Evening journal., 1899-11-13
THE TRADE IN FURS
HARD LIFE OF THE HUNTERS OF THE
NORTH.

NUN n.
But the Element of Danger and Ex-
element is Ever Present - An
Average Days Journey in the
Woods-Hunting Big Game.
The quantity and value of the furs,
which an Indian may secure as the re-
suit Of his spring hunt varies greatly,
OF course, but In good year from
5000 TO $500 may be taken as a fair
average. lie may have eight or ten
bears, dozen beavers, for or i've OF.
ters, a number OF lynxes, martens and
mlnks, and several hundred musuuash
or muskrats. When all the hunters
have come In the furs are pressed into
packs OF a hundred pounds each and
sent in York boats 20 the frontier trails,
over whaich they are carted 10 the
nearest railway station TO be shipped
60 London, England, where they are
carefully sorted and afterwards sud at
the two great annual sales Of the com
pany IN January and March, which are
attended by buyers from all parts of
the world.
In the hard life Of the voyageur there
are ever present the elements OF danger
and excitement. with the first glance
Of dawn the guide shouts his warning
"Level Lever and the men spring from
their blankets, pack their camp outfit
into the boats and are on Six oars TO
boat, one TO man, besides q
"sweep' in the hands OF both bow and
steersman. The oars are large and
heavy, and the rowers rise TO their feet
md sink back with precision upon their
seats with each long stroke. At s
o'clock they put ashore for breakfast.
and about noon another halt is made;
then they go on until night falls. when
they stop for the day eat their SUP.
per and lay themselves on the ground
for a few hours rest / have been told
hy voyageurs that they have been so
tired at night thnt they were unable
To eat, aud have flung themselves down
on the nearest level spot. without so
much as removing their coats Orsnatch-
ing "a blanket, ana slept the sleep Of
dead wearincss until aroused at day.
break by tile cry of the guide.
Fifteen or twenty miles Is perhaps an
average days Journey; much depends
upon the water. In some places rapids
and portages occur with cxasncrating
frequency: in others the stream Is
broad aud deep and there Is little
current Again. In crossing q lake.
with q favorable wind. sail may be
made and the rowefs have q welcome
rest: while in breasting n rapid around
which It Is unnecessary or impossible to
portage tracking Is resorted To A
long line Is attached TO the how Of
the boat and the men disembark. leav.
ing only the steersman to keep her
nose of shore or on rocks ln the
stream. while the men, far ahead on
the bank haul her up against the tor
rent Accidents are common A l.ioch
Of overhanging Zee four or FIVE feet
thick. left by the spring flood, may fal
upon man rs he passes beneath II ant
crush out his life; n sudden access OF
force In the current as the boat rounds
n bend may jerk the men from thel
feet and into the river and some MAJ
not get out again. Or the boat ma,
drift upon n rock. smash II TO atom
and the cargo and men In her be lost.
But pOrtaging IS the hardest wOrl
which comes to the voyageur. fol
osmetimes it Is necessary 20 drag tn,
heavy boat and then carry her load
Of four or FIVE tons over n rough. rocky
point a mile in width. A portage straI
Is fastened to one "plece" Of about on,
hundred pounds: another piece. per
haps two. are placed upon this. ant
with the strap against his forehead
with bare legs and shOelcss feet mar
after man tolls across the portage. unti
The narrow path beneath Is soft ant
damp with human sweat They are
glad when the last piece Is over TIT
clumsy oars seem light when they picl
them mp again.
3 In former times buffalo pemmicaI
constituted the chief food Of the voy
Iageur: now dried moose and earibol
meat have taken its place. Fhcn tei
md flour were luxuries enjoyed bu
once a year. at Christmas now fnel
form part Of his daily ration.
Hunting Is the main recreation Of tn
majority Of the officers and clerks. TIT
staff at a post often 20 Off and hunt fo
n week. and q hundred or more gees
and double that number Of ducks Loaf
the boats on the return. The piarml
gan-hrOwn in summer and white II
winters n good game bird. and II
some localities plnnated grouse o
prairie chickens are very numerous
0ur ubiquitous little i>iend the part
ridge. too. Is nowhere more frcqIcntl
"at home" 20 the hunter than here, an
he is often such a stranger 10 the gull
NJ man that an Indian will walk WI
10 the tree upon which he Is sitiin
and sliD the moose that he has fixed {
the end Of a pole over his head Afte
the first snow I'm the fall rabbit shooi
Ing is good sport. and in seasons whe
they are plentiful fifty or sixty t0 th
, credit Of n single huntsman In an al
ternoon Is not an uncommon score
Then there is the large game. surh a
( moose and deer. while now and then
stupid bear pokes his nose in daneerou
. proximity to the fort the stan turn
I ont and he is shot for his fatal inQuls
Z tiveness.
r At one OF The posts where I was sti
TONED we kept q moose FOR two voar
} she was taken when very young by n
Indian. who killed her mother an
drought the calf In his canoe 10 N
fort. She was quite tame. and in m
second winter we broke her 10 harnes