The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-01-18
The Western Fur Trade.

Probably there is no business carried on
in this country of the details of which so
little is known by people generally as the
fur and robe trade among the Sioux
Indians of Montana and Dakota, The
folio wing facts in relation to the trade have
been obtained from the old hunters and
trappers who have spent the greater por-
tion of their lives 10 the country adjacent
to the Upper Missouri.
The season in which furs and peltries are
secured extends from October to February.
After that time the shedding of the coat
commences, the hair fades, and the skin bo-
comes worthless. The animals most
sought after are otter, buffalo, wolf, elk :,
bear, fox, deer, and coon. Mink is some
times taken by the white trappers but it
is considered too small game by the In
dian. The buffalo are killed mostly with
only less expensive than killing with fire.
arms, but the arrows can be recovered, and
used again. A large herd is surrounded,
sometimes scattered over an area compris-
ing 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 few miles. The hunters continue
driving them in, and the csrcasses at the
close of the slaughter are consequently not
scattered over as great an extent of ground
as they would be if shot instantly dead.
When the circle is we'll closed in the hun
ters begin shooting at the heart. The
ponies are all trained, and will not enter
the hunter does not draw rein after
reaching the killing ground. Wolves are
secured by poison in the following manner:
A quarter of buffalo is either dragged or
taken in q wagon to the locality where tho
wolves most do congregate, At distance
of about forty rods apart stakes are stuck
in the ground; on the top of each piece
Of meat is impaled, having previously been
poisoned with strychnine. The wolves
strike the trail and follow it up, taking the
pieces as they go. Next morning the hun
ters go along the line and skin the dead
animals. They stretch the skins over
stakes, with the inside up, and let them
them. Sometimes seventy OF eighty
wolves are killed with single quarter of
meat. One eighth of an ounce of strych-
nine is sufficient to kill five wolves.
The otter and beaver are trapped, vari-
Gus kinds of drugs being used for bait. A
few silver gray foxes have been captured,
but they are very scarce. The skins of
these animals are very valuable, bringing
from $50 to SIS 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 animal
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 hidea are painted and
ornamented. The paint used in the very
finest quality of Chinese vermillion and
chrome yellow and green. There is q
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 who
are possessed of the knowledge which ena-
bIes them to imparr a softness and pleasant
sufface to the buffalo robe which is not
found on any other skin.
As soon as the hunting season is over
the Indians put the hides and furs on poles,
which are dragged by ponies, sometimes
300 miles, to the nearest trading post. The
whole band generally comes in with them.
At the trading posts are opposition run
uers, acting in behalf, respectively, of the
two great companies of that country.
These runners keep on the watch, and as
soon as band comes in sight they mount