Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-07-01
The Western Fur Trade.

An AtchisOn letter gives some inter-
esting particulars about the fur trade
among the Indians on the Upper Mis-
souri, - a. ELL <-t Sc
The animals most sought after are
the otter, buffalo, wolf, elk, bear, fox,
deer, and coon. Mink is sometimes
taken by the white trapper, but it is
considered too small game by the
Indians. The buffalo are killed mostly
by the bow and arrow, vs this method
is not only less expensive than killing
with firearms, but the arrows can be
recovered and used again. A large
herd is surrounded, sometimes scatter
ed over an area comprising several
miles in extent, and gradually driven
in together. And here is exhibited
piece of strategy thoroughly Indian.
The stragglers on the outskirts of the
herd are shot in the liver, and will
bleed to death in going a few miles.
The hunters continue driving them in,
and the carcasses at the close of
the slaughter are not scattered
over as great an extent of ground as
they would be if shot instantly dead.
When the circle is well closed in, the
hunters begin shooting at the heart.
The ponies are all trained, and will not
enter the heard, but keep the outside,
although the hunter does not draw
rein after reaching the killing ground.
Wolves are secured by poison in the
following manner Aquarter Of buffalo
is either dragged or taken in a wagon
to the locality where the wolves mostly
congregate. At distance of about
forty rods apart stakes are stuck in the
ground; on top of these the meat is i'm
paled, having previously been poisoned
with strychnine. The wolves strike the
trail and follow it up, taking the pieces
as they 60. The next morning the
hunters go along the line and skin the
dead animals. They stretch the skins
over stakes, with the inside up, and let
them dry. No salt or anything else is
to be put on them Sometimes seventy
or eighty wolves are killed with single
quarter of meat. One-eighth of an
ounce of strychnine is sufficient to kill
many wolves. The otter and beaver
are trapped, various kinds of drugs
being used for bait A few silver gray
foxes have been captured, but they are
very scarce. The skins of these ami
mails are very valuable, bringing from
$50 to $75 each. When taken they are
invariably sent to Europe, where they
are used only by the wealthiest people.
The Indians use the brains of the ami
NAL to tan the skin with. After stretch
ing it over stakes or frames, as above
stated, they rub on the brains, mixed
with juices obtained from certain roots
and plants. The skins are then scraped
with hoes, or other instruments of that
nature. The brains are said to draw
out the grease. After drying, the hides
are tinted and ornamented. The paint
used is the very best quality of Chinese
vermillion and chrome yellow and
green. There is a popular idea that
some of the buffalo robes which we
find in market are tanned by white
men after being brought into the states,
but such is not the case. Many whites
have attempted it but failed, and the
Indians seem to be the only people
possessed of the knowledge which en-
able thom to impart softness and
pleasant surface to the buffalo robe,
which is not found on any other skin.