NORTHERN OCEAN. 
to put a hook into the water, being fully per- 
fuaded that'they may as well fit in the tent, as 
attempt to angle without fuch affiftance. They 
have alfo a notion that fifh of the fame fpecies 
inhabiting different parts of the country, are 
_ fond of different things; fo that almoit every 
Jake and river they arrive at, obliges them to al- 
ter the compofition of the charm. The fame 
rule is obferved on broiling the firft fruits of a 
new hook that is ufed for a new net ; anold 
hook that has already been fugcefsful in catch- 
ing large fifh is efteemed of more value, than 
a handful of new ones which have never been 
tried. 
Deer alfo, as well as fifh, are very numerous 
in many parts of this country; particularly to 
the North of the fixtieth degree of latitude. 
Alpine hares are in fome parts of the barren 
ground pretty plentiful, where alfo fome herds 
of mufk-oxen are to be met with; and to the 
Weftward, among the woods, there are fome 
rabbits and partridges. With all thofe feeming 
fources of plenty; however, one half of the in- 
habitants, and perhaps the other half alfo, are 
frequently in danger of being ftarved to death, 
owing partly to their want of occonomy; and 
moft of thefe fcenes of diftrefs happen during 
their journies to and from Prince of Wales’s 
Fort, the only place at which they trade. 
When Northern Indians are at the Factory, 
they are very liable to fteal any thing they 
think 
33% 
