea l
day s w ork of t ramping through s w am ps a nd
over m ou nt ains setti ng traps i s done there i s
ye t mu ch w ork for th e cold , w et a nd hu ngry m en
t o d o a t th e c am p ; cu t ti ng a nd carryi ng the

night s re w ood , cook ing th e ir supper , dryi ng

thei r cl oth e s for the m orro w , pa t ch ing broken
m occasins a nd ski nning and stretch i ng pel ts
they may have secured th at day W ith a good
p ard these labors are , of c ou rse, di v ided , a nd
ea ch che e rful ly and silently takes h i s share
Ther e i s n oth ing I have enumerated bu t
w ha t ha s t o b e done every night A t rapper
returns to h is camp, and if he ha s t o make a
n e w cam p at th e e nd of hi s t ra i l so m u ch m ore
and harde r is the w ork , a nd th e poor ol d t ra p
pe r W ithout a c ompani on mu st , of nec essi ty;
p e rfor m al l these duties alone , th e c omplet i on
O f W h i c h takes h im far i nto th e nigh t B rothe r
trappe rs , I kno w w hereof I w rite I have tri ed
both and I s ay for divisi on of labor , f or good
c om r adesh i p and for posi t ive sa fety sele ct and

j oi n fortune w ith A G ood Pard

To i llustrate, I g i v e one of my ow n e xper i
.

16

C ANAD I AN WIL D S

2 42

I rea ched my c am p once a t dar k i n F eb

r u a r y; u tterly tired ou t , w e t by t he m elting sno w
o n m y clothes , and a fast th a t h ad not b ee n
broken a t noon There w ere a fe w bu rnt st icks
i n t he replac e ( a lean to cam p ) , these 1 raked
toge th e r a nd started a blaze
W i th my ex ce s
s ive fatigue and th e w armt h of th e re , I fel l
asleep a s I lea ned for w h at I th ough t w as a mo
m ent agai nst a stum p i n th e camp
I t w as a
d ispensa ti on of Providence tha t I ever a w oke,
but I did , fa r i nt o tha t F ebrua ry nigh t
On
w aking I rea lized i n a m om e nt th e narro w es
c ape tha t I h ad had
The grea t trees of t h e
for e st w ere cracking al l about m e w ith th e i n
tensity O f t he c old
M y w e t c lothes w ere st ick
i ng t o m e a s i f of i c e , bu t m y bra i n w as cl ear
and I kne w no tim e w a s t o b e lost i n my sel f
pr es ervat ion
A fter tram pi ng about a nd beati ng my body
for som e tim e t o create c irculati on , I w as r e
w arded b v feel ing my blood o w onc e more i n a
n atura l w ay Th e la st qua rter of th e m oon S hed
w ha t l ight i t c ould over th e tree tops a nd I
strapped on my sno w shoes a nd w en t t o w ork at
ch opping w ood t o l ast t il l m orn ing
A good
c u p of t ea , some b iscu it and pork and t h e the n
brigh t and ch eerfu l re m ade m e my Ol d sel f,
b u t I rece ived a lesson never to be forgotten

e nc es :

'

C H A P TE R
AN

H ER O I C

XXXI I I

AD V E N T
U RE

W hen w e had come to an c hor i n Tri nity B ay

a nd a l l th e sa il s w ere safely sto w ed , the ca pta in
o f o ur ya ch t proposed w e S hould go a shore and
s e e the celebrated C omeau l e

B ob , my com panion a sked ,

C elebrated for

w hat "

O h "for se v era l things ,

repl ied th e cap

tai n
H e i s a m ost extraordinary m a n i n h i s
many acqu irem ents a nd kno w ledge B orn a nd
brought u p on th is coast , he h as passed al l h i s
l ife here, w ith the exception of the three year s
h i s father w a s able t o send h im t o school , but
those three years h e m ade u se of t o lay the foun
dation of a w ond e r f h l store of practica l kno w l
edge Hi s school ing , a s I h ave sa id , w a s but
the fou ndati on ; by read ing and obser v ation he
has added to i t i n a m arvel ou s w ay

F rom h is early trai ni ng and the l ife of

e v ery one on the c oast , i t w ou ld go w i thout s a y
ing that h e kno w s h o w to S h oot , bu t h e i s m or e

than a good sh ot , h e i s a deadly shot A ny

th ing he ai ms h i s gu n at th at i s w ith i n shooti n g
.

2 43

2 44

C ANAD I A N

W IL DS

d ista n c e i s dead A s a sal mon sher , no c rack

angler w ho visits these r ivers can hope to c om
pe te w i th h im
A s a l ingu ist he ca n speak , read a nd w rite
i n F rench , E ngl ish , L atin a nd I nd ian ; besides
this he can ta lk rapidly i n the dumb al ph abet
He holds the posit ion of telegraph operator at
Trinity also of postmaster a nd shery overseer ,
and besides , w h en a nyth i ng goes w rong w ith the
l ine for t w o hu ndred m i les east or w est , th e d e
p ar t me nt immediately w ires h i m t o go a nd x
them up

He has m ore than a fair kno w ledge of m ed

i c i ne for one w ho derived al l h is i nsigh t from
reading al one L a st su mmer there w a s a n epi
demi c of m easles a l l along the coast , among b oth
w h ites a nd I ndians
Here , w ith a population
of 1 5 0 , t w o thirds of w hom w ere do w n C omeau
w h o attended them , di d not l ose one pat ient ,
w h il e at B ersimi s , w here th e department sent a
ful l e d ge d M D , there w ere th irty n ine burials
out of a population o f 4 5 0

Y ou m ay b e sure th e poor peopl e al l along

the coast love h im

S O th e boat w a s lo w ered a w ay , a nd the C ap
tain , B ob a nd I w ere ro w ed ash ore to s e e this
paragon
F rom th e outside look of the pl ace I
could see the m an w as one of good ta ste and
orderly Th e knock at th e door w a s ans w e red
.

AN

H E R OI C

AD VE N TU R E

245

b y C omeau h imself Th e C aptai n w as p erso n

a lly acqua int ed w ith h im a nd i ntroduc e d u s b e
fore w e entered
I must say I w a s d i sa p
point ed
O ne al w ays i s w hen h e ha s pi ctured a
person i n h is m ind s eye an d nds tha t i n real
ity he i s qu ite a di ff erent kind of person
I had l ooked for C omea u to b e a large m an
and a boisterou s one from h i s position o f super
i or i ty over oth ers
O n th e contrary , I f ound
h im bel o w th e medium , a qu iet lo w vo iced man ,
reserved alm ost to S hyness
I saw a t o nc e he
w a s a great O bserver , one w h o w oul d ma ke de
d u c t i ons from specks i nvisible t o ordinary p eo
pl e ; or , i n other w ords , h e could pu t t w o and
t w o togeth er a nd dovetai l them b etter than m ost
m en
V e w ere u shered i nto a large, c l ean , a iry
room , i n th e m iddl e of w h ich S at a v ery good
looki ng lady in a roomy rocker , w ith a chi ld on
each knee I f C om e au h im sel f i s reserv ed and
not i ncl ined to talk, h is w ife can do enough for
both
S h e excused hersel f for not r ising w h en
her hu sband i ntrodu ced u s N odding do w n at

O ne
her babies , s h e said Y ou s ee I a m xed
c ou ld see she i s a prou d moth er they are
t w i ns ; th i s S h e told us before w e w ere w el l
seated , a nd S h e further inform ed u s that they
w ere the only t w ins on th e L abrador
S O She i s
c e l eb rated al so
.

\
.

246

C ANA D I AN

W IL DS

W h en w e got fa irly settled i n C omeau s d e n ,

the c onversation naturally dri fted i nto hu nting
and sh ing B ob made som e i nqu iries about
the pools on th e Tri nity To make h i s explana
tions c lear , C omeau pu lled ou t a dra w er of ph o
t ogr a p h i c v ie w s O f the river
I n ru mmagin g

these over , h e c ast a side a gold medal

E xcu se

me
I sa id , rea ch ing over and taking u p th e
medal
O n i t I rea d engraved :

P RE S E N T E D
F OR

A C O M E A U B Y TH E R H S
B RA V ER Y I N S A VI N G L I F E

To

U po n

my askin g h im to recou nt th e c ircum

stances , h e blushed and l ooked qu i te confused ,

and sa id : O h "i t w as noth ing w orth s peaking

of , bu t I suppose p eopl e tal ked SO m uch about
i t that they gave m e that token
I t w a s noth

in g m ore than any m a n w oul d h ave done and

th i s w a s a l l w e c ould get from h im u nless w e
had carri ed persi stency t o a n u ngentlemanly de
gree
A fter h avi ng S pe nt a very pleasan t h ou r , w e
return ed on board , and th e C aptain told u s th e
story that th e hero h im sel f w ou ld not :
T w o years before , one day i n January C O
mean arrived h ome from th e bac k cou ntry t o
nd that t w o men had that day w h il e seal hu nt
i ng o ff S hore been driven O ff th e c oast to w ard
th e i c e p a ck i n th e g ulf One of t h e m en w a s
.

IC AD VE N TU R E

A N H RO

247

C omeau s o w n brother i n l a w , and th e other a

hal f breed
I n spite of the suppl icati ons O f h i s
w ife and th e persua sions O f th e other i ndivid
u a l s O f the place , C omea u s e t abou t prepara
tions t o fol lo w them ou t to sea He a sked no
one t o accompany h im
The w ind al l the afternoon h ad been steadily
O ff
shore and w as no w m oderately cal m
He
t ook w ith h im som e restorat ives , provisi ons , a
la ntern , a couple of blankets h i s rie a nd a m
mu niti on a nd w ha t else u seful he cou ld th i nk
of i n hi s h urry Th e ice pa ck w a s th en abou t
ten m ile s O ff t h e la nd and h e rea soned th e men
mu st b e on the i ce , if l arge and strong enough
o r i n am ong i t i f i n sm al l cakes , th e l atter bein g
mu ch m ore dangerou s
F rom Trinity to M atane i n a di rect l ine th e
d istance i s forty ve m iles and to pu sh o u t i n a
frail , w ooden canoe alone a nd the darkness
com ing on i n the black gul f i n m id w i nter r e
qu ired a brave ma n w ith extraordinar y nerve to
dare it, and thi s C om ea u did
Three m inut e s after pu sh ing ou t from t h e
bea ch , canoe and man w ere s w allo w ed u p i n the
darkness Th e nex t the people of Trinity h eard
O f h im w as a telegra ph i c message on the second

day a fter
I t read : M ata ne A ll three al ive
Joseph , hand s frozen ; S imon , both feet frozen

badly

248

C A N AD I A N

W I L DS

T hi s m e ssag e w a s t o h i s fa mi ly, b u t t h e M a
tan e p eopl e sen t a mu ch l ong e r one to the gov
e r nm e nt , givi ng th e facts
describin g th e h ard
,
sh i ps these men h ad com e through , and a spe
c i a l tra i n w as sent do w n w ith the best surgeon
O n th e surgeon s arrival at M a
from Q ueb ec
ta ne a consultati on w a s h eld w ith th e c ou nty
pra cti ti oner w hen i t w a s dec ided tha t th e m an
Joseph w ould have t o lose t w o ngers on ea ch
hand and S imon both feet
The am putati on w as su c cessfully carried ou t
next day, a nd shortly a fter , w hen C omeau sa w
both men w el l on to recovery , h e started f or h i s
home , not , h o w ever, by th e w ay he had c ome ,
but u p t o Q uebec by the south shore and do w n
th e north sh ore from Q uebec , a distance of near
l y 7 00 m iles
Th e l ast hu ndred h e mad e on
sno w shoes
The C aptai n tol d u s tha t th e descri ption of
th i s v ery venturesom e tri p h e had heard from
C om e a u s o w n brother a s th e elder one had de
scribed i t i n th e h ea rt o f h i s o w n fam ily He
had rea ched the i c e pack , to th e best of hi s j udg
ment , abou t fteen m iles from th e l and and had
rema ined on h is oars and hall o w ed once or t w i c e
w it h ou t receivi ng a n ans w er
He suddenly b e
thou gh t h imself O f the lantern
Th is h e l it and
lashed to the bl ade o f one of hi s oars , a nd
er e cted i t aloft I mmedia tely a fa i nt c ry w as

A N H E R OI C

AD VE N T U R E

24 9

h ear d to th e e ast w ard and h e lo w e red hi s l i g h t

and pul l ed a w ay i n the direct ion w henc e the
call a ppeared to c om e A fter ro w ing f or a
short t ime the l antern w a s w av ed above a ga in ,
and th i s tim e a n ans w eri n g sh ou t cam e from
close at hand
The t w o poor fel lo w s w ere som e dista nc e i n
th e pack , a nd had got on the largest cake they
cou ld nd They w ere S itti ng there helpless ,
holding on ea ch by one hand to the rough s u r
face O f th e ice and w ith th e other to their canoe
to keep i t from being w a sh ed O ff
B y th e a id of th e l antern held al oft , C omeau
sa w th ere w a s a mu ch larger cake of i ce som e
distanc e further i n the pa ck To th is they
m ade thei r w ay w ith laboriou s trouble Push
ing one canoe a s fa r ahead among the i ce a s pos
sible they w ou ld al l three get i nto th is sho v e
the other i n adva nc e i n t h e sam e w ay, and s o
repeating th e process t ill they rea ched th e sol id
eld O nce sa fely on th is for the mea nti m e
secure place food w a s partaken o f and dayl igh t
w ait ed for
S oon ho w ever , the i ntens e col d bega n to
m ake itself fel t a nd dro w si ness w a s fast taking
h ol d of th e t w o men a nd their great w i sh w as
to be left alone and al lo w ed to sleep Th is
C omea u kne w i f i ndul ged mea n t death and it
too k al l h i s efforts to keep them a w ak e and mov
,

250

C A N A D I A N W IL DS

ing abou t
O nce w h i le attendin g t o th e h alf
breed , h i s brother i n la w dropped do w n a nd
w as fast a sleep i n a n i nsta nt
C omeau boxed
h im , kicked h im w ith out havi ng the desir ed e f
f e c t of rou sin g h im from h i s stu por
A t last h e
beth ough t h i m of w hat a n ol d I ndia n had done
to h im u nder some w h at S imi lar c ircu m stances
He caught th e m an s n o se bet w een t h e thumb
a nd nger a nd t w eaked i t severely Thi s
brou gh t h im to h i s feet and m ad to gh t
D ay w a s no w breaki ng, a nd they could s ee
th e south S h ore a t a c om puted d istanc e o f ten
m i les C omea u also s a w th at the ice pack w a s
dri fting stead ily ea st , and th is , i f th ey rema ined
on th e ice
w ou ld carry them past C ap C hat ,
th e m ost north ern po i nt of the south coast , a nd
th i s m eant death to a certainty
A rapid trai n of though t w ent throu gh C O
H e decided th at i f saved they
me a u s brai n
w ere t o be , i t m ust be by passi ng over th at ten
m il e s of m oving grinding i ce H e forced some
food on the others and gave ea ch a small dram
of spirits ; ho w mu ch rather w ou ld h e have g iven
them t e a or co ffee B u t even i f he had had it ,
w ater w as w ant ing to mak e i t They aban
doued the roll of blankets, w h ich had been of no
u s e to th em , and started , u sing the ca noes s ee
sa w fash ion a s they h ad done th e nigh t befo r e
They l eft th e c ak e of i c e u p o n w h ic h th ey h ad
.

AN

H ER O I C A D VE N TU R E

2 51

p ass e d t h e n i g h t at 8 A M and only g ot ashor e

a t th e e x trem e p oint of C ap C hat at dayl igh t
n e x t m orn ing A t tim es th ey w oul d com e
across narro w la nes O f w ater , bu t these lan e s
al w ays ran at ri gh t angles t o the direction i n
w hi ch they w ere going
S everal times w hen
steppin g u pon w hat w a s considered a strong
piec e of i ce one O f the party w ou ld be immersed
i n th e cold cruel w ater , an d b e rescued w ith
gr ea t troubl e and danger to th e others
W hat a p icture of heartfel t prayer O ffering
i t m ust h ave been to h ave seen th ose men kneel
i ng on th e i ce bound shore pouri ng ou t their
thanks to th e ever w atch ful A lm igh ty w ho ha d
brough t them safely through su c h dangers
.

w ho h ad tak e n do w n th e C a p ta i n s n ar
r a t i v e i n shorthand , gave me h is notes , a nd I
t
o
f
i
v
e
th
e
story
adventu
re
and
heroism
the
o
g
publ i c
C omeau i s w el l kno w n by m ost of th e me m
bers of th e F orest a nd S tr e am c lubs of N ew
Y or k a n d M o n treal
B ob ,

'

C H A P T E R X XX I V

WIL D

the M ay i ssu e s of F or es t
a nd S t r ea m of a d og th at j o ined a band o f
w olve s and becam e a s savage a nd ee t O f foot
a s the best of them , and brough t t o my m ind a
circu mstanc e that cam e u nde r my ow n O bse rva
tion , of a pai r of steers th at thre w o ff al l tram
m els o f restrai nt and t ook t o th e bush
I think i t i s w orth recording, f or i t sh o w s
that eve n h orned cattle brough t u p w i th care
a nd f ed at regular i nterval s can support th em
selves eve n through th e rigor of a northern w i n
ter i n the w i ld bush c ou ntry
I n my early days on the L abrado r w e w ere
i n th e h abi t of getti ng ou r w i nter beef on t h e
hoof from the villages O n th e south shore Th e
cattl e w ere sent over by sch oone r, late i n t h e
fal l , and stall fed u nti l the cold w eath er set in ,
w hen they w ere k il led and th e carcasses hung
u p t o freeze A s w e had no w h arf a cc ommo
dat i on th e ca t tle w ere u nl oaded i n a pri mitive
a nd u nceremoniou s w a y: Th e schooner a n
chor ed t w o or thr e e h undred y a rds fro m th e
I

r e ad i n

OX E N

one

of

2 52

WIL D O X E N

2 53

shore
The c attl e sided u p a longside th e rai l
next the beach , and a c ouple O f sa i lors i ntro
d u c e d h an d spikes u nder the a nim al s body, th e
end engagi ng th e t op of the rail A t th e w ord

G O th e beasts w ere hurl ed side w ays i nto th e

w ater R ising t o th e surfa ce , after th e plunge ,
t h e v naturally stru ck ou t f or the shore , w he re
w e had m en w i t h S hort ropes ready t o secure
them and lead them a w ay t o th e stable
O n th e o ccasion u pon w hi ch I w rite w e had
a c onsignmen t O f ve three year O ld steers , th e
m ea t O f w h ich , au gmented by th e u sua l gam e of
th e c ou ntry, w a s c onsidered su fc ient for th e

post s u se duri ng t h e foll o w ing w i nter

T w o of t he bunch reached footi ng i n su ch a
l i v ely state that they bafe d t h e comb ined e or t s
o f our men to capture them , a nd w ith a fe w de
a nt snorts and bounds they reach ed th e prim i
t ive fores t a nd w ere lost t o v ie w
A s soon as I rea l ized tha t the re w a s a possi
b i l i t y of the a nimals bei ng lost to u s , I turned

hangers on abou t th e post , w ith

ou t al l the
ou r ow n m e n i n h ot pursu it N igh t com ing on
shortly after th e hun t w a s given u p only to b e
resu med w ith greater energy the foll o w ing day ;
bu t the nature O f the grou nd being h ard , h oof
marks w ere indi st ingu i shabl e and t o u s e dogs
w ould only m ake the cat t le w ilde r O nc e m ore
th e m e n had to reluc tantly aba ndon t he sear c h
.

C ANAD I AN WIL D S

2 54

a nd ret u r n to th e post , a nd a lthough w e k ept

up th e hu nt for seve ra l days more , w e fa i l ed t o

locat e th e m issing meat

I n du e course of tim e, sno w c overed the
ground , a nd men c ircled t h e bu sh i n th e vic i ni ty
o f th e pos t w ithou t any results , and w e had u n
w illingly to place the t w o steers on our prot
and los s a cc ou nt
Tim e w ent on, the w i nte r passed , an d th e
summer al so, a nd none of the v isi t ing I ndians
reported any signs of th e ca ttl e
Th e follo w ing w i nter , i n F ebruary , a party
of h unt ers cam e i n from th e head w aters of th e
M oi si e R i ver , 1 5 0 m iles north of u s , a nd they
reported having k illed ou r cat tle am ong a small
herd of w ood caribou To prove their story they
produ ce d th e h orns w h ich they h ad brough t
do w n a ll t hose m il es on thei r tobogga ns as
v i sible proof
The report t hey gave m e w as a s f O l l OW S
They had c om e a cross the tracks of th is sm al l
bu nch of caribou ( ve ) w ith w hi ch th e oxen
w ere l iving i n c onsort , som e t im e i n early D e
Th e animals w inded them a nd th e
c e mb e r
hu nters fa iled to sigh t the herd
A s th e sno w w a s ye t S hal lo w , th ey lef t th e m
u nmolested u ntil a fter th e N e w Y ea r , w h e n the
men from t h e nearby cam ps organized a hu nt
expressly t o ru n th em do w n
.

WIL D O X E N

2 55

h e arsay th ey th oug h t t h e stra n ge

tra c ks w e r e thos e of m oose, and w ere very mu c h
surpri sed w hen th e herd w as sighted t o nd
they w ere h orned ca ttle , a nd at once conclud ed
( and v ery correctly ) that they w er e th e long lost
ca t tle
The ch ief i nforme d m e th ey w ere s o e et of
foot that t he ve de er w ere come u p w i th and
ki lled before th ey overtook th e steers , w h ich
w ere rol l i ng fat, sl eek of coat a nd had an u nder
gro w th of w ool such as th e dee r h ad , sho w i ng
that unde r d i ffere nt ci rcum stances nat ure h ad
give n the m t hi s protec t ion agai nst the se v erity
O f th e cl im ate
I hardly th i nk I w ould ha v e credited th e ir
story w i th the proof, and further the next s um
mer , w hen th ey came i n to trade on the coast ,
they brou gh t m e a pi ec e of the th igh ski n of
e ach animal V eri ly these o x en h ad a call from
th e w ild and took it a nd becam e as one w ith
th e denize ns of the bush
R e a d i ng of the d og that fratern iz ed and
w e nt Off w ith th e w olves brought thi s to my m in d
aft e r a lapse of forty one ye ars
F rom

C H A P TE R XXX V
L

O NG

AK E I N D IA N S

T h e t w o years I passed i n ch arge of the Hud

son s B a y Post O f L ong L ake , situ ated on the
w ater shed bet w een L ake S uperio r and H ud
son s B ay, w as the happiest O f any peri od O f my
long service
The c oncl usio n I h a v e arr ived a t , after c on
s i d e r a b l e experience , i s tha t C hristiani z
i ng i n
no m atter w h at form , h as only m ade the I ndian
w orse
I t i s the v erdict of al l w h o have h ad to do
w i th th e red m an th at h e c opies a l l O f th e w h ite
man s vi ces and very fe w , i f any , of h is virtues
I ndian s 1 fou nd at L ong L ake , i n the m id
dle seventies , w ere Pagans , but they w ere h on
es t , truth ful and virtu ou s
W e locked our t r a d e sh op , not t o pre v ent r ob
bery , simply to gu ard against th e door being
blo w n open N ot on e of these I ndians w ould
h a v e taken a pin w ith ou t sh o w ing it to m e rst

and sayi ng : I am going to keep th is , holding

u p th e pi n
M y p r edecessor had been stationed a t that

2 56

L O N G L A K E I N D I AN S

2 57

post i n a n u nbroken charge of over t w enty

yea r s He w a s a ma n O f system a nd everyth ing
w ent by rote There w ere certa in xed dates
for out t t i ng th e hunters ; certa i n dates f or
t h e s e short O f ammu nition to come a nd get i t i n
the w inter ; and best of all , certa in dates for
them to a rrive i n th e spring a nd close their
hu nts Th is assu red u s of getting only prime ,
season ed skins , a nd su ch S kins it w a s a plea sure
to ha ndle si nce the paper upon w h ich th is i s
printed i s not w h iter tha n every skin that passed
thru my hands i n those t w o years
I am w rit ing of the d a v s before the C anadi a n
Pac ic R ai l w ay passed thru tha t c ou ntry w hen
there w ere no w h iskey peddlers go ing about de
m oral izi n g the I ndians Th ere being no oppo
sitiou w e regu lated the catch of furs
hen
w e fou nd , by genera l report of the hu nters that
a certai n k ind O f fur w as becom ing scarce , w e
lo w ered the pr ice f or tha t parti cu lar an imal s
pel t so l ow a s to no t m ake i t w orth their w h ile
t o tra p i t
F or insta nce , w h ile I w a s there , the
beave r w as h aving ou r protection , a nd , a s a con
sequ ence, i n three years every l ittl e pond or
creek became stocked w ith beaver Th e I ndian
hu nter did not su ff er , becau se w e paid the m ost
l iberal pri ces for the sk ins that w ere m ost p l e n
ti ful
Th is policy , ho w ever , c ould only be c ar
.

17

258

C ANAD I AN WIL D S

ried ou t a t places w here there w as no c om p e

tition
Th e gentleman i n charge w as th e representa

ti v e of th e G reat C ompany and w hat he said

O ur i nterest s a nd those of th e I n
w as la w
d ians ran on parallel lines
I t w a s to ou r i nterest to se e al l that t h e I n
d ian r equ ired sh ou ld be of the very best Tha t
he shou ld h ave good , strong, w arm cloth i ng ,
good am mu nition and double to w er proved guns
w a s essenti al t o h i s abi l ity to hunt , h is c om fort
and h is very l ife
I t w a s dri lled i nto th e hu nters at each yearly
send off th at i f h e d id not exert h imsel f to hu nt
su fc ient t o pay th e advances given h im , that

th e G reat F ather w ould not , or c ould not ,

send goods for the next year
I t w as expla ined to them that their furs
w er e bartered i n far off c ountries for other ne w
gu ns blankets , t w i ne, capots d ui e , copper ket
tles and other w a nt s of the I ndians A s w e
w anted th e hu nters to be w el l clothed and sup
plied w ith necessaries w e i m p or t e d no such u se
less trash a s th e frontier posts w ere obl iged t o
k eep to cope w ith th e free traders
I f an I ndian took a four poi nt H B blanket ,
ev e n w i th th e rough u sage it w a s subj ected to ,
it w ould keep h im and h i s w ife w arm for a year
Th e next s e ason , a ne w one being bou g ht , th e
.

'

'

L ON G L A K E I ND I AN S

2 59

O ld one d i d ser v ic e for another w inter as l i n in g

fo r m ittens, stri p s for so c ks , and leggings for
th e you n ger bra nches
S tee l traps being dear t w enty ve y e ars ago ,
and th e l ong c anoe transport being costly s o far
i nto th e i nt erior , w e did not im p ort them v ery
largely
B ears , m artens , m inks and e v en bea v er a nd
otter w ere killed i n deadfa lls ; and w ith di ffer
e nt sizes of t w ine, th e I ndians snare d rabb i ts ,
lyn x , a nd , i n the spri ng , even the bear
Th e I ndia ns princ ipal , a nd I may s ay, only
tool s for hu nti ng and for h i s su pport w ere h is
axe, i ce ch isel , t w i ne and h i s gun
I ment ion
the gu n last bec au se th e h u nter only u sed i t for
c aribou a nd m oose , ducks a nd geese A mmu ni
t io n w a s t oo costly t o u se i t f or anyth ing that
cou ld be trapped or snared
A li fe ch ief w a s elected by the I ndia ns them
selves , a nd h e w a s su pported i n h i s m anagement
o f the tribe by th e O fcer i n charge of th e post
Th e ch ief had precedence i n bei ng outtted , h is
cano e headed the eet of canoes on arriving at
the po st i n the spri ng, a nd w as the one t o lead
off i n the autu mn
Hi s w a s the only pack of
furs carried u p from the beach , by our men , to
the store , and he s e t the example t o h i s youn g

m en by being the rst to pay h is last y e ar s a d

v a n c e s T o hi m w e gave, as a pr esen t , a n e w
.

C ANAD I AN WIL D S

2 60

su it of black c loth c lothes , boots , hat , et c , and

to h is w i fe a bri gh t tarta n w ool dress p iec e, a nd
a tarta n sha w l O f contrasti ng pattern
or
m edium o f trade, w a s
O ur cu rrency

call ed M ade B ea v er , equ ivalen t i n m ost art i

c les to a dol lar Th e valu e of each ski n w a s

com put ed i n M ade B eaver

F or every hun

dred O f M ade B eaver of S kins that the I ndian

brought i n w e allo w ed h im as a gratu ity

C alled R um , ten M ade B eaver , h e w a s at

liberty, after payi ng his debt , t o trade w hatever
he fanc ied ou t of th e S hop to th e exten t of h is

B ut unless he paid h is debt i n ful l th e

R um

R um h e w a s ent itled to w ent to w ards h is a c

count Th is , h o w ever , seldom happened , b e
cause one that did not pay h i s debt i n full w as
looked do w n upo n by h i s friends , and h is s up
pli es for th e next vear w ere reduced i n propor
t ion to h i s dec iency
W hat a cha nge h as taken pla ce i n th e past
qu arter of a centu ry I hea r from th e person
no w i n charge O f tha t post ( it is kep t u p pri n
c i p a l l y no w to protect ou r further i nteri or post )
th at al l those I ndian s are dead and gone Thei r
descendants number scarcely one th ird O f the
original band They are th ieves dru nkards
and liars a s a rule ; th e w h ite m an s di seases and
W h ite trappers
r e w ater have left thei r tra il
ha v e pene trat e d t h e i r c o u n try i n a l l dire c t i o n s
.

L O N G L A K E I N D I AN S

2 61

from th e l ine of ra i l w ay and exterm inated m ost

of th e fu r beari ng animals I nstead of , as their
forefathers getting a good su pply O f al l ne c e s
sary articles to assure them of comfort for a
year , th ese, their sons a nd grandsons , can get
n o one to ri sk advanc ing them
Th ey l ive pri n
c i p a l l y, no w , o n sh and w hen they do su cceed
i n kill i ng a skin the most likely th in g to h ap
pen i s , they w il l travel m any m iles to barter it
fo r w h iskey
Thi s i s one O f th e resu lts of rail w ays and
c ivi l ization
I can say w ith th e l ate lamented

C ust er Th e good I ndia ns are dead

-

C H A P TE R X XX V I
DEN

BE

AR S

phas e O f h unt ing th at I do not remember

ever seeing described i n the H T T is of track
i ng bears to their den a nd kill ing them ther e
Th e t w o seasons that th is m ode of h u nting i s
resort ed to by the I ndians i s a fter the rst fal l
o f sno w and a ga i n i n F ebru ary, M arch or A pril ,
accord ing to th e di fferent l ocal ity of th e cou n
try , w hen the sno w i s soft a nd th e days are m ild
and spri ng l ike
S om e v ery kno w i ng tra ilers
w il l follo w u p signs e v en before there is sno w on
th e ground
They w atch ou t for broken
branches , shredded b irch bark or other stu ff
w hich th e bear h as torn do w n to make hi s bed
A t tim es , h o w ever , th e bear w il l change h is
m ind , even after c onsi derable w ork ha s been
done, and m ove O ff to som e other ridge O f hill s
and there begin over a ga i n i n W h at he ha s de
c ided a more favorabl e S ituati on
I t i s a mu ch
m ore dangerou s j ob to ta ckl e a ne w ly denned
bea r th an i n the sprin g w hen they are stu pid
from thei r long spel l o f h ibernation R arely
does a lon e h u nter u ndertake to kill a bear i n
A

2 62

DEN BE A R S

2 63

hi s den I t requ ires t w o persons f or safety a nd

c onvenience of w ork
I n hu ntin g ou t a bear s den a kno w ledge O f
w hat i s a likely local ity shortens the w ork very
mu ch
T here are den s fou nd i n freak a nd u n
looked for places , bu t a s a general rule there
are certa i n condit ion s th at go to w ards their s e
l ection a nd one w h o kno w s these narro w s do w n
h is area of hu nt ing very considerably
The den s are a s a ru le on a h igh ele v ation
w i th a southern aspect Th is selection i s m ade
n o doubt w ith th e kno w ledge given by instinc t
that i t keeps c lea r l onger i n th e autum n and
opens earl ier w ith th e melting sno w s of spring
I n my l ong experienc e I h ave fou nd bears th ree
times i n very u nlikely places O ne t im e w hen
o n a long tra i l w ith d ispat ches , t w o I ndians and
myself j umped one after the other , from the
tru nk of a large fallen pine w ith ou r sno w
shoes fair a nd square onto a very large bear
w h o h ad in th e fal l m ade h is bed a t th e lea S ide
O f th is shelter a nd al lo w ed the w inter sno w s to
fal l and bury h im
I t w as on ly three w eeks later w hen w e w ere
returning by t h e sam e trai l tha t th e leading m an
o f th e party , w hen getting to th is spot and l ook
i ng for a n easy pla c e to clamber u p onto the
gian t tru nk not iced a suspiciou sly frosted l ittl e
br e a t h ing h ol e i n the sno w
W ord w as passe d
.

2 64

C ANAD I AN WIL D S

back tha t perh aps there w a s a bea r th ere A s

w e had no rearm s i n the party not even a pi s
tol th e rst th ing t o do w a s to cu t good stou t
hard w ood poles about ve feet l ong
A la rge place w a s w el l tram ped do w n w ith
our sno w S h oes t o i nsure good sol id foot ing a nd
w hen al l w a s ready, w ith o u r pa cks a nd extra
th i ngs out o f th e w ay , one of the p a r t v w a s de
ta iled t o get u p on th e tree tru nk a nd w i th a
strong bi rch l ever i nsert it near w here w e lo
c a t e d the bea r to be a nd pry h im o u t , th e other
t w o to belabor h i m w i th their poles
Th e m an
on th e l og had such a stron g leverage that h i s
rst effort broke the bea r cl ea r out of the sno w
a nd before h e had time to r e u s e from h i s stupor
h e w a s dead
The I ndian s w h o w ere m iddle a ged men
th ou ght it a grea t j ok e that w e sh ould al l have
tramped on th is bea r and three w eeks later
fou nd a nd killed h im Th e skin , of cou rse w as
at i ts p r i m e s t state , SO w e pa cked i t turn and
tu rn about t o the fort w h ere each received h i s
share of its val ue
A nother t ime I camped alm ost on the very
S hore O f a smal l lake w ith a v ou t h f or my com
pan ion e w ere to start a yard of m oose i n
the early m orning on a mou nta i n on the O ppo
site shore I n the m orni ng w h ile I w a s cooking
breakfast , the youth w ent a fe w yards a w ay to
.

DEN BE A R S

2 65

c u t a pole to h ang ou r extra provisions on that

w e w ere leaving a t the cam p
H e ha d hardly lef t th e replace w h en I
heard h im c al l m e There I fou nd h im gaz ing
i ntent ly a t a tel ltale frosted hole i n the sno w
W e both cam e to t h e sam e c onclu sion tha t it
w a s th e breath ing hol e o f som e animal and that
an i m a l m ost l ikely a bear W e decided not to
disturb h im u nt i l ou r m oose hu nt w as over , s o
qu ietly w i thdre w from th e vic inity I m ay say
to close th is i nc iden t that t w o days l ater , a fter
ki ll ing three m oose w e du g ou t the bear s u f
c i e nt l y t o locate h i s sh ou lder a nd shot him i n
h i s den
A nother u nlook ed fo r plac e w a s w hen land
i ng a t a portage very late i n th e fall w a s to nd
a ha l f S ized bea r had m ade h i s bed si mply a t th e
foot o f a stum p Th ere w a s no sno w yet on the
grou nd a nd he w oke su fc iently to gaz e on u s
w ith a stu pid stare Th e next m inute h e h ad
h i s qu ietus
I al w ays seem t o w ander a w ay from my sub
j e c t W hether it adds or detra cts from the i n
t er e s t of th e arti cl e I kno w not , bu t I a ssure
the reader i t i s u ni ntentional , bu t th ese long
past i nc idents a nd a dven tures w il l crop u p i n
my memory and before I th ink to pul l mysel f u p
they a re comm itted to paper W el l once a gai n "
The m ost l ikely places to nd a b e ar denn ed
.

'

2 66

CA NA D I A N

W IL DS

u p a re u nder a ledge of rocks u nder th e roots

o f a partly fallen tree , u nder a n over hanging
sa nd bank , or i n a rocky crevi c e i n th e m oun
ta in side Th e hu nters , w hen they h ave tracked
h im to or fou nd h is den begin by readi ng al l the
visibl e signs and lay their plans a ccordingly
I f th e b ed i s som e littl e distance ba ck from the
doo r or O peni ng , they begin by stakin g u p the
doo r w ay s o nearly clos ed that th e bear w il l have
c ons iderable delay i n getting out
I f t o stake i t is im pra cticable O n a ccou nt of
th e format ion , they gather rocks or sections O f
l o gs a nd stu ff u p m ost o f th e opening
S ome
ventu resom e h unter s w i ll stan d a leg at each
side O f th e open in g w ith their axe poised ready
to brai n h i m w h i le h e i s endeavori ng to m ake

h i s ex it , the man s com pani on prodd ing h im

ou t from t h e rea r O ther hu nters ( th e w riter
a m ongst them ) prefer to rema i n w ith hi s rie
ready for bu si ness a t a fe w yards from the door
w ay Th is i s sa fer and m ore reasonable
M ost bears com e ou t i nto d a v l i gh t i n a m ore
or less dazed state , but I h ave kno w n som e w i th
th e v ery rst i ntroduction of th e pole i nto the
rea r prem ises to come out w i th a rush , carrying
O bstru ctions and ever v t h i ng before them A t
su ch times u nl ess a m an i s pretty nervy h e i s

ap t to get B ear F ever and h e S h ould not be

bl amed , f or the situ ation i s trying
,

DEN BE A R S

267

W h en t h e b ea r has take n u p h is quart e rs

far back i n a crevic e of the rocks w h ere a pol e
from th e surfa ce c an nd no openi ng to be i ntro
d uce d then th e plan O f sm oking h i m ou t has to
be resorted to
I t is don e i n th i s w ay T he
stu ff to b e u sed some b irch bark to ignit e i t on
top of w h ich i s placed rotten w oo d or broken u p
punk i f procurable i s rammed back a d istance
into the h ole A t th e end O f the w ithdra w n pol e
a l ighted t w ist o f bark i s pushed back and the
door w ay qu i c kly blocked as nearly tigh t as pos
S ible
Th e h unter ret ire s at once to a safe di stan c e
w ith h i s g un ready f or action an d a w a its events
He does not a s a rul e have to w a it l ong for
M r B ear
w hen tha t smoke bec ome s unbearable
com e s ou t i n a h urry and a pretty m ad h ear at
that I t i s n ot advisabl e to i ntroduce too m uch
i namm abl e substance for it i s a pt to spoi l the
fu r w hen the bear c omes thru the ery ordeal
R otten poppl e i s next to punk to m ake a pu ng
ent and u nbearabl e smoke W hen su ch pene
trates th e bear s nostril s h e i s bou nd to w ake u p
a n d h i s one desire i s to g et fresh ai r im me
,

'

d i at e l y
Th e

trackin g O f a bear e v en i n pretty deep

sno w takes tim e, fo r u nless h e kno w s som e on e
is after h i m h e circles and zi gzags abou t , w hi ch
tra il r e qu i re s attentio n to u nder ru n success

268

CANA D I A N

W I L DS

fully H o w eve r , o nc e h e b ecom e s poss es se d

w ith th e kno w l ed ge tha t he i s being pursued , he
makes a pretty stra igh t l ine a w ay from dange r
A t such a time a sm all cu r dog i s i nvalu able , for
w h il e h e w il l not attack th e bear , by h i s yelping
and barki ng h e del ays h is progress and at each
pau se of the bear the hu nter i s gaining ground
To kill a b ear that is al ready denned th e dog
i s better left at h ome, for h e w il l be of no u s e
a nd you ru n th e risk ( i f h e i s plu cky ) of h is
being ki lled i n the den
F or al l kinds O f hu nt
i ng I h ave fou nd the smal l dog m uc h preferabl e
to th e one O f large siz e
A smal l dog can
readily be pu t i n one s gam e bag and carried u p
near th e gam e one i s to start
H e i s l ighter
and takes u p less room i n a can oe , the bones and
scraps of th e c am p are su fc ient for h is sup
port , h e w il l ru n i n and n ip at th e heel s of a
m oose or deer and ge t ou t O f th e w ay and repeat
h i s barkin g, w h il e a bi g dog w oul d be g e tting
i nto trouble and endangering h is li fe
I have often carri ed my h unting dog i n m y
game bag u p a m ou ntain and only slipped h im
w hen th e m oose h ad j um ped h i s bed
The d og
being fres h he v ery soon had th e m oos e a t a
standstill
I n hu nting bear the sm al l dog h as
the d iscretion to keep ou t O f h i s reach and be
c ontented w ith barkin g and ru nnin g h im
around W hereas th e b igger do g s ar e f e arl e ss
.

D EN

EARS

2 69

and ru n i n on th e quarry general ly w ith fata l

results to them s e lves , for there i s no m odern
pu g ilist qu i c ker w ith h i s sts than a bear w ith
his pa w , and let the bear get bu t one good w hack
at a do g and t h a t do g i s n o b e tter th e r e after
th a n a d e ad d o g
.

C H A PT E R XXX V I I
TH E M

I S H AP S

OF B A

L S ON

the m any young apprent i c e o fcers

w ho have been u nder my orders i n th e Hudson s
B ay C om pa ny , none w a s s o conspicuou sly u n
fortu nate as R a l s on H is bu ngli ng i nto trou
ble becam e s o frequent th at i t go t to be a b y
w ord amongs t the other clerks a nd employes

and a t l ast they c a me to m e and sa id

M r Hu n
ter , you ough t really t o forbi d R a l s on s goi ng
outside the stockade s u nless som e one i s a long

to take care of h im
F or th e short w h ile h e w a s i n our servi ce
( three years ) he had , a s far as I kno w , the rec
o r d for varied m ishaps
These w ere O f s o f r e
quent occurre nce that a t th e end of h is contra ct
h e w a s all o w ed t o leave and , by my advi ce , he
returned to h i s people i n E ngla nd G ood lu ck
a ppeared to go ha nd i n hand w i th hi s mi s
adventures , for someh o w h e came ou t al ive still ,
to s ay the lea st the u ncerta inty every t im e h e
l eft the post a s to w hether h e w ould return kept
one s nerves forever on t h e ragged edge a nd not
w ith sta n din g, h e qu ickly b e cam e an ad ep t at
A m ong

2 70

HE

M I S H A P S OF B A L S O N

2 71

most w ork c onnected w ith the service I w a s

glad t o s ee h im l eave the service because being
u nder my orders a nd not yet to ma n s estate , I
considered myself i n a great mea sure responsi
ble for h is safety
I cal l to m emory h is having almost cu t off
the index nger o f h i s l eft hand , putting the
axe right thru the knuckle j o int Th is bled
profusely and h e w a s on the sick li st for a lon g
w h ile I th ink th e next a cc ident ver y sh ortly
after h i s hand hea led w a s to put th e corner O f
h is axe i nto the c ap o f h is knee Thi s w a s m ore
seriou s than the other and too k w eeks t o get
w ell
O n the w h ole h e w a s very fortu nate not
to have a s t i leg for th e rema inder of h is l i fe
A nother ti me he u ndertook to look for a m an
w ho w a s over due at the post a nd w a s exp e cted
to come by a trai l near the l ake shore Thi s
w a s a case of the b iter being bitten , for the man
turned up al l righ t and had t o j oin a party to
hunt B alson A s he told u s after w ards he
though t to improve on the trail by cutti ng
c urves D usk com ing on h e be came hopelessly
l ost h im sel f , neither bei ng able to nd th e trai l
nor h is w ay ou t of the forest Th e search party
only fou nd h im the fol l o w ing a fternoon tat
A
t er ed , hu ngry and general ly w oe begone
pictu re of h im taken a s h e entered the squ ar e
that day w ould have been i n t e restin g
.

C ANAD I AN WIL D S

2 72

Th e

ch ance s a re that h e m igh t never h ave

been fou nd a nd thu s have perish ed , had a qu iet
ing effect on h i m for some days but the O ld rest
lessness got h old of h im a gai n and he had to be
a w ay hu nti ng u p fresh troub le Thi s tim e he
had a com panion and they Went i n a canoe to
hu nt ducks
H is c om pani on ( a h alf breed ) de
barked on the river bank t o cra w l u p to som e
b irds a nd pla ced a n i nj unct ion on R a l s on t o r e
ma in quietly seated i n the canoe hen the
ha lf breed returned t o the river bank i t w a s to
nd th e ca noe upset a nd R a l s on S itting on the
shore drippi ng w e t O n comparing notes it
w a s fou nd a rie I ha d lent h im w a s at that pre
c ise m om ent a t the bottom of th e river i n abou t
ten feet O f w ater
I t w ould never do t o return to th e post a nd
report thi s mi sha p a nd the loss O f the gu n so
R a l s on u ndressed a nd bega n t o dive for its r e
R obert the m an t old me w hen de
c ov e r y
scribi ng the a dventure , tha t he never lau ghed
SO m uch i n h is li fe a s w hen sitting on the bank
and w atch ing R a l son making desperate a nd r e
e
orts
t
o
recover
the
w
eapon
H
e
w
a
s
ea
e
ff
t
d
p
nal ly su ccess ful a nd exacted a cast iron prom
i s e from R obert not to i nform the people at the
post A promi se w h i ch R obert prom ptly broke
A n accident , h o w ever w h ich al most cost h im
hi s l ife , al th o after he w as safe at the post ,
,

'

'

TH E

M I S H A P S 0 F BA L S O N

2 73

c aused u s considerabl e merriment , c am e about

i n thi s w ay a nd I expect he w i l l remember i t
a s l ong a s he lives i f yet al ive W e w ere send
i ng a n express canoe from the post to th e near
e s t p oin t on the frontier t o ma i l dispatches to
headquarters Th e distance is about fty m iles
over lakes , rivers a nd portages Th e u sual t ime
for such a tri p w a s three days for the rou nd
trip B alson begged t o a c company th e men ,
partly for a n outing and partly t o see the fron
tier v illage O f L u q u e vi l l e
The ir route lay thru a ch ain of smal l l akes
o n w h ich I had a couple of bear traps set T o
save m e a trip to v isit these traps I told R obert ,
th e gu ide , t o ki l l any bea r h e fou nd caugh t and
reset the traps , cach e the mea t and ski n and
bring i t w ith them o n their retu rn j ourn e y
These i nstructions w ere simpl e enough a nd I
w a s not anxi ou s abou t R a l s on B al son , h o w
ever , ch anged al l these plan s for , w hen they
rea ch ed th e rst trap i n w h i ch they found a
bear cau gh t a nd R obert had ki lled it , R al
s on
proposed he shoul d stay beh i nd , skin
a nd cu t u p th e meat and vi sit the second trap
w h ich w a s a S h ort distance O ff the ca noe route,
a nd then he w a s to c ome h ome on foot by skirt
i ng the lakes a l ong a sometimes used trail , tak
ing the skin w ith h im
,

18

2 74

C ANAD I AN WIL D S

R obert though t this plan a good one as i t

w ou ld expedite m atters for he and h i s compau
ion t o m ake a qu ick trip W hen , ho w e v er , h e
got bac k to the place after a n absenc e of about
forty hours and fou nd the ski n and meat lying
w here h e h ad left them a nd n o sign of R a l s on,
he w as qu ick to u nderstand that someth ing h ad
happened W hat th at someth ing w as h o w ever ,
he w as a t a l oss to settle i n h is m ind A l l at
once , w h ile standi ng there consideri ng, the
thou gh t struck h im th at possibly B alson w as
c augh t i n th e other trap
S uch th ings had h ap
pened to men accu stomed to trapping and h o w
muc h m ore l ikely t o a c areless fello w l ike the
m iss ing man
G iving expression to h is though t R obert and
h i s com panion both hu rried off to w ards the
other trap , w h i ch w as about a m ile u p the creek
W hen they came to a soft pl ac e on the trail and
e
s aw onl y the footprints o f a m an goi ng and no n
return ing R obert w as convinced the poor fel
lo w w a s i n th e trap , w hether al ive or dead they
refrai ned from contem plating W h at a sight
met thei r gaze w hen com ing i n sigh t of the bear
pen " There w as poor B al son lyi ng p rone on
hi s back m otionless and to al l appearances
dead th e great , heavy m ass of metal fast to h is
leg and h is pocket kni fe w i th broken bl ade lyi ng
near at h and , evidently thro w n there as u seless
.

THE M I S HA PS or RAL soN

2 75

They sa w h o w he ha d h acked a t th e stron g b i rc h

drag to w h ich the ch ai n w a s fastened u nti l h is
knife becam e useless and th e n given u p i n d e
spai r
B a lson u pon e x ami nati on , w as found t o b e
yet al ive bu t u nconsciou s a nd c overed w ith blu e
ies , h i s h ands and face w ere s w ollen from the
m osqu ito po ison and c overed w ith dirt h e h ad
scratched w hi le tryi ng to d ig f or w ater He
look ed a frightful and pit iful O bj ect L u ckily
the men w ho had fou nd h im w ere qu ick t o th ink
and i n a remarkably sh ort spa ce of time t h ey
had th e leg freed from its iron clasp O ne ra n
for a panniki n of cold w ater w h il e th e other
t w isted a piec e O f b irch bark i nto the sh ape of
a horn , w i th the smal l end O pen j u st enough t o
a llo w th e w ater to tri c kl e thru gently i nto h i s
throat
N ex t th e y b athed and w ash ed hi s fa c e a n d
h a n ds and sh ortly h ad th e satisfacti on of s e e i n g
him O pen h is eyes R obert no w h el d up h i s
head a nd placed th e remaini ng w ater i n th e
pannikin to h i s l ips Th is he m anaged to d r i nk
and blessed , blessed w ater , i t revived h i m c om
The other ma n w a s th en sent ba c k to
p l ete l y
the c anoe for th e tea kettle and pro v i sions ,
R obert starting a re during h i s absen c e Tea
and partridge broth made and admini stered i n
smal l qu antit i es a t rst hel ped h im to re ga i n
.

2 76

C ANA D I AN WI LD S

h i s str en gth
H is youth fu l v ital ity soo n as
s er t e d i tself a nd after h e w a s propped up and
made com fortabl e h e m anaged to feed h imself
w ith som e O f the S hredded meat
A fter partaki n g of th is food and drink th e
boot w a s cu t off , th e poor s w ol len foot bathed
and bou nd u p a nd then they carried h im on an
improvised stretcher v ery carefully and ten
d e r l y ou t to the canoe
E xcepting t w o sh or t
portages i t w a s a l l w ater w ay t o th e post a t
w h ich pl ace they arrived j ust at dusk
S ouder ,
ou r cook , w hen he s a w them helping R a l s on ou t

O f the canoe said , M ein G ot t I V i ch end of R al

"
"
s on i s sick di s time
C a n t you tol e m e eh
and i t w as pretty h ard to tel l from h is limp a p
.

p ea r anc e
A fter

h e h ad recovered su fciently to be
question e d a s to h o w h e go t i nto th e trap he
said h e had reached i nto the bac k of th e h ou s e
to a fx the ba it and forgot th e trap and stepped
into i t
The meat th at he had cu t u p w as , of
Cours e, spoiled , but the ski n after being w a shed
and scraped , proved t o h ave su stained no
dam age
R a l s on h ad no further m ishaps i n th i s c ou n
try for w hen h i s foot w a s healed he took h is dis
charge a nd returned to a w ell O ff m other i n
L ondon w ho could a ff ord to h ave a keeper to
c ar e f or h im i f s o i n c l ined Th is h a pp e ne d
.

THE M I S H A P S or BA L S ON

2 77

y e ars ago a nd as I ne ve r heard from h im h e m ay

h a v e j oi ned th e E ngl ish Y eom anry and g o n e to
S outh A fric a and been killed on the ri ng l i ne
I f s o, hi s m isha p s ar e nished and s o i s m y
s tory
.

mp

I nte r e

N a tu

et 0

r al

an

g I n f o r m a tio n f o r
W h a t t o Ta k e a n d

stin

re

By E

ll Love

W hat

rs o

to D

f
o

KREP S

his b oo k one o f th e mo t practica l w r k s on wo dc a f t

ver ritten w b rought out to l l a vacancy i n outdoor
Th ere are nu m erous works
t
ait
on th i s sub j ect but t hey were written
f or the sports m n and the c ity camper
therefore the in formation given in
them i s not o f val ue to t h practical
outdoor man C A M P A N D T RA I L
M ETH O D S is i ntended for woods
me n country p eople moun t in men
pros p ectors trap p ers and the hardy
outdoor people in ge neral each and
e very one of wh om the author i
proud to cal l a brot h er for he i s
one o f their k ind T them th i s
work wi ll not only be interes t ing but
als b valua b l e as it gives in forma
t ion wh ich cannot be obtained else
where B ook ont i ns 2 74 pages and
There a re 1 9
hap
68 ill ustrations
te rs as follo s
X C anoes n d H unt in g
P l easu re an d P ro fi ts
of C am p ing
nd
XI
S nows h oes
the i r
S electing a C am p O t
X I I S nowsh oe M k ing
III
C 1 t h n g f or t h
X I I I S kis Tob ggans and
W g
d
1 d
8
l
Pa k
P a c k
S tr ps
nd
\
I
V
g
Ca m p
and P ack B
S k
k ets
C ok ing U t e n s i l s
l i g L i gh t
X
V
I
v
and B d d m g
d
Tann ing
F urs
a
n
d
XV I I
F i rear m s
B uckskin s
V I I H unt i ng I\
and
v i n g G am
P
A xes
F ish and H i des
V II I Tents and S helters
X I X M iscellaneous S gg
I X P e manent C mps
Th boo k is ttractive l y b ound i n c l ot h and pri nted on nice
si e 5 7 inches
p p
T

as

e r a u re

'

ra i

ac

r ow s no ns

s_

'

er,

es

i p
HA RD I NG
Pr

A R

r e S e r

ce

o s t p ai d ,

75 N

l th
o

B o u nd , 6 0 C e n ts

O hi o A v e nu e , C ol u m b u s , O h io

F U R B U Y ER S

t s

G UID E

s
s ab ut Buyi ng llandllu and Gading Fus In luding Sl C lo unlit"
as w ll as li n W
hn n
d Wh n ta Si ll
Th
cha p ter headings gi ve a very good idea o f th is va l uab l e boo k
yet to further ex p lain take the cha p ter on M ink ( X I I I ) l l goe s
into detail as f ollows S i es of S tretch i ng B o rd s ; S ha pe of C ured
S k i ns ; S hades of C olor and D egrees of P r i me
ne s ; S elling at H ome ; P repa i ng and S h ip
ping to M arket Each of the fur an i ma ls are
d escribed much the same as mink
T h var i ous
shades o f black i lver and cross fox are de
scr i bed and illust ated as l l as the mark
ings on skunk shown and p h of the four
grade s i llustra ted d full y de sc ri bed \
V
l
( erm ine ) are sh own in the wh i ne stage also
when tur i ng Racco n m uskrat o p ossu m
red and g rey foxes wolves otter beaver bear
badger mart en lynx fi sh r wi ld cat ive
h ou e leat are all illustrated and fully
sc r bed as well
a cha p ter on S hee p P el ts
B ee f H ides and D e er S ki ns and another on
G i se ng and G lden S ea l
M uch attent i on i s gi ve n to G RA D E
C O L O R Q U A L I TY as we ll as si es
LA RG E
M ED I U M S M A L L
M ore than 1 60 illustra
tions are use d sh owing raw furs from all
parts o f N ort h A merica with measurements
and g a d e I t a l so tell s
to B U Y and \
VH EN and
V H ER E \
H O W to S EL L
Th i s in formation i s of muc h value to all wheth er
trap p er who sells a few skins on y or buyer collector dealer
T h is val uable book conta i ns T hirty
ch a p ters as follows
X X I B eaver and H
I
and T m e F urs
to
G
rade
11 S i e
X X I I B earsB lack G ri ly P
C olor Q uality
1 1 1 M ethods of G rading
lar and H to G rade
I V Th
I n pe tion Room
X X I I I M arten and H to G rade
T rappers
\
Vhy
at X X I V F isher and H to G rade
S el l
H ome
X X V L ynx and H to G rade
V I B uyers and C ollectors
X X V I W il d C t or B y L ynx
V I I B uying and S ell i ng
and H to G rade
V I II S pec ulation
X X V I I C at H ouse and R ing
Tail a nd H
I X P ices of L ong A g
to G rade
X M is ellaneous I n formation XX V I I I Badger and H to G ra d e
V l
i
X I F oxes
XXIX \
to G rade
B lack S ilver
H
to G rade
X XX
W ease l
C ross and H
( erm ine )
R d
G ray Kitt or
and H to G rade
X I I F oxes
to G ra d e X XX I S O tter H to G rade
S wift and H
X I I I M in k and
to
G
rade
X
XX
H
I I M ountai n L i o n a nd H
X I V M uskrat H to G ade
to G rade
X V S kun k and H to G rade XX X I I I S eal F and H rand
X V I C i et C tH to G rade
H
to G rade
d
X V II Racco n an
d
H
t G
X
XX
I V P elts
H ides
S kins a nd
X V I I I O po sum H
to G rade
to
G
rade
H
\
V olves and C oyotes nd X XX V Ro tsG
ins ng and G ol d
H
to G rade
en S ea l H t C l assi fy
X X O tter and H to G rade
I f you handle R F u rs H ide P e l ts or Roots it wi ll b to your
advantage ( cash in your p ocket ) to ord r at once for F U R B U Y E R S
G U I D E contai n s man y v l uable su g gestions l m d from long
that th e other fellow may get on t o be fore you so bette r
i
p
se nd today This b ok ighs n ea rly 2 p unds con tain s 370 pages
Conain Com
leu Intruction
n

o r.

za.

'

l lC l

we

ea

an

ca t,

e a se

de

as

ve

ow

zz

ow

ow

ow

o,

ow

ow

ow

ra

ow

ow

ow

ur

ai

ow

ow

ow

ow

ow

ow

ea

ow

ow

ow

ow

ow

o v e r ne

ow

ow

ow

ow

aw

s,

r ne

e r e nc e ,

cyt

we

HARDI NG S
Pleasure Prof it
BOOKS
I APPING
SCIENCEOFT
50
fil l HRNINS
HUNTING006$

S
TNS HNCIE
fER
ilE
WAPPIN E
G
NINNI NAPPI N
S
ll El llfl l lS I SNI RE
Will i covert I NAPPING
STEELHI PS
O:
UNI CREISlNE5 PR
PECI ING
T
HUBS
All NE
U MP
INE
SCIENCI 0FFISH
t MllANWILDS
S
A ll 0NI ll Ski l l LI NE
EI NE
HNSENB I NDOI H
S
BlClNl l PLANT
H YEARS I HUNTER
I NDI MPFEN
TH
EBINBOA PRME
IONS I ND
3891 UfST

80

80
60

"

"

"" "

88

80

"I "

mrs mi CBNTENTS

ks

l oo

s
m l
a

vary row ns 4 09 p ag e
writtu
T
he e books have h
rfro Ion:
ora

ss m