The Whitefish pilot. [volume] (Whitefish, Mont.) 1904-current, 1910-10-13

'She go see my sick broder," said
the Indian girl. recalling Cherry's
mention Of the child Ill with measles.
"She all the time give medicine to
Aleut babies." Chakawana continued.
"all the time give, give. give some
thing. Indian people love her."
They were still talking when they
heard the jingle of many BELLS and the
door burst open to admit Cherry, who
came with a rush of youth and health
us fresh as the bracing air that follow
I'd her. The cold had Redeemed her
cheeks and quickened her eyes,
Good morning, gentlemen!' she
cried. removing the white fur hood
which gave a setting to her sparkling
eyes and teeth. "Oh, but it's glori-
Gus morning! We did the FIVE miles
from the village in seventeen minutes"
"And how is your measly patient?"
asked Fraser.
He's doing well, thank YOU" She
stepped to the door to admit Chaka-
,wana, who had evidently hurried
around from the other house and now
came in, bareheaded and needless of
the cold bearing a bundle clasped to
her breast. II brought the little fell
low home with me. See!'
II dare say Kalvik is rather lively
during the summer season." Emerson
remarked to Cherry later in the day.
Yes; the ships arrive in May, and
the fish begin to run in July. After
that nobody sleeps" .
ut must be rather interesting"
ut is more than that; it is inspiring.
Why, the story of the salmon is an
epic in itself. You know they live a
cycle of four years, no more, always
returning to the waters of their nativ-
ity to die. And l have heard it said
that during one of those four years
they disappear, no one knows where,
reappearing out Of the mysterious
depths of the sea as if at signal
They come by the legion, in countless
scores OF thousands, and when once
they have tasted the waters of their
birth they never touch food again, new
err cease their onward rush until they
become bruised and battered wrecks,
drifting down from the spawning beds.
When the call of nature is answered
and the SPAWN is laid they die They
never seek the salt sea again, but car
pet the rivers with their bones. When
they feel the homing impulse they
come from the remotest depths, head
ing Nnerringly for the particular par
ent stream whence they originated If
sand bars should block their course in
dry seasons or obstacles intercept them
they will hurl themselves out of the
water In an endeavor to get across.
They may disregard thousand rivers
one by one. but when they finally taste
the sweet currents which flow from
their bfrthplaces their whole nature
changes. and even their physical fea-
lures alter. They grow thin, and the
head takes on the sinister curve of the
preying bird.
"Why. you just ought to witness the
run. These empty waters become
suddenly crowded. and the fish come
In great silver horde. which races up,
up. up toward death and obliteration.
They come with the violence of a sum-
mer storm: like prodigious. cleaning
army they swarm and bend forward,
eager. undertaking. one purposed. It's
quite impossible to describe it, this
great silver horde. They are entirely
defenseless. of course. and almost
every living thing preys upon them.
The birds congregate In millions, the
four footed beasts come down from
the hills. the Apaches Of the sea harry
them in dense droves. and even man
appears from distant coasts to take
his toll. but still they press bravely on.
The clank of machinery makes the
hills rumble: the hiss of steam and
the signs of the soldering furnaces
are like the complaint of some giant
overgorging himself"
How long does 1t all last?''
"Only about six weeks; then the
furnace fires die out. the ships are
loaded. the men 60 to sleep. after
which Kalvfk Says back into it's ten
months coma. becoming. as you see It
now. dead. deserted village. Stunned
by man." ts5
"Hut don't see how those huge
plants can pay for their upkeep with
such short rum"
"Well. they do, and. what's more.
they pay tremendously. sometimes 100
per cent year or more.
Two years ago q ship sailed into
port In early May loaded with IN army
OF men with machinery. lumber, coal.
and 20 forth. They landed. built the
plant and had It ready to operate by
the dime the run started They made
their catch and sailed away again in
August With enough salmon in the hold
to pay twice over for the whole thing.
Willis Marsh did even better than
that the year before. but Of course the
price of fish was high then. Next sea.
con will be another big year."
How IL thaty'