r RE FACE. 



N the following pages I have en 

 deavoured to give an account 

 of the various methods em- 

 ployed by Fur-hunters for the 

 capture of the animals whose 

 skins form so important an 

 article of commerce in the 

 three continents of Europe, 

 Asia, and America; and whilst 

 so doing I have given a brief outline of the appear- 

 ance and habits of the animals themselves, together 

 ivith such anecdotes as I thought would prove 

 interesting to the general reader. As a couple of 

 hundred pages devoted to trapping alone must of 

 necessity be somewhat dull, I have attempted to 

 lighten the volume by some account of the Settle- 

 ment on the Columbia River founded by Mr. John 

 Jacob Astor, making use of the two most authentic 



