New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-13
10 HUNTS TO LIVE
By THOMAS CRAWFORD GALBREATH

ITO the Indian II Is nNSlclE WHY 80 many
white men kill game chiefly for the sake
Of the killing. When he goes fishing II IS
because he really needs fish for eating when
he stalks a deer II IS because hunger has
driven him toit. Consequently, the methods
the white man has devised whereby the
greatest sport can be derived from fishing
and hunting hold no charm Tor the Indian.
WhiDDinp a stream with fanciully COlorcd
flies al the end OF a string attached 70 a bam-
boo rod isn't MS idea Of trout fishing; and
when he wants deer he Will use his init
mate knowledge Of the deer's habits, and
corral him, possibly, without an arduous
tramp Of many miles and hours across heavy
mountain trails.
The rabbit drive IS rather common
method among a number OF Indian tnbcs TO
secure a supply OF meat for the fall and win
ter months. In the open country the Indians
build a V-shaped fence, preferably Of woven
wire. four or five feet high. Sometimes it is a
half-milc in length. Some distance away and
in the direction Of the open end a number
of the Indians-in the hundreds, often
form themselves into line, each about ten
feet from his ncighbo1, and then start oil
slowly toward the fence.
Armed with a club, the hunter beats the
Ing the rabbits from their resting places.
The men at the ends of the line work in
slightly toward each other, and 50 reach the
fence first. the rabbits thus being forced into
the opcn end of the V. As the animals
reach the fence the men close in on them and
beat them TO death with their clubs. Two
and three thousand rabbits are sometimes
secured in a single drive. The battue over,
the Indians Jerk the meat. They eat it
every bit. The word "waste' has no place
in their vocabulary.
Perhaps the following method of duck
hunting in wears gone by was unique among
the Bannocks and Shoshoncs in the great
Northwest. Along the river bottoms ducks,
principally mallard and teal, Hooked IN great
numbers during the fall. The Indian would
select some favorable spot along the bank Of
the stream, and when flock OF ducks had
settled on the water below him would begin
operations. A pumpkin was quietly launched.
As il noated down the stream and among the
ducks they would rise in great excitement.
For q time they would hover over the water,
then settle again on its surface. a second
pumpkin was launched. The ducks ilut-
tered from the stream; but they soon re-
turned. By the time four pumpkins had
noatcd down the river the birds had become
50 accustomed to them that they no longer
noticed e.,
Then the Indian buck placed over his head
shell of pumpkin with peepholcs IN 1t,
and, slipping quietly into the stream waded
or trod water, being careful to keep the
pumpkin in an apparent floating position on
the surface OF the water. Coming among the
ducks, he seized the nearest one by the neck,
dragging it under Frequently ne could get
four or five before the rest OF the flock would
realize that this pumpkin was more danger
Gus than the others had been, when they
would fly away. But there were always
other nocks just little way down the rver'
and if the Indian wanted more ducks, he
could get them. And he did get them without