132 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 



hole wlieiein tliej' set tlieiv babiche beaver net, taking cave to attach 

 thereto a switch — the chief end of which, issuino- from the water, is 

 provided with several small bells. ^ Then the hunter (should I not 

 say the tisher]) proceeds to demolish the beaver's lodge, in order to 

 drive him oft'. Should the game not be found there, the same operation 

 is repeated at his adjoining provision store. When the undulations 

 of the water tell of his pi'esence thei'ein, he is frightened away to 

 wliei-e the net is set. Supposing that the beaver is swifter than his 

 hunter and reaches the net before the latter, the efforts he will make 

 to extricate himself therefrom will agitate the small bells before 

 mentioned, and the hunter will immediately make for the hole and 

 draw him out before he has time to cut himself clear of the net. 



In the spring— besides occasional shooting — sjjearing and trapping 

 are the two modes adopted in catching the beaver. To spear him, 

 they employ a bone barbed harpoon, such as that delineated in 

 figure 5 which, being securely fastened to a long shaft, is launched 

 at the game from a distance to ensure greater speed and impetus to 

 the weapon. 



When trapping they resort to no remarkable device save that, with 

 the object of attracting the beaver, they dilute the mud contiguous 

 to the steel ti'ap in one of the beavei*'s favorite haunts, with pulver- 

 ized castorum which they keep in decanter-like birch bark bottles, 

 figure 6. 



More nomadic game such as lynx, martens, fishers, etc., are captured 

 by means of snares in their most beaten paths.'- The larger game — 

 bears, moose and cariboo, etc., are usually chased with dogs, often for 

 a full day at a time before they are brought to bay and shot. Bears 

 ai'e also frequently taken in snares. 



The Sekanais, owing to the peculiar topography of their country, 

 hunt cariboo on a larger scale, and with more satisfactory I'esults. 

 They previously set in a continuous line 40 or 50 moose hide snares 

 in suitable defiles or passes in the mountains frequented by the 

 fl,nimals. Two of the most active hunters are then deputed to watch at 

 either end of the line, after which the huntei'S, who usually number 



1 These have replaced the beaver nails and pebbles of fonner times. 



2 The larger proportion, however, of fishers and martens are taken by means of wooden fall 

 traps. 



