CIIAP. iv. MARTEN-TRAPriNG. 49 



The next day I went the same distance in the opposite 

 direction, always getting home about dusk. The day 

 after I took my blanket with me, some bread, pork, and 

 bait, and walked in snow-shoes straight to one end of my 

 line of traps ; here I had a little sleeping-place made of 

 spruce-bark, where I stayed the night. On the following 

 day I went back visiting all the traps and putting in fresh 

 bait when they had been disturbed ; I did the same in the 

 other direction, but sometimes went on to the Bay to see 

 my wife. In this way I spent three months, until the 

 snow began to go and the ice in the river to give. I only 

 got twenty-two martens ; the country hereabouts has been 

 hunted too much ; but I think I should have got more if 

 the carcajou had not taken my bait.' 



Some one asked Pierre whether carcajoux or wolverines 

 were numerous on the Moisie, and how many of his traps 

 they spoiled. 



' There are not many carcajou here,' answered Pierre, 

 ' but one fellow took all my bait - - from my lodge to the 

 farthest end of the line up the river. He followed me 

 from trap to trap, and when I came back I found that he 

 had been at every one and taken all the bait.' 



4 What do you bait with ? ' 



' Oh, anything that a marten can smell - - a wing or head 

 of a bird, a bit of fish, or meat when I get a bear or fox ; 

 sometimes bits of the martens themselves : anything will 

 do, if it's only meat ; they feed on mice chiefly, when they 

 can get them.' 



' Didn't you try to catch the carcajou? ' 



' I shot him two days after he took my bait. I went 

 out with fresh bait, and put some in three or four traps, 



VOL. I. E 



