The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1932-03-04
Ft. Providence, N. w T., Canada
December 81, 1881.
Dear Friend Mr.. Marshall;

eCem Il Z, 1851.
Dear Friend Mr.. Marshall;
How time does fly. 1t hardly seems possible that Christmas is
already past. am spending several days in camp over Christmas
while giving the dogs a much needed rest after more than six weeks
of almost continuous travel during which time nearly a thousand miles
of trail was covered. Got home just in time for Christmas from a
combined trip over my trap line and to the fort. Was away from
home a full two weeks and travelled almost three hundred miles.
1t proved to be the toughest trip I've made in this country. Going
to the fort was not bad except for the cold. 1 made the last sixty
five miles in one day and learned it was fortytwo below zero when
I got in at 7:30 that evening.
Being short on dog feed l hired an Indian to haul a load of rice
and tanow out to my Mink lake cabin while l had a capacity load of
other supplies. Two days were required to land the loads at the
designated cabin. 1t proved to be a wise move Oh my part as next
morning found the country in the grip of a terrific storm. At first,
driven by the wind of hurricane velocity, the snow piled in like from
an avalanche. Later in the day the wind ured but the snow kept
falling thickly. All trails were obiterated and could be followed
only by feel" New fallen snow, undisturbed by wind or settled by
time, always ices on the bottom of a toboggan and causes it to pull
as hard S though drawn over dry ground. For seven days, from long
before daylight till after dark, the dogs and bucked the deep SHOWS,
breaking trail and putting $50 traps in working order before reaching
home. During all this time the weather had been intensely cold,
but, as | picked up a half dozen fine dark mink, a pair of red fox and
a very large dark silver with silky fur of lustrous beauty felt well
repaid for the labor and discomfort involved. In addition, Mrs. Fer
guson proudly displayed another pair of reds and a fine dark cross
fox as her share towards the Christmas Collection, a s she termed it.
From a trapping standpoint the winter so far has been very I'M
favorable. November was the warmest I've ever experienced in the
North. We even had a rain lasting several hours on the twentyninth.
It, with the attendant freeze, put four hundred traps out of order.
December has been November's antitheds. Frequent storms, exceed
ingy heavy snowfals, high winds and intense cold has predominated.
AS a result we ar falling behind in the anticipated number of pelts
taken. But fortunately, 81 far, lack of numbers has been compensated
for by excellence in quality of those taken. Imagine fox pelts measur-
ing around five feet or even more in length.
Tomorrow morning expect to leave on another long trip over
the southern portion of my line 1t will take eight days to look at
the traps but $ moose signs were in evidence last trip I'll probably
spend several additional days hunting in a effort to bag a moose or
two. A clan of Indians located nearby keep practically all game
chased out of this immediate vicinity.
Mrs. Ferguson joins me in wishing you and Mrs. Marshall the
compliments of the season, and, needless to say, will appreciate
from you. Yours, sincerely,
CHIC FERGUSON.