Sivans and Geese of Hudson's Bay. 255 



During the whole of the winter season, before Oregon was settled 

 in by the Americans, the Company's post of Fort Vancouver 

 used to be supplied by Indian hunters with Grey Geese, large 

 and small, as well as an occasional Swan and Snow Goose, — 

 at times so liberally, that* rations could be furnished to an esta- 

 blishment of thirty or forty out of the store. Some of these 

 Geese had been killed by the bow and arrow. They were good 

 food, but not in equal condition to what they are in the North 

 after a week's feed. The great mass of the Canada Grey Geese 

 winter, I have no doubt, to the southward of the Missouri and 

 Platte waters, in the swamps of Florida and the lower Missis- 

 sippi, and on the waters of the western side of the continent, 

 near their confluence with the Pacific. In these last haunts 

 they are thinned by the Indian's arrow, as they are in the North 

 by the more deadly gun. 



The Lesser Grey Goose {Bernicla hutchinsii) arrives later in 

 the season than the other, and about the same time as the Snow 

 Goose {Anser hyperboreus) . They are shot in considerable quan- 

 tities at Albany and elsewhere along the coast of James's Bay. 

 I believe they do not incubate, like the large Geese, in scattered 

 or detached portions throughout the wooded country, but proceed 

 iu large and united flocks to the extreme North, where they 

 may have quiet quarters. On their arrival at the coast, about the 

 beginning of May, they commence feeding in the salt marshes 

 amongst the soft white- rooted grasses, — continuing there for a 

 fortnight or three weeks with the " Wavies " or Snow Geese. By 

 this time they ai-e in good plight, and they take their departure, 

 not again to appear until their return with the young broods in 

 the month of September. These smaller Geese are killed in 

 fewer numbers on their passage to Hudson's Bay than the larger, 

 which may be accounted for by their habits; but when once 

 they settle on their feeding -ground, the tables turn upon them, 

 and the slaughter committed in their ranks, especially at Albany, 

 is wonderful. 



The Brant Goose {Bernicla brenta), the Callewapimaw of 

 the Coast Crees, is but little looked after or cared for in 

 Hudson's Bay, being a small species, keeping out to sea on the 

 shoals near low water-mark, . and aff'ording a less esteemed dish 



