Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-11-08
TRAPS AND TRAPPERs.
FuR-HUNTINo IN THE NORTH.
A Dangerous Life Of Solitude Passed Amid
xsow aud Iee-The Habit. or the Beaver
ana Ssiser-Gras Fox.


xsow aud Iee-The HABITS or the Beaver
asa ssiyer-Gras Fox.
lFfom the San Francisco CALL
With its multitude Of lakes, its nu-
merous noble streams. its gigantic
forest stretches, and its stupendous
mountain ranges, British North America
presents an unrivallcd field for the pur-
suits Of the sportsman but so little is
this country known, and so disagreeable
is its reputation, that its inhabitants,
with the exception of those in two little
corners, consist mainly Of some wild
half-breeds, a few whites, and hume.
rous Indians, who for the most part
are engaged in hunting the fur
bearing animals, for which this region
has so long been noted. British North
America to-day supplies most Of the
fur worn by the grand ladies Of the
great world, supplies most Of the skin
which is used for trunk-covers, also
buggy-robes, and handsome rugs so
prominently seen in the houses of the
wealthy. II is from this vast unknown
region that the Hudson-Bay Company
derives its wealth, and whose mer-
chants governed not long since with
power which even Russian autocrat
would have envied. 1t is to the man
through whom the fur kings Of Eng
land made their money that we call the
readers attention.
There are at present in this city some
gentlemen who themselves have trapped
in this country for pleasure, and whose
desire for the novel in travel induced
them TO spend some months in the trap
ping localities Of British North
America, and it is from one Of these,
whose store of information regarding
fur animals and trappers is replete, that
a Call reporter based the following ar
ticle:
The trapper, said he, has long been
imbued with savage dignity, and his
surroundings have been made as poeti-
cal as the genius Of the author per-
mitted him. But it is far from being
the case. have lived much with them.
slept under the same roof, and eaten Of
the same food, and all that can say
is that the closer the contact the more
unlovable did realize was their life,
and, personally, how unlovable hu-
man being can become when isolated
from the refining influences OF civiliEa-
ton. They, for the most part, have Sc
lected as their helpmeets squaws, and
though you would at first imagine that
the white men would attempt to elevate
these native women to their own level,
still with the trappers it is the oppo-
site. The men soon sink to the level Of
the Indian. They never abuse their
wives, but treat them with every con-
sideration and kindness, and these
unions are fraught with shining in
stances of love and devotion on each
side. You can hardly blame the poor
trapper for this marriage. His life
is, perhaps, the most desolate one
led by white men. Away from
civilization, away from friends and
neighbors, he pursues his danger
Gus calling in midwinter, through
banks of snow, amid storms of wind
and rain. exposed ever to the fury Of
the elements and to the savage attacks
of wild beasts. A trapper, to be sue
cessful, must necessarily be isolated
from his neighbors, for there are none
other in the remote interior but those
who follow the same vocation, and so,
if man wishes to insure a profitable
winter, he travels entirely alone. His
traps often extend over a run of seventy
five to one hundred miles long, and
these he visits in rotation as often as
he can.
VISITING HIS TRAPS.
His method Of procedure is as fol-
lows: Having selected range, he
builds hut in about as convenient
site as he can select, aud then lays his
traps, which branch out on either side
in the rayines of the numerous streams
with which that country is watered.
His headquarters is rather pretentious
shanty. 1t is built Of logs, and has a
fireplace in it made Of mud and stones.
This is actually his distributing point,
and this is where he stores his pro-
visions. Then following his range, he
builds, about a day's-journey distance
from each other, tiny bark shanties,
in which he leaves provisions, and
sleeps during the night. BY Septem-
Der every preparation is made for the
winters work; and early in October
commences his dreary campaign against
the producers. Long before the sun
is up, when the dim northern light is
to brighten the forest gloom,
the trapper starts from his headquar-
tiers. His outfit is but light, consisting
solely Of a blanket, for, should his
caches be full, he would have load
perhaps too heavy for him to carry.
Arriving at his first trap, he has to ex-
anime it, and, if bats be eaten, he again
rebaits it and sets it more carefully;
then the next may have game,
and if so, there is more rebait-
ing to be done, and the animal has to be
promptly skinned, as the process is
easier when the animal is warm. Hence,
all over his long course, stopping at
every quarter of a mile or so, his
tedious range is not covered till the
week has passed. Coming to his head
quarters, he deposits his furs thus taken
during the week, and again starts out
on his long and dismal journey. The
ranges Of each trapper are as much re-
spected as if he had purchased the ter
ritory outright, and also had posse of
armed men protecting his traps. They |
run no fear Of robbery, though they |
may be away from headquarters for a
week or ten days at time and the hut
be loaded to the roof with the most
furs.
1t is life of endless toll, endless trou-
BILE and vexation and danger, though |
It becomes so peculiarly fascinating
that there are some men who were in
The old Hudson-Bay Compsny's service
still trapping in the wilds Of British |
Columbia, having followed the business
for over forty or fifty years. Seasons
DO not always run alike, nor is the
market always the same. In some win