IO4 



FIFTY YEARS A HUNTER AND TRAPPER. 



to temper a trap spring. This cannot be said of the average 

 blacksmith of the present day. 



Bear forty years ago would migrate then as they do now. 

 We used to think that bear would travel from the Virginias and 

 from Northern New York, if not from, the New England States 

 to Pennsylvania or from Pennsylvania north or south as the case 

 may be. This was proven from the fact that if there was a good 

 crop of mast in one locality, while a scarcity in another, the be^r 

 would all seem to be moved north or south as the case may be 

 as though they had some way of informing one another where plenty 

 of food was to be found. At such times when bear are on a 

 migratgry tramp it is not an uncommon thing to find a bear track 

 near your house or barn on going out in the morning when there 

 was snow on, so that the track is plain to be seen. This was no 

 uncommon thing forty years ago, neither is it at the present time 

 (1910) when there is a general scarcity of forage crops such as 

 beech nuts, chestnuts and acorns. I have seen it stated by some 

 writers that at certain times bear will move in a drove and at 

 such times it was not safe for a man to meet a bear for they were 

 very dangerous and would attack any one who chanced to be in 

 their way. 



In my upwards of fifty years experience of woods life, I do not 

 call to mind of ever seeing more than three bears on one trail 

 at the same time and these were an old bear and cubs. It has been 

 the writer's observation that when- bears were on these migratory 

 trips in search of food or from other cause, they travel singly and 

 not in droves or even in pairs. . 



During the summer when bears are existing on nettles, wild 

 turnips, berries and other green food, it is not out of the ordinary 

 to find a bear in pretty close proximity to the farm house and close 

 around the fields where he can occasionally get a sheep or lamb. 



I have seen and heard much written and said of bear raising 

 from their hind feet to attract people's attention who chanced to 

 come in their way when in the woods. I have never seen a bear 

 raise on his hind feet for battle, in any case, when a hunter or 

 trapper approaches them. I have often seen them sit upon their 



