CAMPING 175 



Ordinary plated knives, forks and spoons are by far the nicest. 

 They are cheap, easily cleaned, and not very heavy. 



The question of food should be carefully considered, so 

 that no unnecessary weight shall be carried. Let us begin 

 by seeing what the country can offer us while we are out. 

 In the summer, fish, both salmon and trout, can be had in 

 abundance. By smoking these they will keep for a few 

 weeks. In certain regions, notably in the highlands, 

 ptarmigan are fairly numerous and may be shot after Septem- 

 ber 20th. They are extremely tame, except where there is 

 much shooting, and can be killed with either rifle or shot 

 gun, though with the latter it is like butchery, as the birds 

 will not always take to flight. The Canada goose breeds in 

 the open bogs, but is never very numerous. Ducks of 

 several kinds breed here, the most numerous being the black 

 duck. They are, however, always difficult to get. Bears 

 are found occasionally, but not often enough to be reckoned 

 upon as an article of food. The varying hare is fairly 

 plentiful, but though he may be easily snared, his nocturnal 

 habits keep him safe from sportsmen unless they have the 

 assistance of a dog. In any event, there is absolutely no 

 sport in shooting them, for they will stand within a few feet 

 of you without showing the slightest fear. The only meat 

 that can reasonably be relied on is the Caribou, and, early in 

 the season, fish. 



Some edible wild fruits are to be found. " Bake apples," 

 a raspberry-like berry which grows close to the ground on 

 the bogs and ripens in August, are good eating, either 

 raw or cooked, and make excellent preserves. Raspberries 

 are quite numerous and of good quality, but best of all are the 

 huckleberries, or blueberries, which in places are so abundant 

 that the ground is tinged with their soft blue colour. They 

 are ripe and fit to eat from August until October, when 



