54 THE LABRADOR PENINSULA. CHAP. iv. 



Martens 



Fort Simpson and Big Island . . .2,115 

 Fort de Liard ...... 987 



Youcan ....... 1,588 



Peel's Kiver 1,922 



Good Hope 3,900 



Norman ....... 3,512 



Halkett 990 



Eesolution . . . . . . .832 



Kae ........ 1,500 



Total .... 17,346 



Being a decrease on the preceding year of 13,546 

 martens. 



The average return from Mackenzie Eiver District for 

 a number of years was as follows : 



Martens 



1844-1850 . . . 27,480 

 18)61-1857 . . . 24,756 



Perhaps the year 1859, in which the number of martens 

 taken in the Mackenzie Eiver District was nearly 10,000 

 less than the average of twenty-three years, was one of 

 the periodical years of disappearance to which Mr. Eoss 

 refers. 



' What other furs do you get, Pierre ? ' 



' We get a few cats, bear, musk-rats, otter, and foxes, 

 but the marten are worth all the rest put together ; and 

 as soon as the martens go the Company wih 1 go too, and 

 the Indians will starve, for traders will give whiskey for 

 furs, which the Company never do on this coast now ; 

 besides, all' the Indians are temperance men, and will con- 

 tinue so if the traders don't come and seduce them to 

 break their pledge. I am sure when the Company leave 

 the coast, which they will do in a year or two, the Indians 



