The log cabin Democrat., 1909-11-08

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 has immortaliZed ir
 lie Hudson river it is interesting tC remember that Canada, too, has a permanent monument to his memory
 Il the shape of Hudson's Bay, the Nice "a of the furhunter. The geographi cal position of Canada causes it, to gether with Siberia, to be the chief producing country in the world 'or the wild beasts there are endowed Oy nature with the richest furs as pro- .ection against the extreme cold. and Hudson's Bay is the true center of the ,ur hunting-grounds, whence the hunt ITS start, and whither they return with their precious spells. We shall see in his article what immense resources are necessary, both in men and ma .erial, and what dangers and hard ships have to be undergone to obtain :hese furs, the high price of which is thus naturally explained.
 During the long winter months Hud with the open sea by the long Hudson Strait to the north of Labrador, is cut off from the world; for this reason Revillon Freres have created towards .he most central part of the bay, in the Strutton islands, vast depot, where two steamers of their fleet bring huge quantities of every descrip ton of stores at the beginning of each summer, making their way through the drift-ice from Mon treal to James Bay, and, arrived there rapidly unloading their cargo. Once their spacious holds are emptied, they are reloaded with the precious furs brought from all the posts dotted along the bay, and commence theil return voyage to Montreal before the ice closes the only maritime route.
 The grand depot at James Bay com municates with the posts by small steamships, such as the Vlolette and the steam schooner PourvOyeuse whilst sailing barges of about ten tons are attached to the various posts, af fording a means of communication along the coasts or up the rivers tC the secondary posts and outposts The chief posts are called base posts. and here are concentrated all the provis ions for the ordinary posts, all their accounts and their collections of skins feathers, oils, walrus teeth (vory) etc. The ordinary posts, installed further inland, serve as go-betweens for the base posts, and the outposts, or flying posts, opened temporarily under the direction of a half-breed or an Indian, establish direct contact with the hunters and trappers.
 The European agents, located at the base posts or in the ordinary posts, usually remain for three years in the solitudes. The climate is healthy, al though very severe in the winter. and sickness is rare. Under the orders of this staff are numerous auxiliaries, either Canadians (the old wood-ran- gers) or natives, half-breeds, Indians and Eskimos.
 The ranger is gradually disappear ing. this wandering, exciting and en- tirely independent life, with its per petual struggle against the elements, wild beasts and men, no longer tempt ing the bolder and more adventurous spirits. They are succeeded by their children, however, who are half breeds, and are more intelligent than the Indians. These are usefully em- ployed in the posts, or even take charge occasionally of an outpost, Up to the fiftieth degree of latitude north that is to say, the southern limit of Hudson's Bay-an abundant supply of furs is brought to the posts by the Indians. They are cunning hunters, but unfortunately, often lazy, and suffer much from the ravages of con sumption, to which their degenerate frames oppose but poor resistance.
 The game, of course. varies, as the Indian either hunts the woods on foot or the rivers in the canoe; the sable. mink, ermine, fisher, red and silver fox, lynx. wolf, beaver. mus ouash. otter, bear. wolverine, elk and muskox give him plenty of opportuni- ties of doing business with the posts.
 The Eskimos are extremely brave and hardy, sharp at business, and. above all, excellent sailors. They de rive great assistance on the vast plains of snow from their dogs. at tached to the sledges, which they use for transport purposes. At the head of each team is the pilot dog, an excel lent animal with keen scent. who leads the caravan, acts as a guide. and ayiods crevaSses and bad places They are fed on fish. are large in size, and have long, thick hair, and pass their nights bowling or fighting amongst