The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-01-17
Dogs and Dog.SIedges of the North.

We take the following description of
dogs and dog-sledges, used in the far
North, from the letter of Winnepeg
(Manitoba) correspondent to the New
York Evening POST But here comes
the winter vehicle of the North. The
Hudson's Bay dog-sledge consists of a
board, usually not more than half an
inch thick, twenty to twenty.four inches
wide, ten feet long, and turned up at the
front end two and half feet. on which
is built a box of very light wooden
framework, so covered with parchment
or dressed skins as to resemble the front
of a shoe. A sufficient space is left behind
behind for the travellers baggage, or upon
which the driver may occasionally stand
when tired of running. Generally speak
ing, such passenger sledges are attended
by two drivers, one going before the
dogs to guide them, the other following
the sledge to steady it and keep it from
upsetting. The freight dog-sledge is
simply two thin oak or brentwood boards
lashed together with deer-skin thongs;
turned up slightly in front, like a Nor
wegian snowshoe, il runs over hard
| snow or ice with great ease; its length is
about nine feet, its breadth sixteen
inches. Along the outer edges runs a
leather lashing, through the loops of
which long leather line is passed to
hold in place whatever may be put upon
it. From the front, close to the turned
up part, the traces for draught ere at
tached.
Dogs in the North are harnessed in n
number of ways. The Bsquimaux run
their dogs abreast. On the coast of
Hudson's Bay they are harnessed by
many separate lines into band or pack ;
while in Manitoba and the Saskatchewan
they are driven tandem. The number
constituting train is generally four,
though three and even two are used.
The train of dogs are attached to the
sledge by means of two long traces, be-
tween which the animals stand in line,
the head of one dog being about foot
behind the tail of the dog in front of
him. Each one is fastened to the traces
by round collar of moose-skin, which
slips over the head and ears, and rests
upon the swell of the neclv This collar
buckles on each side of the traces,
which are kept in position by back
band of leather, buckled under the dogs
ribs or stomach. The back band is gen
orally decorated with little bells, as is
also the collar, and many ribbons, porcu-
pine quilts, fox tails and beads upon it,
Great care is taken in turning out q
train OF dogs in good style. Beads, bells
and embroidery are freely used to be-
dizen the poor brutes. A most comical
effect is produced by this finery placed
on the person of a dog new to the har-
ness, when he is invariably the picture
Of fear; and the ludicrous effect is in
tensified when the victim happens to be
young in years, and still retains the
peculiar expression of puppyhood. 1t
is safe to assert that, in the North, the
whole canine race haul sledge during
the winter months. There is no excep-
tion OF age, sex or condition; from the
miserable mongrel to the thoroughbred
Esquimaux, all are destined to howl
under the drivers lash, to tug wildly at
the moose, skin collar, to haul until they
can haul no more, and then to die.