376 
A JOURNEY TO THE 
any known open water, both in woods and on 
open plains, as well as on the ice of large lakes; 
but it is not known what has led them to fuch 
places: perhaps merely for amufement, for they 
are not known to killany game on the land dur- 
ing that feafon. If purfued when among the 
woods in Winter, (where the {now is always 
light and deep,) they immediately dive, and make 
confiderable way under it, but are eafily traced | 
by the motion of the {now above them, and 
foon overtaken.. The Indians kill numbers of 
them with clubs, by tracing them in the fnow; 
but fome of the old ones are fo fierce when c'o’e 
purfued, that they turn and fly at their purfuer, 
and their bite is fo fevere that itis much dreaded 
by the Indians. Befides this method of killing 
them, the Indians have another, which is equally 
fuccefsful; namely, by concealing themfelves 
within a reafonable gun-fhot of the Otters ufual 
landing-places, and waiting their coming out of 
the water. ‘This method is more generally prac- 
tifedin moon-light nights. They alfo fhoot many 
of them as they are fporting in the water, and 
{ome few are caught in traps. 
The Otters in this, as well as every other part 
of the bay, vary in fize and colour, according to 
_ age and feafon. In Summer, when the hair is very 
fhort, they are almoft black, but as the Winter 
advances, they turntoa beautiful dark auburn, 
.except a {mall fpot under the chin, which is of a 
filver gray. This colour they retain all the Win- 
ter 5 
